DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 เม.ย. 2020
- I love to fly in simulators, especially helicopters. But, there is just not an affordable collective control that I have found, so I decided to make one for myself! I am going to build a joystick using an Arduino Micro, with a bunch of buttons for assignable controls and a high-quality encoder for the collective axis: bit.ly/2R5Pwk4
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It's cool having Matt Damon teach us how to make a helicopter collective.
Good to know I wasn't the only one thinking it was Matt Damon in the thumbnail haha
I thought he really was Matt Damon 🤣
😂
Same here
rrsrrs
My EE SR project 55 years ago was about 1/10th this difficult and took 6 months. The 741 OP amp had just been invented. The PDP8 computer had been in the lab for about 1yr. Must be wonderful to be a EE student in this day and time. Progress now easily made at warp speed.
Didn't know Matt Damon was into DIY peripherals building and gaming in general. Such an awesome dude.
Now I want to start on my custom controls and cockpit for Mechwarrior Online. Awesome job!
This is great - it is amazing what we can do today for integration, electronics off the shelf and a very small amount of work and then printing to join it all up! great stuff!
Wow-this project is amazing. Great work, Kaleb!! 😍🤓
I'm in the process of designing/building a helicopter collective too.
I've decided to use Hall Sensors for the collective instead of an encoder, and using Atmel 328P with V-USB's USB implementation.
As an engineer, I love this project. As a helicopter pilot, the flying between wires and the approach made me very uncomfortable!
I got that pucker factor of 11 at the wires and approach also. LOL. Ever fly near cherry orchards 0.0
The slider on my joystick stopped working yesterday, all the connections seems fine though so it's time for an upgrade! DIY style, thank you!
Nice project. Nice for ARMA, but certainly has me thinking, of a solution for my DCS modules. Was wondering why you choose an encoder over a hall sensor for the main collective position?
after paying 150USD in importation taxes on a 150USD joystick im looking for a cheap alternative to complete my setup! This really is outstanding content, not only a great video but you even made cad files and code public... I just wish more people looking into buying a collective for a flight sim could reach this video or even buy this as a complete kit. Like you said, buying a collective is really expensive, especially when you live in a country where customs are basically legal robbers.
I was thinking of doing this myself and Im glad iv found this video! Iv never made something like this and while I do have experience in RC aircraft of different kinds its nice to have this to follow for my first time using these electronics! I love theat handel on the colective! I was thinking adding a twisting handel to control RPM but I really love your desighn!
Nice video and nice project. Interesting choice of rotary encoder instead of more precise Hall sensor for collective lever. In such nice project i would also consider to add throttle collar to collective lever, just to learn how to fly without governor (or for governor failure simulation).
I would love to have the know how to build this. Fantastic. Would love to see you add a lockable twist throttle.
Very nice! I am watching this while working on my first joystick, maybe I will try this one someday
Wow, awesome project!
Thanks Erik!
awesome gigantic extra ordinary video dude keep going
You can use "1-position spring-back" switches bought as rc transmitter replacement parts. I found some on ali express when searching "transmitter switch". I haven't seen any 2-position ones though.
Awesome build! Nice job! Just one thing, helicopter collectives have also a throttle control (wrist rotation). Will try to work on your build and add a throttle control. Thanks !
This is an amazine desing.I hope you make the same for a cyclic!!!!
I like it. But I'd like to see twist throttle control as well.
Return to center toggle switches should be available from specialty aircraft part supply shops like Aircraft Spruce
Cool project....how about something along with gesture based controlling?
My two favorite things Arma3 and arduino !
Have you thought about adding a twist grip? I know arma 3 would probably allow it too as you can switch flight modes to realistic or advanced controls.
I think I solved the problem...
You just gave me an idea. Buy 2nd joystick, mount at 90 degree angle by your left hand, map controls. You then have a collective with neutral position built in, a twist throttle, and hotas built in. Two Logitech 3d pro's would do it for $100.00 or less. Love what you did but I don't have a 3d printer.
it's best on youtube for the particular content..thanks
Exactly the project I'm looking for
A long-awaited video for simmers
It a very nice job done. But why didn't you use a HAL effect sensor? Wouldn't it make it easier?
You should try DCS. The best heli on there is the Huey.
I was gonna suggest that! Also... 2021 = Apache!
@@JamesW81 Who knows, maybe even the Kiowa (hope they learned their lesson...)
Not with his landing style. That would be instant vortex ring state resulting in a crash and "what just happened?".
Nice. Which joystick library do you use?
Amazing. I'm was looking for this exact project to build a collective to be used in Elite Dangerous (space sim). I'd would need to add a throttle to the collective also. What components would you recommend for a throttle control? It could either be a roller or some kind of a slide potentiometer. I'm imagining all the funky buttons I would add the make it easy to lower/raise landing gear/cargo scoop, go to super cruise, manage power conductor. This project is amazing. But first I need a 3D printer now.
I've decided to go with a twist grib kind of like this one for the throttle. Will have to make it independant of the controls pad at the top and only make the handle itself turn-able.
th-cam.com/video/Gtb2Of1tumk/w-d-xo.html
I am thinking about making a flight stick modification to one of my sticks. It uses the mechanical pot to read the twist and it is very jumpy. I would like to make a Hall effect sensor but how do i know which sensor to buy for the stick? I am assuming that any square neo magnets should also work as long as they are small? Last thing... is it simply a matter of hookingg up a hall sensor to the same wires as the original pot? Windows will see it as the original?
This is cool. Could you design a normal joystick? Cause I'd like a nice space sim stick set with more buttons then the thrust master has and cheaper then a virpl
In Flight Simulator FSX at least, the collective function can be simply the normal throttle input from a joystick vertical axis - any normal joystick can be used, and it seems to me this is the same basic function you created here. You added a number of buttons that can be pushed w/o having to remove your hand from the collective - that's a valuable addition to a simple joystick functionality.
I'm impressed by all the design and fabrication you presented, plus the digital circuitry and programming needed. But really, it seems a case of overkill for just the collective lever.
Any decent helicopter control set needs foot pedals. That should be your project. It's mainly a mechanical problem to keep it smoothly linear over a wide enough dynamic range for the simulator, and using only short range of leg motion. Additionally it might be programmed to have variable sensitivity so that the signal varies more rapidly the harder the pedal is pressed.
I made my own pedals years ago using one analog potentiometer, some springs, a few hunks of wood and a switch, activated by toe press, for the brakes when landing fixed wing. It worked to allow the correct method of sideslip for crosswind landings in fixed wing simulations. At that time most controls were analog, so the pedals and the two analog joysticks were connected to the PC game port. When PC's went to USB, I just inserted an inexpensive parallel to USB convertor box. You can do better since you know all about digital controls and mechanical design.
I'll look into this when my CH Products HOTAS wears out. Hopefully it's still possible a decade from now :)
Wow awesome job!!! Can you tell me the cost´s of the building the collective?
Couldn’t you modify a sim e-brake for driving and mount a flightstick grip on it?
Awesome project. Yes, collective for PC sims are ridiculously priced because it is a niche market. Thanks for this video. As much as Arma3 is an amazing infantry simulator and the graphics are awesome, it is at the level of a 1990 arcade game when it comes to fly helicopters. The only decent chopper sim on the market for PC is DCS. Also, IRL chopper pilots are always flying right seat. copilots are flying left seats.That's why, as you could see, the collective usually more simple on the left side as it is just meant for the copilot to take over the controls in case something happens to the pilot.
Blackshark Den, not all helicopter are commanded from the right seat, MD500 series (little bird) are commanded from the left seat. Cheers
The reason the collective is on the left side is that, most of humanity is right handed and the pilots primary work load is the moving the cyclic with their right hand. All Helicopters have the collective on the left. And, if the copilot takes over, the copilot has her / his own cyclic controls as well as the anti-toque pedals, collective and throttle mounted on the twist grip of the collective. There is no way a copilot could control a helicopter from an opposite seat! I have been flying helis under the X-plane software for three years. I have a set of $3500 heli sim controls. My cyclic is partially not working and I was looking to replace its electronics. This is the reason I watched the this excellent video as it gave some hope that I might be able to come up with some electronics to replace my defective electronics in my cyclic control. My heli hardware manufacture has gone out of business. So I tried to buy a cyclic from Komodo Simulations that I found on the internet. It looks like they have an excellent design with many different cyclic models and configurations. I sent them $3500 the first week in February (22 weeks ago) and they never sent me my cyclic. So a word of warning - stay away from Komodo. (My credit card company is helping me get my money returned).
You built this awesome thing for ARMA?
Ever tried a rotary wing in DCS?
I recommend the Gazelle in VR!
The Gazelle in DCS has an aweful flight model. Even Polychop has said they will fix it once the Kiowa has released.
Also, what about using hall effect instead of the encoder?
Great project and job. Do you sell only the mechanical kit for me to assemble? Thanks for share. Regards from Brazil.
any chance youve done a similar covering pedals. having issue with hall sensor and readings, very narrow range from one side to other as the sensor is moved between 2 magnets.
how does the friction knob work? won't the screw come loose eventually?
First of all, congratulations for the work done, really beautiful. I wanted to make your collective and I'm 3D printing the pieces, I have a stupid question to ask , (unfortunately I don't understand English), but what kind of paper is the white one you glue on the Friction_plate (see at 7:30 of the video) ? And then, How Imust use the GearArm piece? Thanks and ciao
Hi Maxi. It is not white paper. It is a plastic (HDPE). To fix it to the 3D printed parts Kaleb says did not have the correct glue. He used double sided tape to stick floors down - that is tape with glue on the top and the bottom side and the glue used is very strong. I would look for some 3M tape to do this... Not sure about the GearArm, sorry.
Get some built , I’ll be glad to buy one 👍🏻
Epic idea, checkmate lol!
... be great if you can do something for the cyclic control also...
pedals i'd say is easy, as there are many commercial options available at a reasonable price.
Great project. Someone said you have the plans. I would live to get them. How about sharing this in Fusion 360? Thanks,
That was awesome!! Been drooling over some teaser pics Virpil released this past fall and been dreaming of it since. As the video mentioned the market for these is just stupid pricing, most geared towards trainers rather than simmers. But between the homebrew market and hopefully some stick makers can get us what we want (without having to make it or sell an organ).
Epic comment I approve! Lol
Do you have a parts layout, I cannot find what size m3 screws, and bolts, sizes and lengths anywhere thanks
iv made a few button boxes and im learning cad too, im interested in designing and making a collective too at some point!
iv never used hall effect or arduiino and hvavnt got a clue. how many buttons and axis will the arduino take?
Did you consider using a hall effect sensor instead of the rotary encoder for the deflection measurement? Should give more resolution?
You will get extra resolution, but you dont need those extra values for games / sims
Very cool! Thx!! 😁
Nice job
Do you have the plans for the base plate please?
This is awesome!!!
well can i use this for controlling the drone but how to binding this to the drone controller?
This is dope!
If you dont have the 3D printer, how much do you guys thinks would be reasonable price to pay to get them printed?
Awesome talent 👍
Would love to buy one
Arma 3 with the standard flight model is anything but a simulator. But still, awesome build! I wish I understood the circuit stuff, but even in engineering school, I couldn't get it. That's probably why I switched from mechanical engineering to structural engineering after my 1st year.
But it does have an md500. The simulation of walking to your bird and firing it up
20:00 The cables that come out of the aluminium tube needs some cable protection tube, otherwhise the isolation will scrub off at the edge of the aluminium tube.
Which simulator is shown in the demo? FSX?
I think an easier solution than a mechanically transmitted absolute encoder would be a VL6180X distance sensor measuring the arc distance. Might need something more powerful, like raspberry pico to smooth the results. Also: Raspberry pico allows programming joysticks with micropython...
How could I build your setup and purchase one of these please.
pretty kewl 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
good morning how are you, I hope well, my name is Francisco and I am from Gran Canaria, Spain, first of all thank you for putting this magnificent project in everyone's hands since it is not easy to achieve something like this .. I have been watching the video and I have seen that you have made the STL files available to everyone, but what I cannot find is the electronics, the connection diagram of the arduino and the MCP 23017i GPIO with its components. Where could I get the electronic connection scheme? And my other question is, do you have plans to improve the project?
Thank you.
Go to the Elements14 website, sign up and search for the same name as this video. It's all there. Just follow the links in the above description
Very nice, it would of been perfect if you had a throttle added
Hi which Helicopter Sim are you running?
What are yoy using for throttle?? Isn't that suppose to be part of the control?
Great Video and nice project idea :) ... just one thing: ARMA3 is NOT a flight sim
Why use an Encoder and not just a Potentiometer for the AXIS though ?
whooooo very cool !
Does this joystick have throttle control?
Super, Thanks
You just gave me an idea. Buy 2nd joystick, mount at 90 degree angle by your left hand, map controls. You then have a collective with neutral position built in, a twist throttle, and hotas built in. Two Logitech 3d pro's would do it for $100.00 or less. Love what you did but I don't have a 3d printer.
Nice job, i am a beginner and would like to built the complete this project, where could I get the parts, software etc.
thanks
The parts list and links to the STL files can be found here: bit.ly/2R5Pwk4
is there a way to buy 1 off you as i don't have 3d printer
Great project - you make it look so easy. What SIM is this you're flying?
Arma 3, its not a Sim but a military game
@@jowasgehtist hehehe. I thought only SIM guys were so pedantic. A sim is also not a game according to them. Thanks for the answer. :-)
can you make a cessna 172 yoke for MSFS2020 ?
im very impressed :)
2:54 "the Bourne Encoder" !
Guys I think he is giving us a hint about the name of his next movie!!
Could you export the files as STEP so they can be modified?
What is de Simm software You'r using??
You are à genius à magician great job i wish to know to do this with my own hand
how much does everything cost?
Virile makes this stuff but I like to see you diy it
You should start a production line for this.i ll buy one
Relly cool!!!
Wow such a very professional job u have done with your collective home made, thinking of to build and sell ? In that case what price ? will be nice to fly with FS2020 really !
Greetings and congratulations from Sweden...
How much helicopter collective joystick control?
what simulation is this?? and is it like flying a real helicopter??
Hello; What do you recommend for a 3d Printer that is not so expensive?
Check for example ender 3 V2 or Anycubic mega (about 200-250$)
awesome
If you talk with a rotary-wing pilot, depending on the flight frame you will find that the collective has some load/weight and a level of haptic feedback. It can feel heavy at times and also light. You might think about adding this using servo motors and enabling the use of force feedback, relatively simple. It depends on the speed of directional motion, crosswinds etc.... If you didn't want to use servos then I suspect you could use a spring mechanism that has a lag in the tension release. Liked your work very much. Have fun.
Thats a great idea! I am not sure about the feedback protocol coming from the sim. Do you have any experience with that part of it? I know how to do the hardware bit, but not familiar with the data stream coming from the sim software.
@@kalebclark5826 I am not familiar with the SIM and what it can provide. I use to work on real-world simulators. I suspect that there would be some math models around that would take in the rotational velocity & momentum, the rotary-wing angle of attack, frame airspeed velocity & wind skew, potentially torque control, and cyclic pitch would add to this. Airframe torsion would also play a factor. I am sure some of these instrument feeds are available from the SIM, but I don't think it needs to be that complex. Just simulating the heaviness of the airframe when you increase collective pitch and resistance when you decrease it. I suppose it needs to more closely represent the dampening of the collective. Additionally, when you hover there needs to be a feeling of weight in the collective. What I could say is.... get your arse in a real-world flight frame and experience it first hand what is needed, you will love it I am positive. There is a lot of feedback that the control systems provide. Then again its like cars, some have so removed you from the feeling of the road where other super high-performance cars need you to be able to feel the road, the steering the forces at play so as you can better anticipate your reactions.
That's also true of small GA/LSA aircraft that still use rod or cable coupling.
The 'feedback' is the force of air over the control surfaces, so it varies with airspeed and several other factors.
As for force feedback in commercial hobby simulators... I'm not sure.
Historically we had the Microsoft Sidewinder and Logitech ranges of force feedback sticks, and it's possible some games may still support the underlying API's from those.
But that means matching the design of your force feedback system to the expected behaviour of those old devices.
It used to be part of DirectInput, but DirectInput is in itself technically semi-obsolete. (it's still in widespread use, but Microsoft keeps insisting people use Xinput instead. And X-input has some nice features, but it's also severely lacking in functionality compared to the older API...)
I'd say it's anyone's guess if any flight sims still support the old hardware, and that's about the only standard we have.
(that, and the Novint falcon, but I doubt you could reasonably replicate that - this is also defunct at this point. The Novint falcon is essentially a delta robot configuration repurposed to provide 3-axis force feedback... An interesting approach, but not the most straightforward. Plus compatibility might be difficult.)
There shouldn't be much feedback in the collective, and virtually none for an aircraft with hydraulic controls!
@@bent6680 We tested this using dynamic load feedback systems for high reaction short and long-duration flights, additionally for low and high stress situations. No feedback = very unhappy pilots. Most pilots wanted to be able to feel the airframe through their hands but not the stress of airframe maneuvers & did not want the muscle load when on a long-distance flight. What worked was a system that allowed for adaption by the pilots. WIth the fly-by-wire (computer wire) these kinds of systems are readily implemented. Older guys who had flown the older airframes DC9's, Hueys, CH47's, etc.... had the ability to feel the flight frame through their hands and feet instead of just G's and instruments. Newer pilots because of re-action times were way more visual and instrument dependent and felt the flight frame more though body stresses. But what ever you come up with I am sure will add hugely to your enjoyment of the simulator. Cheers.
i was thinking about building somehting more usefull for helicopters too. but i was jsut thinking to do it on a easy way and only extend the shafts and cables of the joystick and the throttle... it should be easier and dont need any extra parts except a "stick" for both controllers, 4 connectors and a cableset... gonna see when i need a new controller to do it....
Does anyone know of these files are available for printing?
What game are you doing this on?
New here, where do I find the plans, schematics etc? If I build one can I sell it online later? Can anybody put this together?