Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane for eight years, and yet Sperry became intrigued with the concept of applying radio control to them. He realized that for radio control to be effective, automatic stabilization would be essential, so he decided to adapt his naval gyro-stabilizers (which he had developed for destroyers). In 1913, the Navy provided a flying boat to test and evaluate the gyro-based autopilot. Sperry's son Lawrence served as an engineer during the test phase. In 1914, Lawrence Sperry was in Europe and observed the developing techniques of aerial warfare, including the use of aircraft. In 1916, the two Sperrys joined Peter Hewitt, an
Charles Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence of Kingsgate Charles Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence of Kingsgate Charles Napier Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence of Kingsgate (27 May 1855 – 17 December 1927), styled The Honourable Charles Lawrence between 1869 and 1923, was a British businessman and railway executive. Lawrence was born in India, the third son of John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence, and Harriette Katherine Hamilton , daughter of Reverend Richard Hamilton. John Lawrence, 2nd Baron Lawrence, and Henry Arnold Lawrence were his brothers. He was educated at Marlborough College. Lawrence was Chairman of the London and North Western Railway from 1921 to 1923 and of the London, Midland and