Taking Minibots on Airplanes

[MrForbes]

My wife mentioned it this morning. Really.

[flameout]

As someone interested in aviation (and flight simulation), I can answer this:

No, modern jet airliners do not depend on magnetic compasses, but rather have at least 2 Inertial Navigation Systems.

Inertial Navigation Systems find true north by detecting the earth's rotation during an alignment phase (while the aircraft is still stationary). They contain 3 axes of gyros (usually laser-ring gyros) and 3 axes of accelerometers. Using these, after alignment, they keep track of their current orientation and position.

Many airliners do have a magnetic compass as a backup -- but they're inaccurate if you are turning, accelerating, or changing altitude (not sure on the last one).

Other sensors, however, may internally use magnets. Also, a minibot could latch itself onto the aircraft's frame...

Of course, the only things that matter here are the regulations, but I just had to say this .

I hope your minibot makes it safely to your regional.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that since aviation still uses magnetic direction (that is how runways are numbered, and what any aircraft smaller than a jet airliner would use (an aviation-grade INS is probably way more expensive than a Cessna)), the Flight Management System has to use a database of magnetic variations to convert true north back into magnetic north. On at least some planes (the MD-11 at a minimum), the pilot has a switch for true/magnetic headings.

EDIT2: I should have known better. Aluminum isn't magnetic. Thanks to jgw for pointing that out. The minibot couldn't latch onto the aircraft's frame.

[Jim Wilks]

Originally Posted by flameout

Also, a minibot could latch itself onto the aircraft's frame...
.

Given that aircraft are predominantly made of aluminum, how is this possible?

[flameout]

Given that aircraft are predominantly made of aluminum, how is this possible?

Oops. Thanks for the correction.

I should have known better .

[wendymom]

If anyone coming to the Florida Regional wants to ship their minibot to my house just PM me. I only live 7 minutes from the venue and I would be happy to deliver it to them.

[11douglash]

Because airplanes arn't made out of ONLY aluminum. While it isn't much of a big problem in the big jets, there are steel components in the airplane. And the airplane's electronics. The big problem, in reality, is the magnet coming close to the magnetometer in airplanes, thus distorting the magnetic compass. IN reality, this isn't much of a problem on big jets, since the magnetic field from magnets drop off as 1/r^3. But for small planes, where the magnetometer may be close to the cabin, this is a problem. And since the FAA is a beaucracy, odds are they would have a problem with it.