PointCTRL - Finger Mounted VR Controller

[FireCat]

Could I be put on the list as well?

 

Are we talking 2 or 3 months or so?

 

Thanks!

 

You have been added to the list link below. Timescale soon, just keep checking the post.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

[Particleman]

Please add me to the list. Looking great!

 

-Particleman

[FireCat]

Please add me to the list. Looking great!

 

-Particleman

 

You have been added to the list link below.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

[Deano87]

How are things going Miles?

[FreightDog]

Hi, I've just joined the DCS/VR world and my first thought was that someone needed to invent exactly what you have done, what a fantastic coincidence! Would you mind putting me down on the long list for one of these please? Thank you very much.

[FireCat]

Hi, I've just joined the DCS/VR world and my first thought was that someone needed to invent exactly what you have done, what a fantastic coincidence! Would you mind putting me down on the long list for one of these please? Thank you very much.

 

You have been added to the list link below.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

[MilesD]

How are things going Miles?

 

Hey Guys,

 

Sorry for the comms blackout, but I have spent the last 4 days making new HID descriptors because the latest windows update broke PointCTRL. In the end, its better code, and when I finally found the bug I was surprised it was even functioning in the first place. Anyway, I am updating the firmware on the built HMS units tonight and it looks like I may be able to start shipping. Here are some pics of the production units as shipped.

 

Thanks,

Miles

[Gladman]

Hot dam!!

[MilesD]

I took everyone's advice and made an additional generic mount, Thank you for your advice.

 

The generic mount will include extra double sided tape, 2 sections of EVA foam, and 1 piece of sheet ABS plastic. Both of these materials are easily cut and shaped with a utility blade or scissors, and should make custom fitting easier. I will continue to make manufacturer specific mounts for each HMD. If you have 2 HMDs that you want to switch between with PointCTRL you can just purchase extra mounts and swap the PCB. I redesigned the HMS mount so it only takes seconds to remove and put in another mount. Extra mounts will probably be around $10.00

[Oesau]

Looking great Miles!

[Deano87]

Excellent work as always Miles! The windows problem actually reminds me of a question I had. Will we be able to update the firmware down the line if you need to make more patches to keep them working? Pics are much improved as well!

[MilesD]

Excellent work as always Miles! The windows problem actually reminds me of a question I had. Will we be able to update the firmware down the line if you need to make more patches to keep them working? Pics are much improved as well!

 

Great question Deano,

Right now firmware updates are done manually, You unzip a file and then go into the folder, press the reset button on the HMS twice quickly and then click on the batch file called update. The HMS firmware then automatically updates. For subsequent updates you just copy the new firmware.HEX file to the same directory and use the same process as above.

 

The FCU's require a programmer and a special connector fixture to update. I updated the FCU firmware for all of future functionality I could think of. Since the HMS can communicate directly with the FCU we can activate new functions as they are completed on the HMS side.

 

A GUI is not required or complete now, but its on the list. I am trying to expedite shipping units, but I want to avoid customers having to send back the FCU's to implement new functions.

 

 

Thanks for asking,

 

Miles

[aaron886]

Looking very slick, Miles. I'm impressed!

[kaltokri]

Thank you very much for the good news.

 

 

PointCTRL, Oculus S & DCS VR performance fix will be a great combination.

I can hardly wait for each of them. :)

[A2597]

Woot! Looking forward to this! (This is actually taking priority over a new throttle, haha)

[javelina1]

awesome, can't wait use this! thanks Miles!

[A2597]

Hey Guys,

 

Sorry for the comms blackout, but I have spent the last 4 days making new HID descriptors because the latest windows update broke PointCTRL. In the end, its better code, and when I finally found the bug I was surprised it was even functioning in the first place. Anyway, I am updating the firmware on the built HMS units tonight and it looks like I may be able to start shipping. Here are some pics of the production units as shipped.

 

Thanks,

Miles

 

 

As a developer (Well, front end developer) I can sympathize. But glad it was discovered before you shipped! Darn semi-colons. ;)

[Harlikwin]

I'm sure its been answered in the last 85 pages, but how does the "twist" functionaly for knobs work with these? I.e. scroll wheel on a mouse?

[rowdgordypiper]

Hold down the button and twist clockwise or anti clockwise

 

 

I7 7700 2080ti 32gb ram dofreality h2

Virpil Hotas

[mr_mojo97]

I’m sure his pal Los said as much. Press one of the buttons and twist your hand like you would a dial. Miles didn’t even realise it could work like that. Lol

[Harlikwin]

Glory be, that sounds awesome.

[DutchCoolHand]

Just amazing Miles, I can wait until you have the mount for the Odyssey ready.

[MilesD]

I’m sure his pal Los said as much. Press one of the buttons and twist your hand like you would a dial. Miles didn’t even realise it could work like that. Lol

 

You have a good memory Mojo,

 

Los is not just my "Pal", He was my Team Sergeant and mentor in Special Forces before he retired. Now he is my friend and adviser to all things simming. Los is out on Facebook so no OPSEC violation here. His experience in training, computer simming, and as a pilot has been invaluable in developing PointCTRL.

 

While the dials and knobs do function as Los discovered and described, its purely by coincidence, not by design. It is also dependent on how the mouse is mapped to the control in DCS. Some dials are mapped requiring left press and hold followed by mouse movement horizontall to rotate, and some dials are mapped requiring vertically mouse movement.

 

If you rotate you hand in a manor where the IRLED on PointTRL moves in an arc, it is seen as lateral or vertical movement. Since Los told me about it, I found that if you pivot your wrist with you hand remaining at a slightly upward angle it works well.

 

In the past I modded the LUA files to non toggle functions, so I am sure we can standardize the knobs for consistency. Same LUA moding goes for L/R mouse clicks. An example the FA-18 hook toggles up and down on left click but the landing gear requires left click down, right click up. I always forget that when operating the landing gear on the FA-18.

Edited April 28, 2019 by MilesD

[MilesD]

Update: As I mentioned a few days ago, I am front loading future functionality to the FCU before shipping the first units.

Well, I went to upload the new firmware which had not changed in months, and I realized that I lost all the mods and moded libraries in my programming IDE specific to the FCUs 328PB micro controller. I had my data backed up, but not the mods in the apps. At 0230 this morning I finally had success and was able to resume work.

 

I hope nothing else pops up as a result of losing my SSD. l keep you posted on todays progress.

 

Some of the waiting components

Edited April 28, 2019 by MilesD

[mariner3302]

I just had an epiphany! I am pretty early on the list for PointCtrl. I built a 1:1 scale Tomcat Front Office. I got about 3/4 of all the controls wired up. Then I ran out of board slots. So if I just wait until I get mine, I don't have to buy any more boards. The PointCtrl will activate the stuff in my frontal view AND I will still have the physical switches and buttons to feel. I disconnect those switches and use the newly opened board spaces!boards. The PointCtrl will activate the stuff in my frontal view AND I will still have the physical switches and buttons.