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[Klunk]

I have a mum who wants to bring her son to have a sail, with a view to getting their own boat after christmas.
The son has cerebral palsy and is severely handicapped. Does any know of a stick conversion set so they are not so small, ie not thumb sticks, more a complete hand stick.
Will be using a spektrum dx6i gen 1 as a tx.

[chas]

That's a really interesting question, and one deserving of a decent answer. I'm not much of an engineer, but one possibility crossed my mind. How about a hard rubber tube that could slip over the joystick, cut to a suitable length? It would have some give in it to prevent damage to the transmitter, and increase the travel movement. It might be prudent to use that on a buddy box set up.
 Hopefully someone will have a better idea.
Charles.

[Netleyned]

The stock stick has a 3mm thread through it.
A 3mm rod or bolt which could be sheathed
with heatshrink tube might do the job.

[JimG]

You might look into making a tray for the transmitter, this will allow him to rest his hands on the sides and hopefully allow him to grip the sticks better. These trays are used by modelfliers who grip the sticks instead of just using thumbs. The tray is normally supported by a neckstrap although some do use a chest harness.
Jim

[Klunk]

The tray idea is good, but in this case, will not help I'm afraid. Extending the sticks might help a little, especially if i can make them about 35mm diameter.

[Fred Ellis]

My Wife has very bad Rheumatoid Arthritis in her hands so a normal knife and fork are no good for her, when we was in the U.S one of the restaurants gave her some semi hard rubber tube to fit over the handles of the knife and fork, you may be able to get some thing like this from a disability shop?

[David Shaw]

There used to be someone in the UK who used to modify transmitters.
Also maybe the transmitters the Germans use fir their RC lorries and truck. Some have large thumb sticks.


Cheers
David

[JimG]

The tray idea is good, but in this case, will not help I'm afraid. Extending the sticks might help a little, especially if i can make them about 35mm diameter.

Does anyone in the club do 3D printing especially with a resin printer. They could print stick extensions to fit over the existing sticks.
Jim

[Big Ada]

You could build up the sticks and slip over a short length of 15mm Pipe lagging.

[malcolmfrary]

The sticks are usually part of the plastic moulding of the gimbal assembly.  Just lengthening them carries the risk that the force applied might be more than that which the plastic bit can stand up to.  Using the length of rubber tube (or a bit of fuel tube?) as a buffer between stick and handle should get round that problem, whether it is just a soft layer between stick and tube or a flexible/springy joint.

[Circlip]

Thought about contacting your local branch of Remploy? Although a "Specialised" application, would be surprised if something similar for another application hasn't been requested.


  Regards  Ian.

[Mrs Stav]

Klunk check your Pm's




Kelly

[captain_reg]

What about a gloss paint roller (the foam type), about 4" long and 35mm diameter. I've got a pack sat here and it has a really nice feel in the hand, just firm enough to get a grip of but soft enough to be comfortable.


The stick having a 3mm thread makes a temporary modification by means of an adaptor quite easy. I'd think probably Nylon would be in about the right ballpark to be strong enough so that the 3mm thread would break before the transmitter sticks.


I've got a lathe so making a pair of adaptors for this or something else is easy enough, more than happy to help if I can.

[RST]

There used to be someone in the UK who used to modify transmitters.
Also maybe the transmitters the Germans use fir their RC lorries and truck. Some have large thumb sticks.


Cheers
David

Mike at modelradioworkshop?  He might be able to advise you or sell you some parts.  Definitely feasible to use a commercial joystick on a remote lead mounted to a suitable box as it sounds like you need something pretty robust.  A 3d printed chunky handle would be a doddle, I like the sound of something like that paint roller also.  Could work nicely if it was plasti-dipped for robustness?


RS and Farnell have plenty of 2 axis joysticks which would be more robust but you might not like the price.


Rich

[Klunk]

Ok quick update.
Having spoken to the lads mother, she says he would be better with large buttons. Ideas please

[C-3PO]

Many years ago I plugged a "custom" black box into the trainer port of my Spektrum TX to hijack some of the channels to send binary data.

If you are still thinking of using a dx6i gen 1 as a tx, then I would be happy to give it a go of creating "black box" plugin.

It would be something along the lines of a unit/box with control surfaces (buttons") on it and a cable from this to the trainer port of the radio.

What type of model are you proposing to use it with to start with?

Do you have in mind as to what the buttons/functionality would do, how many there would be, do they latch etc?

Fleshing out the specification of the button functionality is key - after that it's pretty simple.

I would suggest that easily accessible limits are included to manage the stick(button) throws.

Proportional control from buttons could be a challenge! - Maybe presets eg. Stop| Slow | Half | Full

Some basics - Is the son able to use both hands to control things at the same time? If not the idea already raised by others of a large joystick unit might work? - All functions would be controlled from just the one stick




Regards
C-3PO

[Klunk]

The buttons would just be basic forward reverse left and right. He has virtually no grip due to cerebral palsy,  but he can press buttons. Whether they latch or not, I'm not sure. The boat will be a slow boat, nothing fast. Today he had a go with a club 500 at 1/3rd speed, we set the speed and just let him do the rudder. Using a buddy box of a dx6i gen would be the be the best way forward, that way his mum or myself can override when he makes a mistake

[C-3PO]

I will mock something up and post a video.

Regards
C-3PO

[Klunk]

Cheers c3po

[C-3PO]

I started last night with some kit on my bench and made some rapid progress.

Then the frustration kicked in as the easy elements of the solution that I have used many times before misbehaved and the new parts I have not performed well - such is life.

I think this project may well go through some iterations as more observations determine the way forward. I would appreciate any input/observations to stop me reinventing the wheel.

A few questions:

• Do you think both hands will/could be used at the same time? - e.g. one hand on Left/Right buttons & other hand on Forward/Reverse OR one hand only that will be used for all four buttons?
• On my Spektrum DX8 you have to hold down the bind button to allow the "trainer port" data to take control - always seemed odd that it was not on a toggle switch - does the DX6 use a toggle switch for the trainer port activation?
• On the DX6i can you mask in the setup menu which channels are active for the  trainer port input?

Thinking about the actual user interface hardware:

• Do you have a suggestion as to what size the buttons are - are we talking circular pads approx 2-4"?
• If user is using both hands will the buttons need to be split/seperated to 2 arms of a wheel chair?

I will add some logic to cover events like left and right or forward and reverse button being pressed at the same time. Like wise I will add in the "proportional" element with some logic that will be missing using an on/off control in the absence of proportional stick travel

Regards
C-3PO

[Klunk]

One handed use at a time with 2 to 4"  buttons ideal. Throttle would best if we could preset as well, 1/3, 1/2, 3/4 and full with same reverse, if possible.
Im only going to use  a dx6i gen 1 with toggle switch. I have 3 of them so its easier for me.


As the child has cerebral palsy,  his coordination is not good. Its best to have the buttons for forward/ reverse and Left/right separated. I doubt he will be able to hold a tx unit, so it would need to be built like a child's toy, big box big buttons, keeping it simple.  His mum will always be on hand to help due to child protection issues.
Hope this helps

[Circlip]

Was going to suggest the old Fubarta "Buddy Box" system suitably modified but C-3PO has jumped in with an answer. Pity that it will mean compromising a modern transmitter to do this OR a custom built solution shouldn't be too expensive given the modules available or a cheap system.


  Regards  Ian.

[C-3PO]

Hi Circlip,

No compromise of the DX6i at all - "black box" will be middle man between user control board (switches) and the transmitter trainer port - once finished just unplug from the TX - voila!

The cost of this will all be the in the hardware, cables, switches etc - The contents of the black box will be pennies.

I will build and supply an initial set FOC - most of the kit is readily available from my junk box...

The only need to spend money is if specific/specialised switches are required. On that note I wonder if capacitive touch switches would be a positive addition as then no pressure required to close a switch contact - just touch the switch surface,easily incorporated with the initial hardware I intend to use.

Regards
C-3PO

[Circlip]

Good to see that there are some still capable of "Grafting mods" onto existing gear.    Trainer port? Buddy box connection?


  Regards  Ian.

[C-3PO]

Stage one complete -  Black box interface via the trainer port in control of 8 transmitter channels

https://youtu.be/TP9m4ECKCp4




https://youtu.be/TP9m4ECKCp4

**Update

4 buttons connected to the black box interface successfully change transmitter channel values via the trainer port - now the hard bit - applying the rules/logic as to how this thing works...



Regards

C-3PO