DCS CoPilot. New iPhone/iPad app in development

[JEFX]

Hi Tiger!

 

Your site is offline and I cannot find the info anywhere... Is your great App out yet? Didnt see it in iTunes App store?

 

thanks

[TigersharkBAS]

Hi there,

Still working on it. Just had a baby so it is tough finding the times these days.

 

But thanks for your interest. New website also coming soon.

[Ratcatcher]

Hey tiger, just stumbled across this thread and must say very impressed with what you have done so far.

 

One question, will this be compatible with people running Helios?

 

Also would you be able to have multiple devices running, ie an ipad running with an iPhone?

[TigersharkBAS]

Hi there,

Not sure with what you mean....compatible with Helios. What do you mean?

 

It should be fine to run it over 2 devices. It will depend. The actual mission information might be a peer to peer connection (1 device only) but all the rest of the functionality will work on 2 devices simultaneously.

 

I haven't got the netcode running yet. It has been challenge enough reading the mission Lua file to get all the info required. Of course, with every new module change the mission file changes a little and the code has o be modified. This is taking longer than I anticipated and I just had a baby so time is hard to find. This is a labour of love though and I won't give up on it :-)

[TigersharkBAS]

I think you may have misunderstood that RWR pic. It is not a realtime reflection of what is happening in the cockpit. It is a reference. Tap the number to see the actual threat information. It isn't a mirror of the working RWR like Helios is of the cockpit. This may be the source of confusion.

[Ratcatcher]

I think you may have misunderstood that RWR pic. It is not a realtime reflection of what is happening in the cockpit. It is a reference. Tap the number to see the actual threat information. It isn't a mirror of the working RWR like Helios is of the cockpit. This may be the source of confusion.

 

Ah I see, thanks for the quick explanation. That answers my question, sorry I should have read the whole thread a little more carefully.

 

Still looks a great app, hope to see it released soon, and good luck with the baby!

[neroroxxx]

will there be an ipad version?

 

Also will it take advantage of the longer screen of the iPhone 5?

[Arctic]

This App looks awesome! Cant wait for it!:thumbup:

[TigersharkBAS]

Good news gentlemen. Development of this is ramping up again. Mainly because we have re-evaluated how we can obtain mission data for the app.

 

Previously we were trying to the iPhone app to parse the mission file provided by DCS to get the data we need. This proved difficult. Embedding Lua inside an iPhone app was not trivial and the method to interact with Lua.

 

Then we thought about writing a little server applet to do parsing for us but finding time and resources to code Windows apps is also difficult (we are predominantly Apple). It also is another thing to have maintain.

 

However, we have settled on using the network to get this data from DCS directly real time. We have experimented with XML files, reading missions files, all these things but now DCS World's export functions look like they can provide us with the required missions data and send it to us real time.

 

We are showing great progress. We have successfully connected DCS to DCS CoPilot over the network and have begun receiving some basic data.

 

With these new possibilities comes some enhanced functionality for DCS CoPilot.

 

For example, the caution panel reference screen. At the moment you simply tap a item to an explanation of the problem. But now we plan to get caution panel data from the sim and only light up the items that match what you see in game to make them more contextual to you. We could also envisage some kind of auto checklist that pops up as soon as a critical fault occurs.

 

Some examples of what could be achieved.

 

1. left engine goes out, app throws up a checklist of things to do deal with the problem.

2. Gear goes down, landing checklist pops up.

3. SA-6 locked up in TGP, up pops a identification sheet with info on range and threat parameters (this could be a trainer for TGP identification until pilots become proficient with target id)

 

These features will progressively appear in the product as it matures.

 

Our goal is release a initial version, with perhaps limited functionality but then continously update the app with further refinements.

 

Just wanted to keep you updated with that we have planned.

[oceanoftimeGER]

Looks awesome! :)

[towsim]

The image shows an A10 Instructor cockpit. The instructor may hook over the internet into an A10 student cockpit and gets all gauge indications of the student cockpit and the use of the controls. He can even take over control and fly the student aircraft. It works with a small LUA export and a DLL on the student side.

[derelor]

The image shows an A10 Instructor cockpit. The instructor may hook over the internet into an A10 student cockpit and gets all gauge indications of the student cockpit and the use of the controls. He can even take over control and fly the student aircraft. It works with a small LUA export and a DLL on the student side.

Nice!

 

Grüße!

[RagnarDa]

He can even take over control and fly the student aircraft.

 

wait, what?

[towsim]

By a push on the C - button on the controls panel, the local throttle flaps, speedies, joystick and rudder data are sent over the internet to the student cockpit. If you have the sim running in parallel, you can even observe the results from the spectators view.

[EAKMotorsports]

Looking forward

[Damien]

Any update to this?

 

-Damien

[TigersharkBAS]

Recent changes to DCS World make this challenging. Also finding time. But I haven't given up on the project. I really want this to move faster but finding time is the issue more than anything else.

 

Could use a partner but finding other people with iOS programming skills and time is also a big issue.

[TigersharkBAS]

OK. I have begun work on this again. The code base is quite old and I am begining with a clean slate and rebuilding it using latest techniques and efficiencies. Should be quick though as I am reusing code from the original.

 

Initial test connecting to DCS to get mission information have been successful.

Unlike other iPhone helper apps you will not have to type in mission info when you launch your game.

 

Mission data, weather, waypoints, everything is grabbed from DCS and placed in a mission summary screen.

 

I plan to release this using the same model I have used for other iPhone apps I have built.

 

It will ship with 1 or 2 pieces of core functionality and then there will be regular update cycles (approx. 1 every 2weeks) in which any bugs are fixed and new functionality is introduced.

 

It will ship as an A-10C product and eventually have in-app purchases for certain KA-50, FC3, UH-1H items.

 

Haven't quite decided on price yet so I will try a poll to see what you think it is worth.

 

I don't really want to get into a conversation around price but a lot of development time has gone into this. The art work alone has sucked up many man hours as well as working out how to connect to DCS.

 

Given the relatively small customer base and the value added features I have planned I am hoping whatever price is set is not an unreasonable investment.

 

The value added features include "training modes". Caution panel lights will light up to match the sim and enable you to tap them to get detailed descriptions and a mini checklist to deal with it for example. I am also hoping to implement a feature where you can get an ID of what you have locked up in your MFD to help with target ID for those who aren't fluent in Russian military hardware.

 

These are what I am working on. You will also be able to maintain your own checklists without needing to tap them into the app itself (an import function if you will). Lots of ideas planned....all wrapped in a polished interface.

 

After releasing my first commercial app a couple of months ago I am inspired to get this out the door and to start earning something from it rather than watching simply suck up my time :(

[MacFevre]

Tiger, it's worth whatever you think it is. And I will pay. Don't fall into the trap that only people will buy it if it's only priced at a dollar. Problem is, there is no demo for apps, and no one wants to pay $30 or $40 for an app that you find doesn't work for you.

 

I like the iap for different aircraft idea. It works well (for me,) like the app called tapCheck. Great app, use it every day. Runs through checklists out loud for you, and supposedly is in development to listen for your confirmation instead of having to press a button. It's like being with a co-pilot. "Ground safety," "Observed." "Log book," "Check" etc... Perhaps you could have a stripped down "demo" for really low price and an iap for any aircraft, including a-10C? just a thought, but looking forward to it!

[MacFevre]

Crap. I'm really sorry. Just saw you didn't want to get into a conversation about pricing, and what do I do? I apologize. Please disregard.

[TigersharkBAS]

Hi Mac...thanks for the feedback. And thanks for the functionality suggestions. i will look into it. But I think the app will be more around the $5 mark than the 30-40 buck range ;-)

[The LT]

iPad version, pretty please? I know I'll pay.

[nerves]

Status on app (Ipad)?

[TigersharkBAS]

Status is....as per usual, the Lua coding in DCS has been holding me back. But as of August I am teaming up with headspace of TARS fame an he is helping get the Lua coding dusted so I can focus on the iOS. The first release will be iPhone but subsequent releases will eventually see the app go universal and have iPad support built in for free. Will ship with A-10 centric features and at later dates have in app purchases for other DCS world modules.