ADI and HSI actual instruments

[Rokmonkey]

I'm starting to work on my own simpit, and am starting with the instrument panel. I know I'm stepping a bit far ahead when thinking about making complex instruments like the ADI and HSI, but I am anyway. I plan on making all mechanical instruments, and have a copy of Mikes Flight Deck to help out, but it doesn't cover anything as complex as the ADI in the Black Shark.

 

I am curious if anyone has made a mechanical ADI and/or HSI for their Blackshark Simpit. I've been searching online, but not really getting anywhere. There are, as I count them, 7 axes on both, and thats a whole lot of servos, so I'm just out looking for ideas about where to start.

[BaD CrC]

Mate. I don't really know how talented you are for such things, but how long do you think it's gonna take to manufacture each and every gauge and interface them with the game? You can be in for a pretty long time. Are you sure you don't want to go the Helios (SCSimulations) way? You'd be in your pit flying with your wingmens in no time.

[Rokmonkey]

Interfacing is no problem, I am using AVR's for each gauge, which is simple enough to use. ( I have a bit of experience with them) And as I'm a Grad Student in Mechanical Engineering, I've got access to a well stocked and furnished machine shop. All the gauges except for ADI and HSI are quite straightforward.

 

I'm guessing, for your response, most people don't make all mechanical gauges.

[y2kiah]

If there are any two gauges in the pit where you're better off using LCDs, those are the two. Mechanical for any other gauge is very doable. Just my 2 cents.

[Deadman]

Dido the only way to do the real HSI and ADI is get them on eBay to much crap in side to duplicate at a low cost

[Rokmonkey]

Yeah, that's really what I was thinking. I think I'm going to make them exceptionally simplified. After playing a game tonight, I realized I don't even notice half of the features of those instruments.

[MudRat02]

I don't know if an ADI (I'm assuming an ADI is an AI here! ;) ) would be that difficult in terms of construction but using it with a sim would probably be hard. The simplest method would probably be with two servos controlling movement of two gymbal arms (opposite to the real thing) with the AI face attached (same as the real thing). Pitch and roll inputs req'd.

 

You might be able to score an unserviceable AI from somewhere. Maintenance contractors (BAe?) et al.

[KLaFaille]

 

 

As an FYI, the innards of my real ARU-2B/A ADI.

[Mike Powell]

 

I am curious if anyone has made a mechanical ADI and/or HSI...

 

http://home.exetel.com.au/flightsim/hsi_project.htm

[hog_driver111th]

Red, if you get this working with the sim, you definitely need to let us know how. I've seen some good looking ADIs on Ebay for pretty cheap, but wouldn't know the first thing about getting it hooked up to the sim.

[BaD CrC]

Yes. Would love to see what you can do. I am indeed not a mechanical guy so this kind of adventure is scaring me. And when it comes to buy this kind of thing, the simplest usb gauge is at least in the range of 200 euros.

[Rokmonkey]

@MudRat02

The ADI (Attitude and Direction Indicator) in Blackshark has a lot of additional capabilities, such as bank and pitch correction indicators for an assigned attitude, which adds a few more servos to the mix. Mikes Flight Deck for instruments actually covers a normal AI from fixed wing aircraft which does as you suggest though, which is most likely what I will be making for now.

 

@KLaFaille

That is perfect, almost exactly what I was looking for. Definitely good insight on that one. I think I can re-engineer that to make one.

 

@Mike

Love your books. Also, very awesome gauge you have there. Great insight.

Edited September 4, 2011 by Rokmonkey

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

http://home.exetel.com.au/flightsim/hsi_project.htm

 

That is a thing of true beauty right there and great reason people like me use monitors instead! :helpsmilie:

[Mike Powell]

That is a thing of true beauty right there and great reason people like me use monitors instead! :helpsmilie:

 

Scott has put a great deal of thought and effort into it, and it shows. He's also built a number of other instruments as well as writing a lot of interface software.

[KLaFaille]

Hi Mike,

 

Thanks for that post. Scott's work is first rate and his end product is indeed a fine example of ingenuity and craftsmanship. Also, it's good to see you here and I want to personally thank you for what you have contributed to the home simulator community. I have your books and they should be required reading for anyone looking to build their own pit, they are an incredible resource.

 

Between the chapters you have written on synchros and controlling them, and another member here who has great knowledge on their use, I hope to get my ADI running and interfaced at some point when time permits.

 

Thanks again,

 

Keith

[Deadman]

+1:thumbup:

[Mike Powell]

Thank you for the kind words.

[KLaFaille]

Nothing too exciting but I figured I'd share here too.

 

qjAHqqNzM1g

 

Red

[hog_driver111th]

Nothing too exciting but I figured I'd share here too.

Red

 

nothing too exciting??? Red, you've got us all drooling to have the same thing when you get this finished! I do hope you'll share the secret and software to make this work with DCS.