some thinking

Some more thought about what could be improved on most modern transmitters (including the nice new Robbe FX30):
* programming usability: Some functions you will never know what they are used for,
* no direct access to often used functions (on T12 you need to press 4 or 5times buttons just to change model),
* no global view on what's happening on a servo channel,
* limitations in switch cascading for timer function (on 12z you can't say stick high AND switch OFF = time start),
* can't have your own names for functions you like,
* lcd screen badly visible while flying, most have lcd below the stick median, no chance to look at it while flying without some gymnastic,
* simple way to tune model settings while flying,
* light and thin case for any style of pilot,
* talk when needed, useful for retransmission function: push a button and the radio will tell you the current receiver battery voltage, or give you an alarm when below some value, etc...
* a simple generic way to enter model settings with your own vocabulary

RCHome Source code

The source code is now available on sourceforge under the rcopensource project, with GPLv2 license. You can view it, or retrieve it. To view it with web, go to gitweb.

To retrieve, you'll need "git". Once "git" installed on your computer, to get it in read-only mode do:

git clone git://rcopensource.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/rcopensource

If you want to contribute to the project, you are more than welcome. The entire project can be retrieved with:

git clone ssh://@rcopensource.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/rcopensource

Rcopensource project page is here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/rcopensource/develop

Read the file README and COMPILE before starting.

Have fun,
Olivier

RC @ Home v2 software

The Hex image to flash and the PC gui application with examples is here. See README for more informations on how to flash and use.
The short howto build the TX is still here.
The sources (c++ , perl) will soon be available.

Features:

- 8 input ADC (sticks, pots),
- more than 8 switches input,
- 8 channels control,
- configurable input (analog, switch)
- configurable mixes,
- reverse, limit, subtrim, pulse
- model storage on SD Card
- configuration application on PC
- no lcd display,
- signal compatible PPM, O24RCPv1, RCHv2

Using a Simulator for tests

As the transmitter can now generates a PPM signal, I can use it as a "ppm Joystick" to any sofware simulator that take USB-PPM cable as input. For instance crrcsim or Phoenix, which are 2 really good sims, the first one for glider, and Phoenix for helico/planes. For crrcsim, the USB-Futaba connector cable works well, and for Phoenix there is a specific USB cable for Futaba. One both cables, it just need to connect the ground and the PPM signal. Using a simulator program like that, it a very good test for the coder, as there is no intermediate which may fail and demonstrates pretty well response times, and test any kind of input combination.

configuration file example

Configuration file for aerobatic glider with flap,snap and butterfly:

mcontrolmgr mcontrol=0 adc=0 calib_max=941 calib_min=76 calib_zero=504
mcontrolmgr mcontrol=1 adc=1 calib_max=898 calib_min=113 calib_zero=508
mcontrolmgr mcontrol=2 adc=2 calib_max=938 calib_min=76 calib_zero=475
mcontrolmgr mcontrol=3 adc=3 calib_max=979 calib_min=42 calib_zero=418
mcontrolmgr mswitch=5 pin=5 port=C
mcontrolmgr mswitch=6 pin=6 port=C
chanoutmgr chanout=0 cname=aileronG
chanoutmgr chanout=0 smix=0 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=93 name=aileron inh=0 in1=0 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=0 smix=1 straight sw=6 rev=1 rate=23 name=snap inh=0 in1=2 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=0 smix=2 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=-51 name=bfly inh=0 in1=1 offset=-198
chanoutmgr chanout=0 smix=9 fixcte sw=5 rev=1 name=flap inh=0 offset=162
chanoutmgr chanout=0 trans=3 reverse rev=1
chanoutmgr chanout=0 trans=4 chantrim offset=90
chanoutmgr chanout=0 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=1 cname=voletG
chanoutmgr chanout=1 smix=0 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=40 name=aileron inh=0 in1=0 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=1 smix=1 straight sw=6 rev=1 rate=40 name=snap inh=0 in1=2 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=1 smix=2 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=56 name=bfly inh=0 in1=1 offset=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=1 smix=9 fixcte sw=5 rev=1 name=flap inh=0 offset=269
chanoutmgr chanout=1 trans=3 reverse rev=1
chanoutmgr chanout=1 trans=4 chantrim offset=82
chanoutmgr chanout=1 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=2 cname=voletD
chanoutmgr chanout=2 smix=0 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=30 name=aileron inh=0 in1=0 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=2 smix=1 straight sw=6 rev=1 rate=-40 name=snap inh=0 in1=2 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=2 smix=2 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=-54 name=bfly inh=0 in1=1 offset=-303
chanoutmgr chanout=2 smix=9 fixcte sw=5 rev=1 name=flap inh=0 offset=-269
chanoutmgr chanout=2 trans=3 reverse rev=1
chanoutmgr chanout=2 trans=4 chantrim offset=-154
chanoutmgr chanout=2 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=3 cname=aileronD
chanoutmgr chanout=3 smix=0 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=82 name=aileron inh=0 in1=0 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=3 smix=1 straight sw=6 rev=1 rate=-23 name=snap inh=0 in1=2 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=3 smix=2 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=51 name=bfly inh=0 in1=1 offset=880
chanoutmgr chanout=3 smix=9 fixcte sw=5 rev=1 name=flap inh=0 offset=-198
chanoutmgr chanout=3 trans=3 reverse rev=1
chanoutmgr chanout=3 trans=4 chantrim offset=235
chanoutmgr chanout=3 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=4 cname=prof
chanoutmgr chanout=4 smix=2 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=80 name=prof inh=0 in1=2 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=4 smix=6 straight sw=15 rev=0 rate=-19 name=bfly inh=0 in1=1 offset=-162
chanoutmgr chanout=4 trans=3 reverse rev=1
chanoutmgr chanout=4 trans=4 chantrim offset=-246
chanoutmgr chanout=4 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024
chanoutmgr chanout=5 cname=derive
chanoutmgr chanout=5 smix=2 straight sw=0 rev=0 rate=80 name=deri inh=0 in1=3 offset=0
chanoutmgr chanout=5 trans=3 reverse rev=0
chanoutmgr chanout=5 trans=4 chantrim offset=-18
chanoutmgr chanout=5 trans=5 chanbounds max=1024


Aerobatic glider and RCHv2

Yes.... that was the first flight with a more serious glider (jedi 4 home made), with 6 channels (2 ailerons + 2 flaps + elevator + rudder). The radio has been configured with several mixes and settings to work good enough for this model type. Here are some pictures, a video demo.



The gliders has 6 channels, and a Assan mini 6ch receiver. Ok, do not do like me, use a more long range receiver. The mini is supposed to be 500-800m range, which can be limited for big gliders. I did not fly very far, but did not had any problem with that configuration.

RCHv2 has been configured to make those mix working: butterfly (airbrake with flaps+ailerons), flaps (with flaps to ailerons), and snap flap (elevator to flaps & ailerons).


See this video foa a demo of those mix.


And also, I was lucky today. After 30 minutes fly, my receiver battery went below 3.2v ! The cells were too old obviously, my fault I should have replaced them. But I was very lucky to be able to bring back without damage the glider, with only 2 mm movement on one aileron and flap. Elevator was still working fortunately. And Assan receiver mini-6 worked still nicely even at a so low voltage, and *without* condensator. Well done Assan !

The next goal is to fly an aerobatic glider (4 wing servos, 2.50m wing span) with the summer version of RCHv2.
Many changes and bug fixes have been done in the software. The USB-serial communication between PC and TX is very convenient, but can be a headache in some cases to debug. Hopefully, it now works pretty well, even with large model configuration.
The PC configuration now support names for Channel and smix/trans. Several parameters have been added to smix type "straight" such as offset, inhibit, switch, rate , etc... This smix "straight" is the most simple one, but already permit a lot of things, as the following mixes below.
The aerobatic glider (Jedi) is now ready to fly with those mixes (in addition to the aileron/elevator/rudder):

- flaps (with flaps to ailerons),
- snap flap (elevator to ailerons+flaps)
- butterfly with elevator compensation.

Flap and snap flap can be triggered by a switch. Only 2 switch are installed on the TX currently anyway.

To recap the possibilities of the RCHv2 radio, based on an Atmega 644:
- 8 analog channel
- 6 switches (or more)
- high number of "smix" or "trans" function can be configured. Right now the only limit is the SRAM more than the CPU,
- support various transmission types: PPM, O24RCPv1 (XBee), RCHv2,
- TX configuration through PC with a graphical user interface.

More on fly test soon.