UFCP Dead

In the past couple of months, had to go through a change in residence. 

During the shifting, despite taking all care I could, the pit sustained minor damages. Fixed most of them.

Last week, my UFCP monitor (8") just died on me. Despite my best efforts, and getting hold of some really skillful technicians, I wasn't able to get it fixed. 

Ordered myself a new 8" TFT monitor now. 

Will have to rebuild my UFCP after the new monitor arrives. 

Systems Testing

Here's a short video of the first ever pit start.

First Ground Test

Fidgety Phidgets

This is a bit technical post, and I make this post, only to record it for benefit of a future pit builder using the same techniques as I.

While all the ‘Inputs’ in the bit are being handled by either Leo Bodnar’s cards, or by Teensey ++2.00 micro-controller boards. For my purposes, these means have proved to be quite adequate.

While Arduino boards could also be used for ‘Output’ purposes, but, long time ago, I chose to go with Phidget boards.

Alan Dyre had developed a nifty tool called “FS2Phidgets”, which cleanly interfaces the Phidget boards with FSX/FSUIPC. It took some learning, but after that this board/tool is a breeze to use.

Glenn “Tripod” Weston, has provided a masterpiece of an interface tool called as ‘SuperScript’. This LUA script interfaces the VRS SuperBug with FSUIPC and provides total control over all data communication with the airplane.

The SuperScript provides ‘Memory Offsets’ used by FSUIPC, which could be read/written to, to interface the state of all cockpit annunciators, with any other driver board.

While programming the “FS Variable” file for the FS2Phidgets, I came across two idiosyncrasies of the script, which I thought need to be mentioned.

The SuperScript defines memory offsets (in HEX) as, for example, “0x66CA”. However, if the same format is used to declare the offset in FSVariable, it leads to unpredictable results. I found that if the preceeding “0x” was deleted, (use only 66CA, from above example), then the offsets worked flawlessly.

The second issue I faced was in declaring the length of the memory offset. All the output scripts provided by Tripod are one Byte (8 bits) long, except three which are two byte’s long (Caution Panel and Left/Right Annunciator Panels). This was done, to accommodate more than 8 bit assignments in these panel groups.

While declaring FSVariables in FS2P, if I declared the length of offset as ‘Two’ bytes, then the results were very unpredictable. It took me all of full day, to finally figure my way out of this. I realized that FS2P is not able to correctly convert the HEX to decimal, when using two byte long FS Variables.

Out of the three 2 byte groups that Tripod has provided, the Left/Right Annunciator Panel groups, actually use only 8 bits, while the rest of the bits are kept for future use. However, the Caution Panel group uses 10 bits of address space. I split these two bytes into two single bytes offsets, and  accordingly changed bit addresses of the included parameters.

To illustrate, the Caution Panel reads the Offset 0x66C0, and, it’s a 16 bit Unsigned Word. The offset is two bytes long and declares variables from Bit0 till Bit9 (10 bits), while the remaining six bits are kept free for future use.

I declared the FS2P FSVariables in Offset 66C0 from Bit0 till Bit7 (8 bits) and then declared the next memory offset (i.e. 66C1) and declared the Bit8 & Bit9 of the original offset and Bit0 & Bit1 of the new offset, and voila, everything fit into place.

I know this is boring, but, am sure, will help someone someday.

BUNO 22358 is undergoing Taxi Trials

No pictures in today’s update.

It’s been almost seven months since, I started the physical fabrication part of the cockpit build. And it’s four times that time, since I had been researching this subject.

I’m happy to finally say, that Mk-1, Ver 1.00 of my “VRS Rhino Pit, BUNO 22358, AviaScorp Musings” is finally up for complete systems integration checks.

The systems integration checks were planned for the last weekend, but that got consumed totally in fabricating the HUD gauge. Throughout the week, I was promising myself, that this weekend, I WILL fire up the pit, and do atleast one test flight.

I’m happy, that I did.

The pit is not perfect. Not there, where I want it to be. It’s therefore, I call it a Mk-1, Ver 1.00.

Mk-1 build, when complete, will have everything I had originally planned. Subsequent Marks, will incorporate items that I had never planned originally for my pit, for example, a fully collimated, externally projected HUD, Three overhead projectors instead of three 23” monitors for the external displays, spanning various components of the pit on multiple computers instead of a single computer it’s working off, right now, and maybe, just maybe, if technologies like Occulus Rift mature, I might consider moving along the VR road also. It’s also planned to make modules of the pit, quickly replacable, so that I could modify the pit for different airplanes that I love to fly.

Ver 1.00 of the pit is just to ‘stop’ further fabrication, at whatever stage I presently am. I realized, that as I fabricated different parts, my skills also improved. For example, the HUD that I fabricated last week, was of a much better quality and design, compared to (let’s say) a UFCP that was fabricated a few months ago, or the pit tub that was designed and fabricated almost half a year ago. For the past few months, all I was doing was, breaking the older parts and remaking newer versions of them. Due to this, while the work continued on a feverish pace, the pit was never nearing completion.

Future versions of Mk-1 Pit, will replace the existing components with better built/finished components. For example, I have realized that some of the annunciator lights are too dim, or the LEDs are not installed correctly in their enclosures. Or, I’m also considering fabricating/replacing the SPST/DPST mechanical switches with electrically or magnetically held/latches switches to more accurately mimic the actual airplane.

But, all that is for the future and the coming weeks.

As I type this update, a small video I have prepared of the state of the pit till today, and as I was testing it earlier today, is getting uploaded.

That will explain the current status of the pit much better than all the words out here.

  placards and other switches).

HUD

During the initial planning stage itself, I had decided that my pit will not have an external HUD, and that I will use the HUD display provided by the VRS model itself. 

The only reason for this initial decision, taken more than two years back, was; 'I didn't think it possible for me to be able to build myself a home-built, working, fully collimated HUD'.

A lot has changed in these two years. Thanks to the experiments by folks like Baldrick (on Hornetpit forums), and my own experiments, I now know, I could have built one. 

And, I eventually will.

But, in the present design of my cockpit, there is just no more real estate left, to include a working HUD. 

It's just about midnight on a Sunday. As per my original plans, I was supposed to complete my pit today. As of Friday, the only thing left for me to do was, design and build an AoA gauge and complete the wiring for all the annunciators. 

As I sat down to design the AoA gauge, I decided to build a mock up HUD bracket also. Two day's of weekend, were completely consumed by building this simple device. 

Start of an 'abridged' HUD bracket.
Pasted MDF cutouts at each joint for two reasons, it adds to the strength of the joint, and it also adds to the texture of the piece.
This will look totally different, when it is filed, primed and painted.

Sizing it all up, with the combiner glass included

Starting the build of AoA Gauge
Sizing it all up. Taking measurements, planning the build.

I decided to use the caps of disused sketch-pens of my daughter to make the LED mounts.
These caps will ensure that the light of the respective LED stays confined and doesn't filter out to the other LED. Still need to figure out a way to block the very small holes near the base of the pen cap (seen towards the centre of the picture, facing right)

Finalized my decision to go ahead with the use of pen caps.
Cut them to the right size, and commenced the build.

The 'front' and the 'back' plate is now ready.
I designed a correctly sized "groove" to accommodate a printout of AoA gauge markings on a transparency sheet. The measurements and eventual build is such that the front facia will correctly fit.

Filing the finished the work piece

Testing out the final fit, before I close it all up, and start to paint.
I forgot to take a picture, but, I used the normal 'play dough' to seal the joints all around the pen caps. This positively ensures that no unnecessary light leaks out of the respective 'tube'

Painted and all ready to be assembled.
I felt very satisfied with the overall finish.
It took really long to design and build this simple contraption.
But, I'm glad I took the time. 

Assembled and all ready to be mounted in the pit

The wiring will come next

The bottle of play-dough, I mentioned previously, is visible in this picture.

Since the weekend was practically lost, just finishing up a simple piece, I decided to complete another remaining item.
The left and right coaming panels. These will come on top of the Main Instrument Panel.

Mark 'Wood' Killen, based on whose original design, the initial design of my pit was based, had done his coaming panels with plywood. Originally, that's how I had decided also. But, then, I decided to use sheet metal instead. I'm glad I did. Aluminium sheet metal is much easier to work with, compared to plywood, it also provides a better paint finish.
Removal and installation of these panels is a bit intricate though. There is just no space to work in the pit anymore.

I was trying to show the curved upper surface the paint finish in this picture, but the picture didn't come out as intended. 

Having finished the fabrication part, I have started to layout the wiring harnesses also. Finished it for the 'Caution Panel' and the 'Master Arm Panel'. Tested it out, and it worked like a charm. 

Was very happy to see the whole cockpit come alive with all the lights.

Unfortunately, I was too beat to take any pictures. 

Will post them, as I complete more of wiring during the week.

Why do you build a cockpit

A question by an amused bystander, "Why would you build a home cockpit".

Answer by Baldrick, "Because, I can".

Baldrick, is another Rhino pit builder on 'Hornet Pit Builders' Forums, and is half way through an exemplary home pit build. I find the aforementioned quote by Baldrick, very simple, plain-speak, unassuming and truthful.

Over a period of last one year, I have been asked this very question by many friends and family, most of who (I'm sure) thought I had crossed over to the other side (of sanity). :)

Anyways, after a hectic weekend of trying to complete my pit, I wanted to complete the minor tidbits still left over in annunciator wiring. As luck would have it, I got delayed at work. Not to waste what little time I had today, I thought, I might as well calibrate my touch screen UFCP and other in-cockit displays. 

Was quite content with how it panned out, eventually. 

My digital camera is mostly in my daughter's custody, and I can never get my hands to it, when I need it in a hurry. So, most of my pictures get taken on my phone. The picture I took today, in less than ideal light, was not much to look at. So dabbed a bit with photobucket photo editing tools also. Just for fun. 

The real Rhino pit has spring loaded, two-position, clickable switches for HDG/CRS selectors. I had always thought that a rotary knob (a.k.a Altimeter Increment/Decrement Knob) to be a more ergonomic alternative. Don't mean to be rude to the folks at Boeing, but, I chose to make this modification in my pit. I embedded two 8 bit rotary encoders to drive the Heading and Course selector knobs on the EFD. 

Did a 4 point calibration and 25 point linearization on the touch screen of the UFCP (will post a video of the same sometime later), and now it works like a charm.

Spent an enjoyable half hour positioning all the 2D gauges. 

Am using the 'Panel Position' tool available on Avsim to position the undocked 2D panels across multiple monitors. It's an awesome tool. Instead of using the GUI method (physically dragging the panels across), I found that it's best to get into the config file and manually edit the values to derive a precise control over position of each panel. One can control the starting coordinates and height/width of each panel upto a pixel. Awesome!!!

The cabling harnesses

I had planned to complete the cabling looms for all the in-cockpit indicators today. 

As far as cockpit wiring goes, I have tried to keep it as 'modular' as possible. My job necessitates frequent house changes, and it was an original design criteria to make my pit portable. I have designed and fabricated it so, (that) I can take it apart in a day. Putting it all together again, will take a little longer though.

Each of the sub-panels (Left/Right Lower Console, Left/Right Upper Console have their own micro-controllers/HID controllers and the Main Instrument Panel has two HID controllers (Leo Bodnar BBI-32 and BU083X boards).

All the 'control' wiring for each sub-panel is self-contained. Each panel  connects to the main cockpit through three connections, one for power another for USB, and one for all indicator/annunciator lights.

The layout of the wiring for each panel, has gone through a series of iterations. Each time, I had to completely take apart my old wiring, and redo it all over again. But, I think, I have now gotten it right. Just about.

A few pictures of the annunciators cable harnesses are posted below. It was a LOT of work.

The Phidget controller board supports 64 outputs, and I have used each one of those. That is a total of 128 pins to wire up. Of all the wiring tasks for this pit, this one took the cake, by a lot of margin.

I'm glad, it's finally done.

The harness for 'Caution Panel'
Will connect all 12 caution indicators on the panel.
The two 12 pin connectors are the interface between Left Upper Console Panel and the main pit

Harness for the Left Annunciator Panel on the Front Instrument Panel

Harness for the Right Annunciator Panel

Harness for the 'Select Jettison Panel' including Flaps/Gear Indicators
This harness doesn't incorporate the 12 pin connectors since it's a part of the main pit itself.
While taking apart the pit, all I need to do is slide out the pin connectors, which are just push fit.

All of them in one picture

Still need to make individual cable for the APU lamp, Gear Flasher and the Hook lamp. But, these are going to be individual cables with quick dismount fittings to interface. Plan to finish them tomorrow, after work. 

Will start mounting the cable harnesses during the week, and hope to finish it in the next weekend.