Future Interface

[Padesatka]

I wonder if it's time for revolutionary RC interface hardware. That is, revolution in the ergonomics of how we fly airplanes remotely.

Watch an aerobatic competitor mentally rehearsing a sequence.

Watch the hands. Now imagine watching the hands with an optical-inertial human-computer interface.

Although it presents the weird mental scene of RC flying clubs resembling t'ai chi classes, it's interesting I think.

How about a bluetooth "heads up" display in your sunglasses, presenting airspeed, g, altitude, along with a forward bugeye view?

I would like to discuss such things.

[FLYWINGFAN]

What do you do for a living?

[Tom Harper]

Ever watch a pro at cotrol line stunt?

[BMatthews]

.. and watch what the model does when a bumble bee starts buzzing the pilot... :D

While I'd agree that our classic two sticker may be a trifle dated it's still pretty effective. I, for one, actually like the idea of the sticks sort of simulating the controls of a real airplane. Some options would be a stick that doesn't move in an arc but instead moved in a path that is somewhat friendly with the natural travel of the human thumb.

[Troy]

About 10-12 years ago I witnessed something quite interesting along these lines. A gentleman who flew at the local gas field had developed a kit that, through a complex array of mechanical levers, sticks, and pedals, simulated a full scale control lay out. Basically a center stick, rudder pedals, and throttle lever. This all transmitted down mechanically to a transmitter that was under the wooden seat. Seemed like a pretty novel idea..... until he tried to fly the airplane. Now I can't say that the contraption was the root of the problem, for all I know the guy wasn't a great pilot to begin with. In the end , the plane never left the ground, instead it ground looped repeatedly, chopped the prop up on nose overs, and it never left the ground. In any case, it looked really awkward and certainly needed refinement. It seemed you also needed another set of hands available to adjust trims and to mind the aircraft while you "strapped in."

Personally, I've flown on both simulators and a real UAV station with an actual UAV in the air, but I wasn't trying to fly it like I would a zippy RC model. I didn't have too many issues but it did take some adjustment to the new "feel" of the controls.

I personally feel that the fine touch RC gimbels give good precision while at the same time maneuverability over a big joystick, but then you can argue about thumbs vs. two finger grips on the end of your sticks, too. One advantage is that we RC pilots don't have to deal with in flight turbulence except for the occasional pot hole we step in while walking with the Tx. I believe that flying a plane with your hand wouldn't provide the feedback you get from either gimbels or joystick. Go try to fly your plane with the springs taken out of the Tx. I had one break in flight and it almost cost me an airplane. That doesn't mean you couldn't get the feel to fly one without them, it's just like anything else...practice and hand eye coordination. Also, don't drink any coffee prior to fffffllllllyyyyyiiiiinnnnngggg. ;) The U-control analogy is valid, but even a U-control will self center if you make a single input and hold. The plane flies in the direction of input until everything meets back up in their respective centers and doesn't go until you make another input on the handle. A hand directed system is certainly possible and you can probably get use to it, they use them on animatronics quite successfully.

With regards to a heads up visor, I have also seen and flown a system that used virtual reality goggles up-linked to a camera mounted on the plane. It had up-down left-right capabilities with the turn of your head. Really a nice solution to the tunnel vision of most in-air RC camera systems. You could lead the turns as you would in full scale flying and scan your surroundings for better navigation. That was a while back when virtual reality goggles first hit the scene.