What did Elmer Sperry contribute to the history or UAS?

• A. Gyrocompass
• B. Automatic stabilization
• C. Collision avoidance
• D. Solar-powered propulsion

Answer: (B)

Automatic stabilization is what Elmer Sperry is known for in aviation history. He and his brother developed the first gyro-stabilized autopilot, demonstrated around 1914, which used gyroscopes to sense aircraft tilt and automatically move the control surfaces to keep the airplane level and steady. This dramatically reduced a pilot’s workload and allowed for smoother, more controlled flight, laying the groundwork for modern autopilots and stabilization systems in drones. The other options don’t reflect Sperry’s pioneering work: the gyrocompass is a navigation instrument, not a stabilization system; collision avoidance and solar-powered propulsion are separate developments that aren’t tied to his early contributions.