Home cockpit for Orbiter

Phil Smith

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O-F Staff note: thread moved to simpit forum.
-------------------

Hi!:tiphat:
So I got an idea. I'm very impressed by Boeing 737 cockpit for flight simulators:
http://www.jetmax.ca/

and immediately imaged same thing for orbiter, for DG IV or other spacecraft.
for beginning we can make cockpit with push-buttons, toggles etc without MFDs. push the button and computer thinks you pushed "L" key on keyboard, something like that. Everything is controlled by USB and some kinda a micro-controller like ATmega16.

Here is example for cockpit with 64 buttons
http://www.joysticks.ru/download/files/MJoy16_v1.pdf

After that try to simulate whole entire cockpit ( http://blog.phees.de/uploads/screenshots/DeltaGliderIV-cockpit.jpg )

maybe someone here got the same idea? lets share with the experience!:hello:

PS the idea might sound silly but it will be cool to play with that thing :thumbup:
 
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DanM

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We actually have a forum for simpits here. I was planning to make a Soyuz one for a while but I don't have the time to make or use it.
 

Phil Smith

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Simpits sound so cool to me, but I would have no place to put one, and I imagine the cost would be horrendous:(

i guess simple version of the cockpit will cost about 100-200 bucks (w/o MFDs)
and it's dims approx 5x3x2 feet with wood frame (but still not good for apartments:facepalm:).
but idea of real MFD is amazing -

but it will be most difficult and expansive part of the simulator:hailprobe:
 
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jangofett287

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There is only one thing I can say. Good Luck. You will need it. A) for the cost B) for the wiring and C) getting the MFD's to work with orbiter
 

yagni01

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i guess simple version of the cockpit will cost about 100-200 bucks (w/o MDFs)
and it's dims approx 5x3x2 feet with wood frame (but still not good for apartments:facepalm:).
but idea of real MDF is amazing -
FlightDeckSolutions B737NG-PROMX-CDU with Sim Avionics - YouTube

but it will be most difficult and expansive part of the simulator:hailprobe:
As DanM mentioned, there is a simpit subforum http://www.orbiter-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=67 where discussions like this can take place. Also check out the Orbiter Cockpits area on the wiki: http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Orbiter_cockpits

First of all, who says you can't get a flight deck into an apartment? A single seater can easily fit into a spare bedroom, sunroom, or even dining room depending on layout and marital status. My current build is about 6'x6'x6' in an upstairs bonus room. It's built in modules that can be disassembled for removal. It's all a matter of balancing resources ($$, time, functionality) based on your personal situation. As a hobby, there's no deadline to completion. I've been working on mine for about 4 years. As I wait to save money for the next piece, I research, design/write/test software, and fly. I should probably post a new picture.

I see you are familiar with FDS. I get my Korry look-alike switches from them, and have had discussions with TekWorx, the folks that write the InterfaceIT software about an API to communicate with Orb:Connect. Currently I use I/O interface software I've written myself. Using vessels that support the XRVesselCtrl interface, you can drive annunciators and an EICAS.

MFD's can be done with multiple monitors and ExtMFD (touchscreens are within reach now) or using the RemoteMFD software on SourceForge to design custom MFDs. For the CDU you show, the piece that's missing is a Flight Control System. Software that someone may someday grace us with.

If it's something you want to pursue, read, sketch, mock up, and ask questions. we'll be here to help.
 

luki1997a

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My concept ;)
cockpit.png

would be enought for me :) Price without 2 MFDs is 800 $ and without 4 MFDs 500$

Here comes:
-3 Full HD monitors - 300$(cheap ones) - 500 $(better ones)
-Joystick and throttle control - 200$
-4 MFDs - 400$ - 800$

So final cost is from 900$ to 1500$

And little question: would these MFDs :hesaid: be compatible with orbiter?
:hailprobe:
 

meson800

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I am currently making my own simpit for the DGIV at the moment. My design uses an Atmega (as an Arduino) as the interface device. My programming, instead of simulating mouseclicks, sends PanelMouseEvents to the DGIV, so I can simulate any button on the DGIV's panel, not just buttons with keyboard mappings.

For my HUD, I plan on using a projector to simulate the HUD, and use a flat screen for the HUD.

Good luck on your simpit!:cheers: If you're interested in my design, just PM me.
 

N_Molson

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I was planning to make a Soyuz one for a while but I don't have the time to make or use it.

My dream would be to buy an used Soyuz capsule and convert it into a Soyuz simulator. Would be pretty cool for other spacecrafts too. :p
 

Phil Smith

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What you see in the video is not an MFD. It's a Boeing 737 control display unit, i.e. 737 flight management computer. Completely unusable for anything related to orbiter.

yeah man i know it. i just put this video for example ;)

My dream would be to buy an used Soyuz capsule and convert it into a Soyuz simulator. Would be pretty cool for other spacecrafts too. :p

awesome! so i want the Apollo spacecraft actually :p

---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 AM ----------

So I have two questions:
1) is it real to do real push-buttons for the external mfd's or using a touch-screen mfd is the better way?
2) is it real to convert game values (for ex. altitude, velocity, etc) to real digits like in Apollo spacecraft computer?
i'll very appreciate your help
 
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N_Molson

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My dream would be to buy an used Soyuz capsule and convert it into a Soyuz simulator. Would be pretty cool for other spacecrafts too.

It isn't that much unrealistic... The Soyuz SA is pretty small, and it's basically junk after reentry. I guess that the greatest part of the costs would be : cleaning of any hazardous materials (RCS...), and transportation (even stripped down of the heat shield, thermal covers and RCS system, it would probably weigh more than 1,5 ton.
 

Phil Smith

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2 N_Molson: seems good idea, but i guess its difficult to get real soyuz. even used..
my dream is make real scale command and lunar module (of course just ascent stage) from apollo program and use em with orbiter.


PS Can anybody please give me some tutorials how to make external mfd with real push-buttons?
 
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yagni01

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So I have two questions:
1) is it real to do real push-buttons for the external mdf's or using a touch-screen MDF is the better way?
2) is it real to convert game values (for ex. altitude, velocity, etc) to real digits like in Apollo spacecraft computer?
i'll very appreciate your help

1) It is absolutely possible, but as usual, the answer to 'what's best' is "it depends". With a touchscren, you have to allow for enough screen real estate to include the buttons. To use physical buttons, you have to allow for the width of the LCD frame (meaning they will be farther from the screen itself) because the switches will extend through the back of the panel up to 1" depending on the switch used (or set the whole screen that far behind the panel. You would also need a keyboard macro program like AutoHotKey to make that window active and mouse click in it (and perhaps joy2key if the switch is connected to a game controller.)

2) Again possible, if the data is available from Orbiter. This would require a hardware driver to make the drive the multiple 7-sement displays.

HTH
 
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Hielor

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If you're looking for an MFD frame on the cheap and have good eyes, you can try the Cougar MFD pack. Pretty solid construction and relatively shallow. The main issue is that they're not very big, so any display you put under them will be fairly small and might be unreadable.

It also only has 5 buttons per side (and on all 4 sides) compared to Orbiter's 6. That said, you can't really beat the price of two full backlit MFD frames for only $50.

edit: note that they are just frames, with no built in display.
 

Phil Smith

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TMac3000

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That looks really nice! I wish I had the time and money to do something like this. Right now the Iron Hill Project and my job are soaking up all my time and effort;)
 
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