An aircrew automation system for use in an aircraft, the aircrew automation system comprising: a core platform configured to: operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interface; and communicate commands to a flight control system of the aircraft based at least in part on flight situation data; a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the core platform to determine information specific to the aircraft; an actuation system operatively coupled with the core platform to execute the commands and collect data, the actuation system comprising: an optical sensor configured to visually identify one or more cockpit instruments corresponding to the flight control system; characterized in that the actuation system further comprises: a force sensor configured to measure a force when the actuation system makes contact with the one of more cockpit instruments; and a data acquisition system to map the location, type, and position of the one or more cockpit instruments based on the data collected by the optical sensor and the force sensor, wherein the knowledge acquisition is configured to access a matrix of force values corresponding to a force profile of the one or more cockpit instruments, and wherein a controller is configured to compare measured data from the force sensor to the matrix of force values to identify a cockpit instrument of the one or more cockpit instruments based on a respective force profile. a core platform configured to: operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interface; and communicate commands to a flight control system of the aircraft based at least in part on flight situation data; operatively connect a plurality of systems or subsystems via one or more interface; and communicate commands to a flight control system of the aircraft based at least in part on flight situation data; a knowledge acquisition system operatively coupled with the core platform to determine information specific to the aircraft; an actuation system operatively coupled with the core platform to execute the commands and collect data, the actuation system comprising: an optical sensor configured to visually identify one or more cockpit instruments corresponding to the flight control system; characterized in that the actuation system further comprises: a force sensor configured to measure a force when the actuation system makes contact with the one of more cockpit instruments; and a data acquisition system to map the location, type, and position of the one or more cockpit instruments based on the data collected by the optical sensor and the force sensor, wherein the knowledge acquisition is configured to access a matrix of force values corresponding to a force profile of the one or more cockpit instruments, and wherein a controller is configured to compare measured data from the force sensor to the matrix of force values to identify a cockpit instrument of the one or more cockpit instruments based on a respective force profile. a force sensor configured to measure a force when the actuation system makes contact with the one of more cockpit instruments; and a data acquisition system to map the location, type, and position of the one or more cockpit instruments based on the data collected by the optical sensor and the force sensor, wherein the knowledge acquisition is configured to access a matrix of force values corresponding to a force profile of the one or more cockpit instruments, and wherein a controller is configured to compare measured data from the force sensor to the matrix of force values to identify a cockpit instrument of the one or more cockpit instruments based on a respective force profile.