Anyone working with the Beaglebone Black?

[Inrideo]

I got a Beaglebone Black recently to use as the backend for a MAME cabinet, but then after joining the forum my mind has turned toward creating a cockpit panel instead :)

 

Is anyone using the BB for their project?

 

:pilotfly:

[FSFIan]

It would surprise me if anyone did, because a BBB is overkill to run a cockpit panel. It can be done much cheaper with Arduino boards or (if you need the processing power) ARM-powered dev boards like the TI Tiva C LaunchPads.

 

However, if the marginal cost of a BBB is zero because you already have one, I see no reason why it couldn't be used to power a few cockpit panels.

 

What aircraft are you building for and what is your existing background in programming and electronics?

 

If you want to, we can meet up on TeamSpeak, Skype or TeamViewer. I love teaching people who are genuinely interested and curious.

[Inrideo]

I can always use the BB for my original project and just use it as a learning experience before picking up Arduinos for the task.

 

I've got enough programming background to know the logic, but not necessarily the syntax. Dabbled in Python, C++, C#. (edit: Oh yeah, Javascript too. Evil language.)

As for electronics I had a Radio Shack 150 in 1 kit when I was a kid :P

 

I've hooked up an arcade button to the BB so far and made the LEDs switch on and off when I press it. That's a start :) I didn't see a cape (add-on board) for the BB to allow it to function as a USB device yet though.

 

The Arduinos already have an add-on that will do that, don't they?

 

Goals for the long term will be an A10-C, and a heli (although I haven't decided which yet).

Edited December 30, 2014 by Inrideo

[FSFIan]

If you have the A-10C and are considering using Arduinos, I recommend you check out DCS-BIOS (released 2 days ago).

 

It already supports the A-10C and I am working on UH-1H support right now.

 

With your prior programming experience, you should have no problems at all.

 

DCS-BIOS uses the serial port for communications, so no need for USB.

[vicx]

Beaglebone is total overkill for a pit but gee let your mind wander. Load the Bone up with a linux based UAV controller, script an interface to take DCS exports as input and see if the Bone can fly a jet autonomously in DCS. Once you can do that it starts to get real interesting.

[Inrideo]

Yeah, I originally got it for the power of being to handle both emulation and inputs for my arcade panel rather than use a motherboard and jamma setup.

I was just going to mount the Beaglebone and Breadboard directly under the controls and put a 17 inch monitor on the controls for a very compact cabinet.

 

But now that I've been bitten by the sim bug again I don't really care about the MAME project any more :)

 

There's lots of great inspiration on here for cockpits and tools. I'll have to check out that DCS-BIOS :)