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[C-3PO]

Having spent some time with this subject more aspects come to the surface of what's involved to create a workable solution.

The user of the buttons will have no visual feedback apart from the model movement as to what state they have set the throttle or steering (nor will the "Master" handset controller be able to see status to anticipate taking back control), on the TX handset we get that feedback by feeling/seeing where we have positioned the TX sticks.

To add back some proportional feedback I have decided to use RGB LED strips which would display the throttle/steering settings visually.



Regards
C-3PO

[Klunk]

Good idea, had not thought of that.

[Big Ada]

Has anyone asked the young man what he would like to use in a way of controlling his boat?.

Len.

[Klunk]

Buttons

[RST]

Funny you mentioned buttons, I thought that from the start.  As I hacked old transmitters before all the sticks do is assign a resistance to a function.  If you fit resistors to a push switch, you can set the output to anything you like as long as it's within the resistance.  If you used a pattern of buttons there's no reason not to be able to go forwards, back, left or right it would just be a bit jerky but that's overcomable and probably not an issue.

[RST]

Has anyone asked the young man what he would like to use in a way of controlling his boat?.

Len.

....sounds like it from post No 14?

[C-3PO]

Visual feedback proportional display under test

https://youtu.be/O4CCcUi42fw



https://youtu.be/O4CCcUi42fw

Regards
C-3PO

[RST]

Impressive but will your subject be looking at that LED board or the boat?

[C-3PO]

I don't know whether the visual display will be of any use to the button user. It would be nice to think that it would be of some use otherwise how do they know what they have commanded the radio control unit to do? Time will tell and some rethinking is inevitable...

Slightly awkward language I know - the radio uses the two terms "Master" and "Slave" with regards to the trainer port.

Going forward I will use the terminology of "Master" the user in control of the Spektrum handset (Mr Klunk) and "Slave" the user in control of button control board that feeds into the trainer port of the radio handset.

There is a secondary use for the visual proportional display - the Master also needs to know what the Slave has commanded the radio to do as they are the one with the ability to flip the trainer switch and take back control of the radio transmitter in conjunction with viewing what the model is doing. Would be a shame if the Master took back control when the Slave had the situation under control.

I was a little surprised, I am not sure what I expected with regards to the way the trainer port works. You flick the switch on the handset which literally delegates control to the Slave user and the Master cannot make any changes to the channel positions until you flick the trainer switch again to take back control. I expected some sort of mixing- I think - not exactly sure how that would work.....

Regards
C-3PO

[Klunk]

The visual aspect of the feed back would be good for the child. As long he doesn't get fixated on it. Hopefully I will be speaking to his parents this weekend so any questions let me know so i can ask

[derekwarner]

An excellent & yes impressive concept for a remote function out of view and without a notched gymbal, however I am with RST & Klunk on this as a tremendous temptation to 'watch the lights' & not the craft

[RST]

An excellent & yes impressive concept for a remote function out of view and without a notched gymbal, however I am with RST & Klunk on this as a tremendous temptation to 'watch the lights' & not the craft

Don't make me agree with Drekewarner again as it doesn't happen often!  If that kid wants to experience a model out in the fresh air cross a pond and a push button does it for him acording to his family then concentrate on that -nobody could care less as long as it can go forwards, left and right -push the button and you don't need fancy controls to do it!!!!!!

[RST]

...Thinking more -I used to design control panels but if pushbuttons are desired then it might be worth considering elevating the forwards part of it so the elbows or wrists don't accidentally push the wrong buttons.  It's ALL very do-able when you think about the practicalities first rather than the magic of the technics YOU are used to!  It's a very admirable task but I'd wager not so easy in practical terms which is why it's so diffult to engage those so less fortunate than us.

[Klunk]

We have had great success in the club over the last few years. As a club we do talks in primary schools about the history of boats, as part of the curriculum, and engaged with the children to create art, and discover why boats float and materials used to create boats. We have also engaged with young adults with mental health issues and I am actively helping this child fulfill a wish to sail a rc boat.
I believe any club can engage within their community, it just takes effort. As clubs we support many charities like RNLI, air ambulances  etc, but sometimes forget the local people who have no idea we as clubs even exist! Our club has been sailing for 50 odd years but I still meet people who walk in the park that did not know we existed,  and many clubs are probably like that!
How many times have we all seen a child, disabled or not looking at the boats? I know there are child protection rules etc etc, but if the parent is there, why not engage and ask them if they would like a go?
I have a Robbe Atlantis, some of you have seen it at Mayhem.  My record so far is 35 people in a day sailing her at Black Park a few years back. I had to go looking for the tx!! I've also taught a 96 year old lady to sail her after she complemented me on the beautiful white yacht. I'm all for letting members of the public have a go of any of my boats (not the really fast ones though!) Anything can be repaired or rebuilt! Thats why I have over 200 boats/yachts/subs!!
Next year.....hopefully.....i hope to engage with more local groups and put on sailing days for them.


Engage within the community,  you have nothing to loose

[BrianB6]

Probably not the solution needed but my answer to being left handed

[C-3PO]

The disco lights video was a simple display test to check that all RGB leds were working - not how the display would work in reality.

I do have a couple of brain cells that allow me to realise that a flashing multi colour display could become mesmerizing...

Under normal use my vision is that no more than a couple of leds would be lit - simply showing the current selection/status of the throttle and rudder channels.

So my system that needs pulling together but essentially all working:

C-3PO solution - Specification/functionality

• External interface “buddy box” concept using trainer port, non invasive to radio handset – main user can take control at any point
• Physical user interface choice from Buttons | Light sensors/beam breakers | Capacitive switching| Distance sensing | Joystick | Voice ( Alexa eat your heart out) Note- some of these options would need further testing /evaluation)
• Configurable channel end points – flexible on the fly selection
• Configurable channel increment/decrement step size with automatic infill to ensure smooth transition (unlike resistance ladders)
• Visual display of user status
• Cheap
• Cable lengths allow social / appropriate child distancing

Getting this from the bench to something that could be used in the real world will take some time of which I have very little!!!

Regards
C-3PO

[C-3PO]

Touch servo control

https://youtu.be/VsUgkuKGtic



https://youtu.be/VsUgkuKGtic

Regards
C-3PO

[Subculture]

How about a single button solution with simple bang bang control like very early non proportional R/C?

One press- go left, press again centre, two presses within a time window to go right, press again centre.

[Circlip]

 WITHOUT knowing the full range of disability and NOT wishing to offend the PC brigade, I think the bang - bang solution may get confusing.


  Are you going to use a 10p piece for forard and 5p for backard C3PO?


  Regards  Ian.

[C-3PO]

I suspect this will go through several iterations to get to a solution for this young lad.

There are lots of unanswered questions which make most attempts right now a shot in the dark. Klunk is going to exlpore this further...

However by putting some ideas into play it's a better place to be than starting with a blank piece of paper and may then help the development process in consultation with parents and the young lad.

For example - it may not be possible to have a single control that is pressed multiple times to change a value - it might need to multiple controls along an axis that are required to be touched/pressed individually to change a value.

It's possible that some controls could work well it they "latched" after a being touched/pressed for a couple of seconds until released.

So from my side I don't think anything is set in stone, I have just wanted to show that it is possible to easily and cheaply build an interface to talk to the trainer port on the radio that has multiple input options.

I have quite a few different ideas with regards to the input/end user options - clearly this needs to be guided by the end user and his parents.

I will give it my best shot to get a working solution.

Update

An idea to chuck into the melting pot - possible layout for touch button control



Regards
C-3PO

[Circlip]

Main problem, what level of disability? Only Klunk can fill that one in.


  Regards   Ian.

[Klunk]

C3p0, they didntbturn up today, too cold, will email them with questions

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The buttons need to be "tuned", to match the potentiometer throws on the transmitter.
So, if you have a transmiter potentiometer that reads 0-2500 ohms you need to create three values.
When no button is pressed, then you want feedback to read, say, 1250 ohms, or midpoint.
Full foward button might read 2500 ohms, and full reverse would then be Zero ohms.
 
Something like that. 

[C-3PO]

No potentiometer resistance tuning in my solution - it's not required - I do however require a radio with a trainer port which allows direct control

It's possible to "hack" the control of some radio transmitters and mess around with multiple resistance elements on the controls (potentiometers and switches) - opening the radio case comes it's own set of baggage and clearly not for everyone.

Quite a few radios these days use Hall Effect sensors on the gimbals that digitally talk to the main board - no pots in sight.

Radio's with a "trainer port" socket provide a simple and non-invasive way to interface with the radio and when you are done you simply pull out the plug from the radio.

My aim is to provide a solution that is not radio manufacturer or radio model specific - just need to have a trainer port available.

I played around with a homebrew touchscreen radio once - it worked well - however in it's early stages I had no "intelligence" built into it that infilled/delayed the "stick position" changes - the result was not good.

I was messing around with a Vosper Perkasa torpedo boat, due to the flat vertical stern face - going from neutral throttle midstick to full reverse in an instant with no small increments to get to full throttle resulted in a tidal wave going right over the boat as it dug into the water - I almost sunk the model in a split second.

Regards
C-3PO

 

[C-3PO]

Attempt No.1 at a solution underway...likely the button layout will need rethinking over time



Regards
C-3PO