Micro Controller Projects for DCS

[thinkr]

If your anything like me you get excited about what micro controllers can do! I have bought a few recently the pi3 but I also have a teensy I wanted to make a P-51 trim box with utilizing the analog inputs, sadly not enough time to complete the project yet but its on my todo list.

 

I would love to be able to have projects that use Micro Controllers more organized on the DCS forums to help inspire more DCS controller projects and further develop the sim>>>

 

Examples Aurdio, Raspberry Pi, Teensy to name a few...

Really curious what people are doing these days with DCS and microcontrollers if you have links to your projects that use micro controllers post them here:)

Any help from modders & forum moderators appreciated thanks.

Edited October 16, 2016 by thinkr

[Sokol1_br]

... have a teensy I wanted to make a P-51 trim box with utilizing the analog inputs, sadly not enough time to complete the project yet but its on my todo list.

 

For use Teensy 2.0 or ++2.0 as "joystick controller" (axis, buttons) don't need "reinvent the wheel" is just matter of flash a already made firmware, what you can do in 5 minutes.

 

For other Teensy versions (e.g the new Cortex based) probable will need write the code.

[FSFIan]

There are two general approaches to use a microcontroller with DCS.

 

Approach 1: Build a USB HID device and map it in the DCS: World controller options

• (a) with a microcontroller that has built-in USB support (such as the ATMega32u4 featured on the Arduino Leonardo and Arduino Pro Micro boards)
  
• (b) using an Arduino board with a controller that doesn't have USB support, by reprogramming the ATMega16U2 used as a USB-to-serial converter (works on the Uno and Mega 2560 boards; when buying a clone, make sure your board has an ATMega16U2 instead of a dedicated usb-to-serial chip like the CH340)
  
• © with a microcontroller that doesn't have built-in USB support, implementing low-speed USB in software (see V-USB)
  

 

This approach has the advantage that it works with all modules. If a module only has a "toggle" keybind for a certain switch, some editing of Lua files is required to make physical toggle switches behave properly and you'll want to use a tool such as JSGME to re-apply those changes after every DCS update.

 

The main disadvantage is that it does not support output from the sim to a microcontroller, so if you want working caution lights, gauges and (text) displays on your panels you'll have to use the second approach.

 

Approach 2: Use a custom protocol over an (emulated) serial port and interface to DCS through Export.lua

 

By using the Lua scripting interface that DCS: World provides, we can grab all sorts of information from the sim and forward it to a microcontroller to control LEDs, servos, stepper motors, and small LCD or OLED displays.

 

There are three projects I am aware of that use this approach:

• Helios is not limited to virtual panels -- it also supports talking to physical hardware over the EOS protocol, which is described on Gadroc's website. IIRC an Arduino library is available to help with building your own devices.
  
• The DCS to Arcaze Connector talks to panels based on Arcaze USB boards, which are commercial USB I/O boards
  
• My own project, DCS-BIOS, also targets Arduino boards
  

[Der Geraet]

I recommend teensy LC's. Dirt cheap and functions well enough. Converted an old Suncom Throttle from gameport to USB with it. Don't have pictures on hand unfortionatly.

[FSFIan]

If you want dirt cheap and 18 I/O pins are enough, try an Arduino Pro Micro clone for less than $5.

 

Use a Teensy if you actually need the processing power, for example to drive a graphical display.