hey @walmis, lee from ars technica here - apologies for the bother, but would it be possible to swap

hey @walmis, lee from ars technica here - apologies for the bother, but would it be possible to swap a few e-mails back and forth? i've got a preorder in and I'm interested in reviewing the VPForce on Ars, and wanted to be able to send a few questions your way.

LeeHOP•4/14/23, 12:03 PM

(no worries if not, I don't want to be a pest or anything!)

Troll 🇸🇪 🇳🇴•4/14/23, 1:38 PM

@walmis how do you connect the kill switch? Does it cut the power from the power supply, or just the power to the motors?

TTroll 🇸🇪 🇳🇴@walmis how do you connect the kill switch? Does it cut the power from the power...

walmis•4/14/23, 1:39 PM

It kills the positive line from the power supply

LLeeH hey @walmis, lee from ars technica here - apologies for the bother, but would it...

walmis•4/14/23, 1:39 PM

Sure, shoot me a DM

ddrake1984•4/14/23, 1:46 PM

https://youtu.be/O_MZ5aGxvcI

YouTubeAirlinePilot2008

F-16 flight control self test

I had some extra time while performing an engine run on one of our jets in Iraq, so I ran a flight control self test just to weed out any problems and ensure that everything else was ready to go on the jet so we could return it to service for its next mission. Once I "warm up" the flight controls and engage the self test, the flight control comp...

ddrake1984•4/14/23, 1:49 PM

https://youtube.com/shorts/YCLCzoZb3H0?feature=share

YouTubeaviatrix99

USAF Female F-16 pilot Capt Zoe Kotnik, New Viper Demo Team Member

USAF Female F-16 pilot Capt Zoe Kotnik describes the throttle and stick of viper
44271072 503928186753791 7446556720417262154 n

MMagpie I didn't even try the F16 with this. I usually use a side stick for it Its a FBW...

Merlins51•4/14/23, 10:40 PM

No arguments that the stick isn't ideal for the F-16. But, given that it's the only joystick I currently use, and can't be used without the power on, I wanted to see whether the issue I had was in my setup or in the module. Anyone else experience different spring force for the F-16 in pitch vs roll?

skyPickle•4/15/23, 1:25 AM

using the lateswt telem. Is there a solution to this error in the cmd window:

skyPickle•4/15/23, 1:25 AM

2023-04-14 20:42:25 - INFO - Open Rhino HID FFFF:2055
2023-04-14 20:42:25 - INFO - Listening on UDP :34380
Exception in thread Thread-2:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Python311\Lib\threading.py", line 1038, in _bootstrap_inner
self.run()
File "F:\Dropbox[DCS\Joysticks\VPforce-TelemFFB\main.py", line 163, in run
config.reload()
^^^^^^
NameError: name 'config' is not defined

skyPickle•4/15/23, 1:26 AM

got that error trying to fly the Dora

MMerlins51 No arguments that the stick isn't ideal for the F-16. But, given that it's the ...

walmis•4/15/23, 5:23 AM

DCS for some reason sets spring coefficients that way.

SskyPickle 2023-04-14 20:42:25 - INFO - Open Rhino HID FFFF:2055 2023-04-14 20:42:25 - INFO...

walmis•4/15/23, 5:29 AM

Most likely it failed to find the config ini file for some reason

Keksstar•4/15/23, 3:14 PM

Hi, I want to integrate my custom joystick grip into the Rhino base... Shift register would be the easy route, but it´s not suitable for me as I also have thumbsticks on it which gives potentiometer values that I would like to use. Shift register is just an "on/off". Is there an "protocol" that I can use to send data from an Arduino via SPI to the Rhino?

Troll 🇸🇪 🇳🇴•4/15/23, 3:35 PM

@walmis what specs should the emergency kill switch have? I’m considering using a latching normally closed push button.

walmis•4/15/23, 3:37 PM

it should handle around 4A avg, 10A peak

PiNKSH!T•4/15/23, 3:52 PM

Hey Walmis m8 what's an "average" temp for the motors for use over a few hours, not sustained hard forces the entire time but steady use with burst of hard usage (typical flight sim use really)? Would the mid 40° be alright?

KKeksstar Hi, I want to integrate my custom joystick grip into the Rhino base... Shift reg...

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:09 PM

Check out this reply and my other comment below it. This may help you, if you want to do your own Arduino SPI slave, I can help.

📃general

TTheAmazinGreat Check out this reply and my other comment below it. This may help you, if you wa...

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:14 PM

Well, I already have everything wired up with an Arduino. I want to bring this into the Rhino to have an complete unit without the need to run additional cables and configure another joystick... So things get more cleaner and I only have "one" device to configure

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:15 PM

Does your arduino communicate with your PC via USB?

TTheAmazinGreat Does your arduino communicate with your PC via USB?

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:23 PM

yup, it does

TTheAmazinGreat Does your arduino communicate with your PC via USB?

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:23 PM

but would be neater to have it all integrated into the Rhino itself

KKeksstar but would be neater to have it all integrated into the Rhino itself

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:25 PM

Just wanting to understand your setup so I can answer your question as best as possible. So you use the Rhino connected via USB and your custom grip is connected via a second USB. Is that right?

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:26 PM

Exactly

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:28 PM

So there is a way that you can reconfigure the Arduino and shift register to work in series and both send data to the Rhino via SPI through a single connection just like a Virpil stick. The shift register sends the digital data (buttons) and the Arduino send the analog data (thumbsticks).

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:30 PM

But there is no need for the Shift Register... you can tell the Arduino to send it out like an shift register

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:35 PM

That's true, I realized I misread your original message and thought you had a shift register talking to an Arduino already. If it's just buttons and axes going directly to an Arduino, you just need to write the sketch so the digital and analog data get sent out over SPI but your number of buttons would be limited by your Arduino pins. If you are already using the Arduino though, I'm assuming your input count is sufficient for your button count already.

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:41 PM

Everything is working so far, all buttons I need.... I just want to bring it into the Rhino. Which is just some buttons but two thumb sticks...

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:41 PM

Everything happens on one Arduino Micro so far

walmis•4/15/23, 4:42 PM

There was this discussion with @theamazingreat , you can use this structure to send out over SPI
🧰support

walmis•4/15/23, 4:44 PM

I'll repeat it here:

union {
  struct {
   uint8_t buttons[7];
   uint8_t reserved;
   int16_t axis[4]; // range 0..4096, center at 2048
  } __attribute((packed));
  uint8_t data[16];
 } ;

union {
  struct {
   uint8_t buttons[7];
   uint8_t reserved;
   int16_t axis[4]; // range 0..4096, center at 2048
  } __attribute((packed));
  uint8_t data[16];
 } ;

This is using the WinWing adapter profile

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:44 PM

The Arduino gets power to the Vin and GND pins via the grip plug, the other 3 wires go to the CLK, MOSI, and SS pins on the Arduino. Make sure to configure these wires correctly.

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:46 PM

This is really helpful! Will check it out

Thanks to both of you

TTheAmazinGreat The Arduino gets power to the Vin and GND pins via the grip plug, the other 3 wi...

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:48 PM

Wondering if you might want to help out a little bit in sharing your code... before I´m starting from scratch?

KKeksstar Wondering if you might want to help out a little bit in sharing your code... bef...

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 4:52 PM

Let me work on getting set up with a GitHub and I'll send you the link. This will help me to get it documented and uploaded, which I've been putting off haha.

TTheAmazinGreat Let me work on getting set up with a GitHub and I'll send you the link. This wil...

Keksstar•4/15/23, 4:54 PM

That´s fine for me

I don´t have to rush on this project

KKeksstar That´s fine for me 🙂 I don´t have to rush on this project

TheAmazinGreat•4/15/23, 5:01 PM

Thanks, I'll keep you posted! Glad to help!