controling heli by pc ?

[farshid]

hi guys , I'm looking for a good software and USB connetion for my 9ch futaba , I would like to program and give auto commands to the transmiter ,the way it can take off and lands automaticly , like a autopilot and also can be programed and fly for some directions and then come back and lands , do you know any software and USB connection that can help me through this ? I prefer graphical software not programing
Best

[HELModels]

Forget it man, cant be done.... Now, wait for the detailed answer with the same message. The 1's and 0's of it are totally up to you in the end unless you pay someone with the philosopy and letters to produce exactly what you need. Caveat Emptor, but dont forget to Carpe Diem and glory is everything if you seek it on your own terms. Rock on, dude.

Seriously, someone might have a more legitimate answer.

[Ailuropoda]

Run this by me again
user->PC->transmitter->receiver->output->sensors? maybe? hopefully?
Is there some sort of insturmentation and feedback loop that I missed? I haven't tried an RC helicopter before, but the concept of flying one with no sense of how the aircraft is moving scares me.

[JeffElecRC]

He's basically asking for a helicopter autopilot. Since he hasn't specified a price range we could direct him to http://www.rotomotion.com/. Expect to pay well over $10K dollars for such a system.

Given that you're asking this question, I assume you don't have too much experience flying RC Helicopters and have probably just realized how difficult it is to learn to fly them.

The short answer to your question is not "It can't be done." as ElectroStorch has suggested, but "It can be done cheaply and simply like you have suggested".

Heres the reason: When a human flies an aircraft or helicopter (be it RC or real) the pilot is part of a complex feedback loop system. The brain processes visual (and in the case of fullscale piloting, inertial) stimuli and outputs stick movements.

If you hooked up your computer to your Futaba transmitter you would only accomplish the "stick movements" half of the feedback system. The Computer would have no idea of the orientation of the aircraft and would crash it within several seconds.