My understanding is that Autotune adjusts fueling as I'm riding however to make it permanent on the base map I have to send the trims to the map. If I don't accept trims, Autotune will still make changes based on the AFR target set in the base map and what the O2 sensor is sending back vs the % lean/rich parameters set in, just wont send them as permanent.
Untamed, you are correct in your understanding of how autotune works. The system takes your target AFR, takes a reading of the current AFR from the oxygen sensor and determines how much the fueling needs to be adjusted, it takes this number and puts it into the Trim Table and USES this number to modify amount of fuel going to the engine based on the Fuel Map + the Trim Table. This is done on the fly, for testing/proof, try setting a range of target AFR cells to something terrible, like 17:1 or 10:1 AFR, set you min/max trim for autotune to 20% (or more) and go riding in that cell range.
You will see the AFR on your LCD change quickly to the new target AFR, and with horrible AFR you will probably feel a lack of power in that range. Pull out the laptop, you'll see the Fuel Map hasn't changed, but the Trim Table will show the +/- numbers that Auto tune is adjusting the PCV map by. This Trim Table can be thought of as a short term fuel trim (in car speak) where the Fuel Map is a long term fuel trim, when you accept the auto tune trims that means the short term trims are now long term trims and the system continues to make changes based on your target AFR.
This system is considered a basic (very limited sensor input) closed loop system since the engine fueling is adjusted based on input from a sensor (O2 sensor in this case). This fuel adjustment is then measured by the O2 sensor and further adjustments are made. This fuel adjustment is then measured by the O2 sensor and further adjustments are made. This fuel adjustment is then measured by the O2 sensor and further adjustments are made. This fuel adjustment is then measured by the O2 sensor and further adjustments are made. etc
In an open loop system, no adjustments are made on the fly but the fueling (since that's all autotune adjusts) is determined by a pre-set fuel map.
Before you post a reply stating that this is wrong, for the love of God go test it, please don't post things like "well, I haven't bothered to test this out but you're wrong". Also, keep in mind that this thread is about Rook's experience using an auto-tune accessory to his PCV piggyback module.