My HID (human interface device) for DCS

[MAThrasher]

After a several year hiatus from flight summing, VR pulled me back in.  VR is a complete game changer.  After starting with VR, I quickly realized the importance of using a kneeboard and coming up with a way of interacting with the cockpit buttons/switches.  After doing some homework and research, I finally discovered the product Point Ctrl.  I was eager to order one, and then I realized there was a year or more wait.  I ordered me one on January 16, 2022…and still waiting.   While waiting, I had no choice but to come up with another solution.   Here is the solution I have until I get something better. 

 

Here is a picture.

 

I tried many different designs, but the one that worked best is the one that attaches on the finger.  

Here is a list of features for the HID:

1. Wireless, bluetooths to computer. (The white dongle in the picture is only used for charging)
2. 500 mAh rechargeable battery 
3. Has IMU with 9 DoF.  (Accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer)
4. Sensor fusion algorithm is Madgwick
5. Main control board is Adafruit Feather Sense

 

The buttons on the unit have the following actions:

1. Top left button toggles bluetooth on/off
2. Top right button controls sensitivity
3. Bottom left button sets center for HID orientation
4. Bottom middle button (left mouse click)
5. Bottom right button (right mouse click)
6. On/off switch at top right

 

The main DIY skillsets needed to build this HID are:

1. 3D printing (I used Fusion 360 to design the controller body and lid) 
2. Soldering (only requires basic skills of thru hole components)
3. Loading software on mainboard (I can provide the code for it).  I did my initial code using Platform IO and then switched to Arduino IDE.  Code in C++
4. Calibrating magnetometer using Motion Cal

 

The data for the IMU sensors are converted to AHRS using the Madgwick library.  Once the roll, pitch, and yaw of the HID are known, it is converted into mouse units.  The units are absolute from the center of the VR HMD view.  The pointer in the cockpit is controlled by translating or rotating the wrist/finger.  I find it works great on the left hand on the throttle.  With simple movements of the left hand, I have cursor control in the cockpit.  I tried making one for the right hand as well, but it interfered with the flight stick and I could not wrap my fingers on the stick.   I am curious as to how well PointCTRL works when being attached to the right finger.  I could not come up with a design for the right hand that felt comfortable.  It is not really needed though since the left hand works so well.

 

I have tweaked the sensitivity to my liking and use motion smoothing for nice fine control.   

 

I am getting ready to build me another one.  If anyone is interested, I can fully document every step of the process and make that available.   

 

 

[Hawkeye60]

I for one would be very interested in this!

I already made a set of spitfire controls, 3D printed,

using bondar boards.

This looks very cool!

Please DO share! Thanks!

[eatthis]

11 hours ago, MAThrasher said:

After a several year hiatus from flight summing, VR pulled me back in.  VR is a complete game changer.  After starting with VR, I quickly realized the importance of using a kneeboard and coming up with a way of interacting with the cockpit buttons/switches.  After doing some homework and research, I finally discovered the product Point Ctrl.  I was eager to order one, and then I realized there was a year or more wait.  I ordered me one on January 16, 2022…and still waiting.   While waiting, I had no choice but to come up with another solution.   Here is the solution I have until I get something better. 

 

Here is a picture.

 

I tried many different designs, but the one that worked best is the one that attaches on the finger.  

Here is a list of features for the HID:

1. Wireless, bluetooths to computer. (The white dongle in the picture is only used for charging)
2. 500 mAh rechargeable battery 
3. Has IMU with 9 DoF.  (Accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer)
4. Sensor fusion algorithm is Madgwick
5. Main control board is Adafruit Feather Sense

 

The buttons on the unit have the following actions:

1. Top left button toggles bluetooth on/off
2. Top right button controls sensitivity
3. Bottom left button sets center for HID orientation
4. Bottom middle button (left mouse click)
5. Bottom right button (right mouse click)
6. On/off switch at top right

 

The main DIY skillsets needed to build this HID are:

1. 3D printing (I used Fusion 360 to design the controller body and lid) 
2. Soldering (only requires basic skills of thru hole components)
3. Loading software on mainboard (I can provide the code for it).  I did my initial code using Platform IO and then switched to Arduino IDE.  Code in C++
4. Calibrating magnetometer using Motion Cal

 

The data for the IMU sensors are converted to AHRS using the Madgwick library.  Once the roll, pitch, and yaw of the HID are known, it is converted into mouse units.  The units are absolute from the center of the VR HMD view.  The pointer in the cockpit is controlled by translating or rotating the wrist/finger.  I find it works great on the left hand on the throttle.  With simple movements of the left hand, I have cursor control in the cockpit.  I tried making one for the right hand as well, but it interfered with the flight stick and I could not wrap my fingers on the stick.   I am curious as to how well PointCTRL works when being attached to the right finger.  I could not come up with a design for the right hand that felt comfortable.  It is not really needed though since the left hand works so well.

 

I have tweaked the sensitivity to my liking and use motion smoothing for nice fine control.   

 

I am getting ready to build me another one.  If anyone is interested, I can fully document every step of the process and make that available.   

 

 

a build guide would be great, also which feathersense board? theres a bunch

 

[MAThrasher]

The board I used is Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense.   I tried different boards with external IMU's but this was the simplest route.