[simpits-tech] Pneumatic controllers

[Matt Bailey]

On Friday 25 February 2005 10:55, William Segal wrote:
> William Segal Wrote
>
> At 12:34 AM 2/25/2005, you wrote:
> >Howdy,
> >
> >    I recall some time ago a discussion about setting up a closed pressure
> >system to control real altimeters and VSI's, using electronic pneumatic
> >controllers (in fact I still have a video on my HD of an altimeter being
> >controlled in this manner). I was just wondering if anyone had any info on
> >this, like what kind of controllers are required, what kind of signal they
> >use, how they function, etc.
> >
> >         -Matt Bailey
>
>    Hi Matt
>
> Now that sounds like something we would be interested in
> So I'm asking also .That is the kind of thing that would work really good
> for us
> We would rather use that not use simkits or whatever its called we want the
> real thing
> especial radio's and stuff..

	Actually Bill, radios are (comparatively) easy. Phidgets makes some character 
LED controllers that should make the job a snap. I think they also have 
decoder modules for rotary encoders, so that takes care of the input 
situation. This is probably the route I will go when I start my cockpit. 
GoFlight also has some LED and rotary stuff, but they are a bit more 
plug-and-play....their software is not as open as Phidgets, hence I tend to 
go with the Phidgets route. More control, flexibility, and probably cheaper 
as well (I haven't done any side by side comparisons though).
	You could probably use Simkits' internals (the drivetrains and Piher units, 
mainly) to control hacked instruments. I plan on going glass for the ADI, 
HSI, and maybe some other things, so the remaining instruments can mostly be 
controller with simple servos. Things like engine gauges, airspeed, VSI, and 
the turn coordinator, don't need continuous rotation and therefore are well 
suited to servo control. I've got the resources to do this *now*, it's just a 
matter of building the actual gauges and writing the code to link the servo 
control stuff to X-Plane output (I've got both of these working in Python, 
just haven't got them together yet).
	Of all the things to go wrong, my main problem is I can't get my Windows 
machine (running X-Plane) and Linux machine (Phidgets controller) to talk to 
each other!

	-Matt Bailey