From dabigboy at cox.net  Sat Dec  1 23:57:10 2012
From: dabigboy at cox.net (dabigboy at cox.net)
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2012 23:57:10 -0800
Subject: [simpits-tech] Airspeed (and air-core!) indicator success
Message-ID: <20121202025710.R2UI7.284023.imail@fed1rmwml106>

This week I finally decided to quit putting off the airspeed indicator project.....to great success!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h472mXtVmkg

This one is from a Jetstream 31, and came out really nice. I'm also very encouraged about air-core motors.....huge potential here! The ONLY issues I am concerned about are:

1: Limited torque, though this can be aided somewhat by putting higher voltages to the motor (running 12v right now, but the L293D can take up to 36). This is only really a concern if driving heavy/draggy instruments, like artificial horizons and altimeters (I think you could totally do a real altimeter with one of these).

2: Slight "hang" every time you switch quadrants (every 90*, basically). I don't think this is a switching-speed issue with the L293D, I think it's just a natural physical property of the air core motor that will have to be dealt with in the code that drives it. But the "snag" is so minor that it's almost unnoticeable. Pretty sure I can fix it in code anyway. After all, the motors don't do it when they're reading RPM in your car, so it's obviously possible to fix. :)

It also seems like the needle position is a little inconsistent at times, but this got a lot better when I switched from 5v to 12v. At any rate, I'm now usually no more than 3 or 4 knots off with the airspeed indicator at most, and usually much less (many of my sampling points are dead-on).

I love the fact that you get 1024 steps per rotation with this setup...since the Arduino only drives the motor through 90* at a time. And since the motor is an analog device, you can actually get as much precision as your controller provides. There is ZERO "notchy" motion or visible steps like what you see with servos or (especially) stepper motors (although I realize steppers are typically geared way down, which makes them a lot more viable as precision instrument drivers). Even the digital nature of driving the motor with a microcontroller is smoothed out somewhat by the way the motor moves.

Matt

From phoenixcomm at gmail.com  Sun Dec  2 13:45:45 2012
From: phoenixcomm at gmail.com (Cris Harrison)
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 15:45:45 -0600
Subject: [simpits-tech] Airspeed (and air-core!) indicator success
In-Reply-To: <20121202025710.R2UI7.284023.imail@fed1rmwml106>
References: <20121202025710.R2UI7.284023.imail@fed1rmwml106>
Message-ID: <CAAqDk_4veoRbvnAFubWaQhNYgvnnB76Jx5ozWqhBWQViqR8jPw@mail.gmail.com>

Cool Beans!! It lives!
haven't messed about with air core motors yet..
but having a blast with the Stellaris 32bit launchpad board from TI for
only 12 bucks woopie!! Watch for my upcoming blog about it.....

Upwards and Onward..
Cris H.
phoenixcomm.wordpress.com


On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 1:57 AM, <dabigboy at cox.net> wrote:

> This week I finally decided to quit putting off the airspeed indicator
> project.....to great success!
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h472mXtVmkg
>
> This one is from a Jetstream 31, and came out really nice. I'm also very
> encouraged about air-core motors.....huge potential here! The ONLY issues I
> am concerned about are:
>
> 1: Limited torque, though this can be aided somewhat by putting higher
> voltages to the motor (running 12v right now, but the L293D can take up to
> 36). This is only really a concern if driving heavy/draggy instruments,
> like artificial horizons and altimeters (I think you could totally do a
> real altimeter with one of these).
>
> 2: Slight "hang" every time you switch quadrants (every 90*, basically). I
> don't think this is a switching-speed issue with the L293D, I think it's
> just a natural physical property of the air core motor that will have to be
> dealt with in the code that drives it. But the "snag" is so minor that it's
> almost unnoticeable. Pretty sure I can fix it in code anyway. After all,
> the motors don't do it when they're reading RPM in your car, so it's
> obviously possible to fix. :)
>
> It also seems like the needle position is a little inconsistent at times,
> but this got a lot better when I switched from 5v to 12v. At any rate, I'm
> now usually no more than 3 or 4 knots off with the airspeed indicator at
> most, and usually much less (many of my sampling points are dead-on).
>
> I love the fact that you get 1024 steps per rotation with this
> setup...since the Arduino only drives the motor through 90* at a time. And
> since the motor is an analog device, you can actually get as much precision
> as your controller provides. There is ZERO "notchy" motion or visible steps
> like what you see with servos or (especially) stepper motors (although I
> realize steppers are typically geared way down, which makes them a lot more
> viable as precision instrument drivers). Even the digital nature of driving
> the motor with a microcontroller is smoothed out somewhat by the way the
> motor moves.
>
> Matt
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
> page.  Thanks
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From geneb at deltasoft.com  Sun Dec 16 20:24:19 2012
From: geneb at deltasoft.com (geneb)
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:24:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [simpits-tech] It's alive!
Message-ID: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212162023500.20216@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viRnM7UfYLg

Won't be long before I'm printing all kinds of interesting flight 
simulator bits. :)

g.


-- 
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.

ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!

From geneb at deltasoft.com  Fri Dec 21 08:20:25 2012
From: geneb at deltasoft.com (geneb)
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:20:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll interveiw
	(fwd)
Message-ID: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212210819541.22353@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>

Subject: [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll interveiw

You can see it here in case you missed it.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137574n


He might annoy me personally, but I'm damn proud of the stand he's taking.

g.


From raysot at comcast.net  Fri Dec 21 09:37:30 2012
From: raysot at comcast.net (Ray S.)
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:37:30 -0800
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll
	interveiw (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212210819541.22353@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
References: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212210819541.22353@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
Message-ID: <155EBB2E-5CBB-4FE3-BE0E-B9593F4F7F73@comcast.net>

Hey Gene.... Wont be able to make it tomorrow.. Sad because i was really looking forward to this.  I'll be laid up for a few weeks...

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 21, 2012, at 8:20, geneb <geneb at deltasoft.com> wrote:

> Subject: [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll interveiw
> 
> You can see it here in case you missed it.
> 
> http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137574n
> 
> 
> He might annoy me personally, but I'm damn proud of the stand he's taking.
> 
> g.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page.  Thanks!

From geneb at deltasoft.com  Fri Dec 21 10:27:31 2012
From: geneb at deltasoft.com (geneb)
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:27:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll
 interveiw (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <155EBB2E-5CBB-4FE3-BE0E-B9593F4F7F73@comcast.net>
References: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212210819541.22353@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
	<155EBB2E-5CBB-4FE3-BE0E-B9593F4F7F73@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212211027210.23475@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>

On Fri, 21 Dec 2012, Ray S. wrote:

> Hey Gene.... Wont be able to make it tomorrow.. Sad because i was really 
> looking forward to this.  I'll be laid up for a few weeks...

No problem Ray.

g.

-- 
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.

ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!

From dabigboy at cox.net  Sat Dec 22 10:29:25 2012
From: dabigboy at cox.net (dabigboy at cox.net)
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 10:29:25 -0800
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll
 interveiw (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212210819541.22353@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
Message-ID: <20121222132925.9CF35.464378.root@fed1rmwml105>

Interesting! I read about this lawsuit on Austin's page a while back, and heard about Uniloc a while before that. Austin/Laminar Research is only one of several companies Uniloc is suing in a "shotgun" approach. I suppose they are throwing a bunch of things against the wall and hoping something will stick.

Read their webpage: http://www.uniloc.com/

The entire site reeks of patent-troll. While they bring up ONE instance of technology supposedly being licensed prior to someone else trying to use it (the Microsoft example, which is dubious since remote-activation was just getting started in the late 90's and everyone was trying it), even the front page makes it pretty obvious what their business is:

"Uniloc is in the business of finding big ideas. In the device recognition space, for example, we believe that we have uncovered a billion dollar market. We have focused on technology that is incredibly complex to develop, but elegantly simple to execute. And it fits our straightforward development model. Look at many ideas. Pick an outstanding one. Patent it. Commercialize it. Reap the rewards."

Seems lately they are just skipping the "commercialize" part and going straight in for the kill. The "ideas", of course, don't come from Uniloc. Look at another quote, right from their webpage:

"We have some pretty smart technologists looking at the original ideas. Some fairly savvy business people evaluating their market potential. And some pretty shrewd lawyers who determine if the ideas can be patented and protected."

And they're not even taking "ideas", as if it were something that the poor lazy original inventor never got around to developing fully. They are taking working, tested, complete, money-making code and concepts, that the developer has simply not patented. Then Uniloc files a patent to match whatever they have found, and they sue with that. Bastards.

The developers know a lot of this stuff is so common or obvious that it does not warrant patenting. And I suspect a lot of them are simply too busy developing, or too cash-strapped, to be filing a patent on every little thing. It's no wonder that the Big Guys (Apple, MS, HP, etc) try to patent the silliest things.....they may be simply trying to protect themselves from the likes of Uniloc, in some cases. Unfortunately, most judges apparently lack even basic fundamental technical knowledge to understand a BS patent. And/or they are too dumb, getting paid-off, or just too messed-up in the head to simply throw out these ridiculous lawsuits.

Why would a judge entertain these leeches for a second when it's so blatantly obvious what is going on, that they are doing exactly OPPOSITE of what the patent system was supposed to do?

The world doesn't need butt-scum like the people behind Uniloc.

Matt

---- geneb <geneb at deltasoft.com> wrote: 
> Subject: [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll interveiw
> 
> You can see it here in case you missed it.
> 
> http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137574n
> 
> 
> He might annoy me personally, but I'm damn proud of the stand he's taking.
> 
> g.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page.  Thanks!


From geneb at deltasoft.com  Sat Dec 22 10:35:33 2012
From: geneb at deltasoft.com (geneb)
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 10:35:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll
 interveiw (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <20121222132925.9CF35.464378.root@fed1rmwml105>
References: <20121222132925.9CF35.464378.root@fed1rmwml105>
Message-ID: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212221032450.11488@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>

On Sat, 22 Dec 2012, dabigboy at cox.net wrote:

> Interesting! I read about this lawsuit on Austin's page a while back, 
> and heard about Uniloc a while before that. Austin/Laminar Research is 
> only one of several companies Uniloc is suing in a "shotgun" approach. I 
> suppose they are throwing a bunch of things against the wall and hoping 
> something will stick.
>
> Read their webpage: http://www.uniloc.com/
>
> The entire site reeks of patent-troll. While they bring up ONE instance 
> of technology supposedly being licensed prior to someone else trying to 
> use it (the Microsoft example, which is dubious since remote-activation 
> was just getting started in the late 90's and everyone was trying it), 
> even the front page makes it pretty obvious what their business is:

Well from my standpoint the patent isn't even valid.  NO patent on 
software should have ever been allowed.  It's math fer chrissakes.

If it was up to me, patent trolls would be publicly executed by shoving 
them feet first into an industrial chipper shredder.  Patent lawyers would 
be requires by law to witness the execution live.

It would serve as a most excellent example to other potential patent 
trolls.  Frankly I think that if you're not actively producing a product 
based on a patent or have provable plans to do so, you shouldn't be 
allowed to sue other people over it.

g.


-- 
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.

ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!

From catalina299 at gmail.com  Sat Dec 22 16:33:48 2012
From: catalina299 at gmail.com (William Segal)
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:33:48 -0800
Subject: [simpits-tech] [x-plane-tech] Austin Meyers Patent Troll
 interveiw (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LFD.2.02.1212221032450.11488@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
References: <20121222132925.9CF35.464378.root@fed1rmwml105>
	<alpine.LFD.2.02.1212221032450.11488@sidewinder.deltasoft.com>
Message-ID: <CAAuajP0U9pPwMG9L9ja6eg1Gtxes71M_XKNF+xG0YMhBwaVAuA@mail.gmail.com>

I have a lot to say but its going to need to wait til Sunday .

Bill

On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 10:35 AM, geneb <geneb at deltasoft.com> wrote:

> On Sat, 22 Dec 2012, dabigboy at cox.net wrote:
>
> > Interesting! I read about this lawsuit on Austin's page a while back,
> > and heard about Uniloc a while before that. Austin/Laminar Research is
> > only one of several companies Uniloc is suing in a "shotgun" approach. I
> > suppose they are throwing a bunch of things against the wall and hoping
> > something will stick.
> >
> > Read their webpage: http://www.uniloc.com/
> >
> > The entire site reeks of patent-troll. While they bring up ONE instance
> > of technology supposedly being licensed prior to someone else trying to
> > use it (the Microsoft example, which is dubious since remote-activation
> > was just getting started in the late 90's and everyone was trying it),
> > even the front page makes it pretty obvious what their business is:
>
> Well from my standpoint the patent isn't even valid.  NO patent on
> software should have ever been allowed.  It's math fer chrissakes.
>
> If it was up to me, patent trolls would be publicly executed by shoving
> them feet first into an industrial chipper shredder.  Patent lawyers would
> be requires by law to witness the execution live.
>
> It would serve as a most excellent example to other potential patent
> trolls.  Frankly I think that if you're not actively producing a product
> based on a patent or have provable plans to do so, you shouldn't be
> allowed to sue other people over it.
>
> g.
>
>
> --
> Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
> http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
> Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.
>
> ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
> A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
> http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
> page.  Thanks!
>
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From jjmessenger at yahoo.com  Sat Dec 22 16:49:20 2012
From: jjmessenger at yahoo.com (Justin Messenger)
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:49:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [simpits-tech] Airspeed (and air-core!) indicator success
In-Reply-To: <mailman.25.1356222854.2531.simpits-tech@simpits.org>
References: <mailman.25.1356222854.2531.simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Message-ID: <1356223760.18873.YahooMailNeo@web140202.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>

Matt, that looks fantastic!!? Well done! :)
?
Justin
?
?
?
This week I finally decided to quit putting off the airspeed indicator project.....to great success!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h472mXtVmkg

This one is from a Jetstream 31, and came out really nice. I'm also very encouraged about air-core motors.....huge potential here! The 
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From phoenixcomm at gmail.com  Mon Dec 31 07:28:02 2012
From: phoenixcomm at gmail.com (Cris Harrison)
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:28:02 -0600
Subject: [simpits-tech] Airspeed (and air-core!) indicator success
In-Reply-To: <1356223760.18873.YahooMailNeo@web140202.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
References: <mailman.25.1356222854.2531.simpits-tech@simpits.org>
	<1356223760.18873.YahooMailNeo@web140202.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <CAAqDk_7iK4x6ri6kuzeOTC3on+dwULT1VK-guuc4ZdV3K2hJ_Q@mail.gmail.com>

Congrats! now tell me where you get the motors?? who sells them? and how
much to they cost?
cris. h
*& HAPPY NEW YEAR!!* (in about 15 hrs)

On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 6:49 PM, Justin Messenger <jjmessenger at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Matt, that looks fantastic!!  Well done! :)
>
> Justin
>
>
>
> This week I finally decided to quit putting off the airspeed indicator
> project.....to great success!
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h472mXtVmkg
>
> This one is from a Jetstream 31, and came out really nice. I'm also very
> encouraged about air-core motors.....huge potential here! The
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
> page.  Thanks!
>



--
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From dabigboy at cox.net  Mon Dec 31 22:56:10 2012
From: dabigboy at cox.net (dabigboy at cox.net)
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:56:10 -0800
Subject: [simpits-tech] Airspeed (and air-core!) indicator success
In-Reply-To: <CAAqDk_7iK4x6ri6kuzeOTC3on+dwULT1VK-guuc4ZdV3K2hJ_Q@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <20130101015610.JZPO7.638844.imail@eastrmwml106>

>From what I understand, new commercial motors are pretty specialized and expensive. Fortunately, instrument clusters from cars are chock full of decent-quality air core motors. I picked up a complete instrument cluster from a 2000-2006 Pontiac Grand Prix for $30 shipped on ebay....it has two readily usable motors, plus two more that seem to be some sort of two-pole arrangement (I think I can use them for 0-180* needles). $8/motor may still sound a bit steep, but I figure even if I use 20 motors in the entire sim (unlikely), I will only have $160 total into them at this rate.

Matt

---- Cris Harrison <phoenixcomm at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Congrats! now tell me where you get the motors?? who sells them? and how
> much to they cost?
> cris. h
> *& HAPPY NEW YEAR!!* (in about 15 hrs)
> 
> On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 6:49 PM, Justin Messenger <jjmessenger at yahoo.com>wrote:
> 
> > Matt, that looks fantastic!!  Well done! :)
> >
> > Justin
> >
> >
> >
> > This week I finally decided to quit putting off the airspeed indicator
> > project.....to great success!
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h472mXtVmkg
> >
> > This one is from a Jetstream 31, and came out really nice. I'm also very
> > encouraged about air-core motors.....huge potential here! The
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Simpits-tech mailing list
> > Simpits-tech at simpits.org
> > http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> > To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above
> > page.  Thanks!
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --