Can You Pilot A RC Plane With A Flight Controller?
- Thread starter Gizmo j
- Start date
- Nov 9, 2013
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I want to figure out how to control this RC helicopter with my flight controller.
Red Squirrel
No Lifer
I can't see why not, with some clever programming/hardware. A typical RC drone will have a remote controller, with a receiver onboard the plane/drone and then the flight controller. You match each control to the pin of the controller, so that each joystick/button does something.
So to do it with a PC you would need software that can take the input from the computer's joystick, then translate it into an output via USB or other method to a radio transmitter that then acts as the RC remote. If you really wanted to get fancy you could also do it via IP, and put a cellular modem on the plane. You could go pretty far as long as you don't lose cell signal. It would be illegal to do it that way mind you as you need to always have line of sight.
It's something I always kind of wanted to get into but it can be an expensive hobby.
So to do it with a PC you would need software that can take the input from the computer's joystick, then translate it into an output via USB or other method to a radio transmitter that then acts as the RC remote. If you really wanted to get fancy you could also do it via IP, and put a cellular modem on the plane. You could go pretty far as long as you don't lose cell signal. It would be illegal to do it that way mind you as you need to always have line of sight.
It's something I always kind of wanted to get into but it can be an expensive hobby.
sdifox
No Lifer
- Sep 30, 2005
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Umm, how would that work? You are going to sit in your room and fly the rc plane blind? Not to mention radio waves won't work all that well with walls and other obstacles in the transmitter/receiver's way.
Just go to a open field like everybody else.
Just go to a open field like everybody else.
sandorski
No Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
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If you knew some Programming, knew how to read Inputs from the device, knew how the RC Aircraft actuators work,[edit]the Radio Transmitter is the tricky part needing some kind of Digital->Analog convertor[/edit], but it could be done. Someone else has probably already done it though, but you may need specific flight controllers. I would find an active RC group and ask there.
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Red Squirrel
No Lifer
If you REALLY want to have fun, walk around an airport parking lot holding your controller while looking up at the sky.
(just kidding don't do that)
(just kidding don't do that)
- Dec 11, 1999
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Certainly.
That too. A software-defined radio can broadcast or receive over a wide range of frequencies. Just don't expect it to come cheap!
And I can't tell if your copter uses a frequency this thing can use.
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
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I also think it would be really difficult. Flight sticks are designed to be used within the cockpit, from that perspective, no?
For an RC thing, I'd think you want something more standard with separate dials and switches, because you aren't flying within the machine. I think the z axis would be all fucked up in your brain trying to control that with a flight stick.
For an RC thing, I'd think you want something more standard with separate dials and switches, because you aren't flying within the machine. I think the z axis would be all fucked up in your brain trying to control that with a flight stick.
nakedfrog
No Lifer
- Apr 3, 2001
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There isn't going to be a straight-up plug-and-play solution, if that's what you're asking. It's going to involve effort on your behalf. You should keep working on your programming skills.
- Dec 11, 1999
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I found a couple of interesting sites:
ardupilot.org
I have a feeling getting your current copter working with this sort of software will be inordinately hard because (1) it's cheap, probably not using standard parts and (2) it's not a quadcopter, so it's unstable and much harder to fly.
ArduPilot
ArduPilot is a trusted, versatile, and open source autopilot system supporting many vehicle types: multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers and more. The source code is developed by a large community of professionals and enthusiasts. New developers...
ardupilot.org
I have a feeling getting your current copter working with this sort of software will be inordinately hard because (1) it's cheap, probably not using standard parts and (2) it's not a quadcopter, so it's unstable and much harder to fly.
- Nov 9, 2013
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When I look up 'digital to analog converters' all of them are about audio or video.
Could I use these as a transmitter to fly a rc plane or are they only compatible with audio and video?
Could I use these as a transmitter to fly a rc plane or are they only compatible with audio and video?
yottabit
Golden Member
- Jun 5, 2008
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Why not get an FPV drone? Then you get essentially the same experience except actually get to see what you’re doing instead of a simulated display
There are plenty of RC controller that will let you go the other direction, hook your controller to the PC via trainer port to control an RC flight sim
Otherwise you would need to synthesize and send PWM signal over an appropriate radio frequency (may want an oscilloscope to capture existing signal and verify you’re matching it correctly) or get a flight controller for the drone that has support for separate telemetry… ArduCopter etc. I think Arduino would be your friend here either way
There are plenty of RC controller that will let you go the other direction, hook your controller to the PC via trainer port to control an RC flight sim
Otherwise you would need to synthesize and send PWM signal over an appropriate radio frequency (may want an oscilloscope to capture existing signal and verify you’re matching it correctly) or get a flight controller for the drone that has support for separate telemetry… ArduCopter etc. I think Arduino would be your friend here either way
Kaido
Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
- Feb 14, 2004
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Yes, there are a variety of ways to do it! The control split is:
1. Visuals
2. Controls
For visuals (optional, but nice to tweak the control parameters in the field!), two good routes via cameras are:
1. Screens (ex. tablet or iPhone)
2. VR/AR headsets
For controls, you need to replace or control the transmitter in order to control (or replace) the vehicle's receiver, which in turn controls the motor & the servos. There are a variety of ways to do this! You can get an Arduino Nano clone for under ten bucks on Amazon:
You can use a gamepad:
Or a HOTAS setup:
You can also do the reverse, i.e. use an R/C transmitter to control flight sim games on your computer!
Be sure to check out Dronecode!
dronecode.org
Fun fact: Before being discovered, Marilyn Monroe worked in a drone factory!
Drones have actually been used since before WWI! There was an English WWI pilot named Reginald Denny who had an R/C airplane hobby. He came to America, started a drone company, and sold them to the military to use as target practice. Eventually they made over 15,000 drones for various military purposes in WWII! Denny became an actor & encouraged Ronald Reagan, who at the time was the captain of the Army's PR Hollywood division, to send over photographer David Conover to take pictures for Yank (Army Weekly military magazine) as a way to boost morale. It was there that he discovered Norma Jeane Mortenson, who later became Marilyn Monroe, whose movies went on to gross a today-equivalent $2 billion dollars! Here she is posing with the Radioplane OQ-2, which was the first mass-produced UAV in America:
She ended up making out okay with the whole airplane thing, haha!
Dang, we need a new Air Hogs thread!
1. Visuals
2. Controls
For visuals (optional, but nice to tweak the control parameters in the field!), two good routes via cameras are:
1. Screens (ex. tablet or iPhone)
2. VR/AR headsets
For controls, you need to replace or control the transmitter in order to control (or replace) the vehicle's receiver, which in turn controls the motor & the servos. There are a variety of ways to do this! You can get an Arduino Nano clone for under ten bucks on Amazon:
You can use a gamepad:
Or a HOTAS setup:
You can also do the reverse, i.e. use an R/C transmitter to control flight sim games on your computer!
Be sure to check out Dronecode!
Leading Open Source Technologies — Dronecode Foundation
dronecode.org
Fun fact: Before being discovered, Marilyn Monroe worked in a drone factory!
Drones have actually been used since before WWI! There was an English WWI pilot named Reginald Denny who had an R/C airplane hobby. He came to America, started a drone company, and sold them to the military to use as target practice. Eventually they made over 15,000 drones for various military purposes in WWII! Denny became an actor & encouraged Ronald Reagan, who at the time was the captain of the Army's PR Hollywood division, to send over photographer David Conover to take pictures for Yank (Army Weekly military magazine) as a way to boost morale. It was there that he discovered Norma Jeane Mortenson, who later became Marilyn Monroe, whose movies went on to gross a today-equivalent $2 billion dollars! Here she is posing with the Radioplane OQ-2, which was the first mass-produced UAV in America:
She ended up making out okay with the whole airplane thing, haha!
Dang, we need a new Air Hogs thread!
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Kaido
Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
- Feb 14, 2004
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Arduino is the easiest option for super-custom projects currently. The technology has improved so much over the years! There was a guy in the AMA magazine (R/C) many years ago who was constantly working on cracking the Pico helicopter code. Cell phone vibration motors led to making that reality happen because the tiny electronics required were now mass-produced! That led to coaxial designs for stability:
These days, you can buy a single-head mini chopper at CVS for $19.99 lol. The gyroscopes got better & now you can buy micro-drones for less than the price of a large pizza:
Now you can buy an R/C paper plane kit that you can control with your cell phone:
POWERUP | Smart Paper Airplanes
POWERUP brings homemade paper airplanes into the future by adding next generation mobile controls. We developed the first smartphone controlled paper airplane.
www.poweruptoys.com
Now you can make lettuce fly lol:
Remote-control a leaf, haha!
Thanks to cheap hardware & great software, you can now make R/C drones at home using cardboard!
Or a soda bottle haha:
No budget? No problem!
Or even popsicle sticks!
The DIY drone scene is SUPER fun! I got into 3D printing a new years ago & you can basically make whatever you want now!
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Kaido
Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
- Feb 14, 2004
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I found a couple of interesting sites:
ArduPilot
ArduPilot is a trusted, versatile, and open source autopilot system supporting many vehicle types: multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers and more. The source code is developed by a large community of professionals and enthusiasts. New developers...
I have a feeling getting your current copter working with this sort of software will be inordinately hard because (1) it's cheap, probably not using standard parts and (2) it's not a quadcopter, so it's unstable and much harder to fly.
Thanks to Arduino, great software, tiny gyros, and more powerful electric motors, DIY drones & R/C planes are SUPER amazing these days!! Especially if you're into 3D printing!!
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Kaido
Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
- Feb 14, 2004
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Does C# count?
Bloodfly_codes.7z
drive.google.com
Arduino Nano clone + nRF24L01 Radio + GY-NEO6MV2 GPS
WelshBloke
Lifer
- Jan 12, 2005
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