after early access Will the CPG George system be expanded?

[funkster]

Are there any plans in the roadmap to expand / improve George? I.e.

• Moveable UI (Compass / Target List etc)
• Control FOV, Zoom, FLIR/TV, Slave from Pilot seat? 
• Improve / "fix" Flight and trim handoff when changing seats.
• Better Pilot (AI) threat evasion.
• General communications / awareness comments similar to F14 Jester. 

etc etc

At the moment the UI feels very "barebones" to say the least , compared to something like the F14 Jester system! Surely real life communication between pilot and CPG would be more in depth and this should be represented in the available UI functions. 

 

P.S I am aware that there  are of some mods for additional key binds but it would be far better to have official / supported changes. 

Edited August 5, 2024 by funkster

[Roy35150]

+1,

I fly solo as CPG and would really like to see the george ai expanded.

[MrReynolds]

Me too! 

Would love to have all commands as seperate keybinds. 

I've got macros for different commands - all working on the assumption i'm starting at a set point on the command rose.  Sometimes I may not realise I'm in a different command (in hover for example) and the macro turns off the defensive aids (not good)!!

Being able to program seperate binds would be great!  

[Amarok_73]

For me, it would be just enough to have possiblity to steer the CP/G regarding the LST system from the pilot's position.

[TerrorMango]

Would also like increased SA from George, calling out threats he sees, incoming rounds & missiles (if within his FOV) and more autonomy when using weapons.
E.g. not having to be told to engage each single infantryman individually, but "engage till squad is killed" type of thing where he engages a group of enemies until they are all dead.

[mcfleck]

On 8/21/2024 at 8:23 AM, Amarok_73 said:

For me, it would be just enough to have possiblity to steer the CP/G regarding the LST system from the pilot's position.

Hi Amarok,

don't know if you are aware, but with a little bit of tinkering it is possible.
You will have to add a couple of lines to your controllers "default.lua" in order to create all the keybindings you are interested in.
In my opinion the following are nearly mandatory:
- Control TADS FOV
- Switch between TADS TV/FLIR
- Enable automatic/manual LST mode

There are two ways to achieve that.

1. The manual method:

• Go to your "DCS World\Mods\aircraft\AH-64D\Input\AH-64D_PLT\joystick" folder
• add the following lines below the line "join(res.keyCommands,{" for additional keybindings and bind them in DCS afterwards:

Spoiler

{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_A,                    up = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                        cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = 1.0,    value_up = 0.0,        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - Auto Else Off'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_M,                    up = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                        cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = -1.0,    value_up = 0.0,        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - Manual Else Off'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},

{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_A,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down =  1.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - A (Automatic)'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down =  0.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - O (Off)'),                category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_M,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = -1.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - M (Manual)'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},

 

2. Easy method using the Quaggles command line Injector Mod:

I prefer and highly recommend using this tiny, but very handy mod.

It basically uses a file including your custom commands and APPENDS them automatically to your original default.lua without changing the original file itself. That means in case of an update by ED, you won't have to redo the changes.

 

• So first download and install the mod: https://github.com/Quaggles/dcs-input-command-injector/releases
• Create a folder structure as follows:
  Saved Games\DCS\InputCommands\AH-64D\Input\AH-64D_PLT\joystick
• place my attached default.lua in the newly created folder
• be happy and bind the new commands within DCS

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A couple of closing words:

• I created different bindings for the LST, a version for switches that stay in their position (... Else Off) and one more suitable for button commands
  Chose whatever you prefer and fits best to your desired controls. I have mine on the Warthog throttle boat switch (the "... Else Off" binding) and it works fine.
• In order for the LST binding to work, the frontseater should be in TADS mode. You can easily achieve that by slaving the TADS with George to any random position like you would normally do searching for targets
• There are a couple more commands in my attached default.lua, that I needed and you may find usefull (again depending on your controls and layout). You will find all of them in the category "Special" in the controls editor.
  • Control TADS FOV
  • Control TADS TV/FLIR mode (TV has way more zoom)
  • Pilot NVS 3-way switch binding -> I use the Pinky 3-way on the throttle for that
  • Power lever Idle/Off commands -> I use the ENG OPER switches. Center in my case would be OFF, forward (spring loaded) engages the starter, aft switches the power lever from OFF to IDLE
  • EXPERIMENTAL: Binding for storing targets
    George has his TSD in NAV mode by default, so if you would use the "STORE" function, you would create waypoints. In order to create target points, youll have to switch his TSD to ATK ONCE. There is also a binding for that, so you won't need to jump in the front seat for that.

It is really not that hard and expands your AH64 experience, so I would encourage you to give it a try.

Please let me know if you encounter any problems, I will be glad to help you out.

default.lua

Edited August 28, 2024 by mcfleck
Added description for the two methods

[Amarok_73]

Hi @mcfleck, I wasn't aware that there are commands for these functions. Do You have any example of default.lua file that contains all of them, that I could use as an example?

 

[mcfleck]

On 8/26/2024 at 3:10 PM, Amarok_73 said:

Hi @mcfleck, I wasn't aware that there are commands for these functions. Do You have any example of default.lua file that contains all of them, that I could use as an example?

 

I edited my post above with all you need to make it work.

The basic idea for that was mainly looking into the CPG default.lua and copying the corresponding lines I needed into the PLT default.lua. I had to "cockpit_device_id" to "devices.TEDAC" instead of "devices.TEDAC_INPUT" to make it work.

Hafe fun with it

[heloguy]

On 8/26/2024 at 2:50 AM, mcfleck said:

Hi Amarok,

don't know if you are aware, but with a little bit of tinkering it is possible.
You will have to add a couple of lines to your controllers "default.lua" in order to create all the keybindings you are interested in.
In my opinion the following are nearly mandatory:
- Control TADS FOV
- Switch between TADS TV/FLIR
- Enable automatic/manual LST mode

There are two ways to achieve that.

1. The manual method:

• Go to your "DCS World\Mods\aircraft\AH-64D\Input\AH-64D_PLT\joystick" folder
• add the following lines below the line "join(res.keyCommands,{" for additional keybindings and bind them in DCS afterwards:

  Reveal hidden contents

{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_A,                    up = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                        cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = 1.0,    value_up = 0.0,        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - Auto Else Off'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_M,                    up = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                        cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = -1.0,    value_up = 0.0,        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - Manual Else Off'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},

{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_A,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down =  1.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - A (Automatic)'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_O,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down =  0.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - O (Off)'),                category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},
{    down = tedac_commands.RHG_LT_SW_M,                                                                                cockpit_device_id = devices.TEDAC,    value_down = -1.0,                        name = _('RHG Laser Tracker Mode (LT) Switch - M (Manual)'),            category = {_('TEDAC'), _('Right Handgrip'),_('Special'),_('CPG')}},

 

2. Easy method using the Quaggles command line Injector Mod:

I prefer and highly recommend using this tiny, but very handy mod.

It basically uses a file including your custom commands and APPENDS them automatically to your original default.lua without changing the original file itself. That means in case of an update by ED, you won't have to redo the changes.

 

• So first download and install the mod: https://github.com/Quaggles/dcs-input-command-injector/releases
• Create a folder structure as follows:
  Saved Games\DCS\InputCommands\AH-64D\Input\AH-64D_PLT\joystick
• place my attached default.lua in the newly created folder
• be happy and bind the new commands within DCS

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A couple of closing words:

• I created different bindings for the LST, a version for switches that stay in their position (... Else Off) and one more suitable for button commands
  Chose whatever you prefer and fits best to your desired controls. I have mine on the Warthog throttle boat switch (the "... Else Off" binding) and it works fine.
• In order for the LST binding to work, the frontseater should be in TADS mode. You can easily achieve that by slaving the TADS with George to any random position like you would normally do searching for targets
• There are a couple more commands in my attached default.lua, that I needed and you may find usefull (again depending on your controls and layout). You will find all of them in the category "Special" in the controls editor.
  • Control TADS FOV
  • Control TADS TV/FLIR mode (TV has way more zoom)
  • Pilot NVS 3-way switch binding -> I use the Pinky 3-way on the throttle for that
  • Power lever Idle/Off commands -> I use the ENG OPER switches. Center in my case would be OFF, forward (spring loaded) engages the starter, aft switches the power lever from OFF to IDLE
  • EXPERIMENTAL: Binding for storing targets
    George has his TSD in NAV mode by default, so if you would use the "STORE" function, you would create waypoints. In order to create target points, youll have to switch his TSD to ATK ONCE. There is also a binding for that, so you won't need to jump in the front seat for that.

It is really not that hard and expands your AH64 experience, so I would encourage you to give it a try.

Please let me know if you encounter any problems, I will be glad to help you out.

default.lua 4.9 kB · 2 downloads

 

First of all, thanks for sharing this. 

 

I'm having a hard time getting this to work.  I'm using OMM to install.  I have Quaggles injector installed in \Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Input, and I have your default.lua installed in \Saved Games\DCS\InputCommands\AH-64D\Input\AH-64D_PLT\joystick.  I'm not seeing a "Special" category, or a "CPG Con" category as shown in the .lua.

 

Edit:  Nevermind, figured it out.  I was installing the mod to the Saved Games instead of the main folder.  All good now.  Thanks again!

Edited September 2, 2024 by heloguy

[336_TheAngryGamer]

On 8/5/2024 at 5:26 AM, funkster said:

At the moment the UI feels very "barebones" to say the least , compared to something like the F14 Jester system! Surely real life communication between pilot and CPG would be more in depth and this should be represented in the available UI functions. 

At the moment, it seems like the AH-64 has a George directly off the short bus.

[TBarina]

Are you already using or did you ever try this DCS AH-64D Apache Voice Attack by Bailey?

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3321355/