bcschmerker

Programming a microcontroller for the job? :lol: That will be a complication. I found that USB 3.0 has an interrupt-driven mode not available in 2.0 and earlier; the reference material will be something of a trick, though.

After reading about the problems that existing USB 1.1/2.0 devices have with USB 3.0, I have decided to start a project to develop a USB 3.0 flight-controls system suitable for the simpit. Otto Engineering, a United States electrical-hardware company, has several devices that I can potentially use for this project, including but not limited to Hall-effect sensors; control-grip switches (including T1, T4, and T8 multi-way toggles, T2 two-way toggle/pushbuttons, T5 four-way toggle/pushbuttons, P1 straight pushbuttons, SL-2221 three-position slides, and three two-stage trigger switches); and two-axis position transducers. The controls layout I envision for this prototype should be adaptable for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Although the list of part numbers below is specific to Otto Engineering, suppliers worldwide should have similar switches and senders available. I envision a control grip with a fairly large top pod for the center stick, packing both large (T5-0004 "RDR/FLIR" Castle, T5-0018 Trim Cone in top pod; T5-0035 Bent Large Jog in thumbrest) and small (T5-CH1211 "A/P" Stadium, T5-CH1218 "WPN" Stadium, T5-CK1218 4-way Jog, T1-CC1218 "RNG" Rocker, T1-CC1212 "TGT" Rocker in top pod; T5-CGD1211 hat in thumbrest) multi-ways, straight (P7-8B5125 "Straight/Level", P7-1B5123 "IFF" in top pod; two P7-1B5121 in front and left of handle) pushbuttons, plus U2-025 "ICS/TX" mid-handle trigger, U2-278 lower-left-handle rocker, and SL-2221C1A6 mid-rear-handle slide. I actually like the theory behind the dual triggers used in the top pods of most Russian Federal Frontal types, fixed- (MiG-29/35, Su-27/33) and rotary-wing (Ka-50); therefore plan on up to three Basic Switches each for the Stores (Ka-50-style) and Camera Gun (Su-24/27/33-style) triggers, including series-wired Stowed switches to support the "Trigger Up" function. I anticipate some analog inputs being needed not only for Roll and Pitch (Lateral and Longitudinal Cyclic in rotary-wings) but also for Air Brake application force (using a handle on the stick column), Target Designator Controller deflection, and Point-of-View transducer deflection. One option under consideration is a twist-grip switch for Yaw Trim (used for the fins of some fixed-wing types); I already plan on yaw-deflection (viz., Rudder) pedals with individual toe-brake transducers. The Collective switch pod I picture would pack a set of multi-ways TBD as of 13 March 2015, up to four straight toggles (two of which would have spring guards), some pushbuttons, a German KG-12/13/14-style trigger (depressing a 4PDT momentary switch) for Engine Start, and probably two transducers. Analog inputs include Collective Pitch, dual Condition twist-grips (Bell Helicopter Textron-style; may be reassigned to Throttle and Mixture of piston 'copters), and the deflection of the two transducers. The dual throttles of some fixed-wing types would use a subset of the Collective functions listed above. Given up to sixteen analog input axes and sixty-four switch inputs, what interface board(s) would be satisfactory for starting development of a USB 3.0 flight-simulator control system consistent with the above? Thanks in advance.