Planes can need not drivers, automatic flying? Early in the flat earth meter housed in plane later, somebody wondering this idea. L914 years, an American inventor si sent thunder use the flat earth instrument as aircraft flat on gyro pointer flying standard, use electric equipment when measured with the standard airplane flight departure, reoccupy mechanical device, the plane will be corrected in the state level off to keep. This is the world's first autopilot. Although it can keep the flat fly, but it later generations to enlightenment, the beginning of the aircraft flight times. Automatic

In the 1970s, the electronic computer into plane, the plane had own electronic "brain". First used the three computers (flight control computer) respectively controlling of flying state aircraft three axis. This plane can be not only, and can control level flight control turn and movements. Considering the plane doing cornering and lifting movement, it must be the corresponding thrust change, in order to successfully complete the process, it is necessary to also control engine thrust. Hence the second step and install on the plane thrust control computer management thrust. Plane as a result of self-controlling flight attitude and thrust ability, preliminary has realized automatic arbitrary flight. But it is limited to keep the route in set on the flying. It has been unable to meet with the instrument system on linked to comprehensively, the changes in the outside world make timely response. In order to make the plane flying true the whole process of automatic control, namely can "independent", which requires the above two sets of unified management system (posture and thrust) and with other instrument system executes a grand coalition. So the third step is on planes and fitted a more powerful computer ability, comprehensive management and coordination of flight. This machine ruled over all the global computer called flight management computer. It is the plane's core central. In the central database with airports and stored in overland route data. The driver as long as the beginning and end of the selected route, will command input this computer inside, it can replace the driver command take-off, climb, cruise, the decline in the destination airport until landing. This system can also in flight instruction process in real-time, aircraft in accordance with best flying state, the most reasonable use thrust and the most economic fuel to fly, thus fulfilling the finish whole automation flight. Sounds, by this computer systems and control aircraft fly by pilot control than fly o.k., then, isn't airplane flight will not need after driver? The answer is: no. One reason is the plane by pilot navigation lines shall be set and input to a computer to; The second reason is aircraft take-off and landing it in two stages, the factors of change too much, the computer can only press advance programmed action, do not have a program of flexible reaction ability; The third reason is that even when the plane in the state, the pilot can cruise does not make any action to control the plane, but he must monitor the machine "brain" work. In case the machine "brain" appear what fault or reaction, the pilot fast enough to take over the task of plane immediately, so as to ensure flight safety.