Hi, I want to integrate my custom joystick grip into the Rhino base... Shift register would be the e

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...

KeksstarOP•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?

KeksstarOP•4/15/23, 4:23 PM

yup, it does

TTheAmazinGreat Does your arduino communicate with your PC via USB?

KeksstarOP•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?

KeksstarOP•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).

KeksstarOP•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.

KeksstarOP•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...

KeksstarOP•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.

KeksstarOP•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...

KeksstarOP•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...

KeksstarOP•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!

Fer•4/16/23, 1:35 AM

hey walmis im having some issues with my virpil alpha

Fer•4/16/23, 1:35 AM

some times button 10 registers momentarely

Fer•4/16/23, 1:35 AM

and button 2

Fer•4/16/23, 1:35 AM

alpha prime is ok

Fer•4/16/23, 1:36 AM

i tested with virpil software in brd base and its ok no problem with buttons so i think is a software isse

Fer•4/16/23, 2:27 AM

or the support is just for alpha prime??

Fer•4/16/23, 2:27 AM

sorry the software is just compatible for alpha prime

Fer•4/16/23, 2:27 AM

walmis•4/16/23, 5:17 AM

I have a VPC alpha, I'll take a look. Does it happen often?

Fer•4/16/23, 5:52 AM

yep every time i use it

Fer•4/16/23, 5:53 AM

button 2 and 20

walmis•4/16/23, 5:55 AM

Previously you mentioned button 10. And I mean how often? Does it flicker once in a minute? Hour? Constantly?

Fer•4/16/23, 5:57 AM

sorry buton 20 and 2

Fer•4/16/23, 5:57 AM

mm let me send you a video

Fer•4/16/23, 5:59 AM

Fer•4/16/23, 5:59 AM

There is it

Fer•4/16/23, 6:01 AM

With this in DCS it’s difficult to asign buttons to commands

walmis•4/16/23, 6:01 AM

Thanks, I'll look into it

Fer•4/16/23, 6:01 AM

FFer 👍👍👍

walmis•4/16/23, 6:07 AM

Does it flicker when you select Generic Grip?

Fer•4/16/23, 6:10 AM

mm let me check

Fer•4/16/23, 6:11 AM

yes

Fer•4/16/23, 6:11 AM

1, 2 and 20

Fer•4/16/23, 6:16 AM

its alpha gen 1

sliphavoc•4/16/23, 7:25 PM

@walmis, @skypickle I also just encountered the same error regarding the config.ini, it was because in the config.ini, there is a duplicate section: the [UH-1H] section is in there twice. I removed the first one (which only had type=Helicopter in it) and now it seems to be working.

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

skyPickle•4/17/23, 1:10 AM

I pulled the latest revision from the github.

skyPickle•4/17/23, 1:10 AM

The config.ini file is present

Hi, I want to integrate my custom joystick grip into the Rhino base... Shift register would be the e

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