REFLECTOR: New Collection and Control Hardware

[michalk]

There's been no really cool information lately on the Reflector so I 
thought I'd put up a status report on my stuff.

As some of you know, I am rolling my own acquisition and control system. 
  The point behind the system is that everything is able to communicate 
with everything else.

At the center of all of this is a Linux machine with a lot of serial 
connectors to connect to legacy devices that are not able to talk on the 
communication bus.  These are things like the NAV/COMM radios, solid 
state compass and solid state gyro.  The important one is an SMBUS to 
RS232 bridge.

On the SMBUS, I designed several modules: backup EFI, thermocouple 
amplifier and engine monitor.  I integrated power and signal into a 
twisted pair ribbon cable, which crimps on RJ45 connectors.  Very 
simple.  One click and you get power and data for each module.

The bridge module is talking passing data and commands between the SMBUS 
and the Linux machine.  The thermocouple amplifier board which is the 
easiest works well on the bench.  The acquisition works and it is 
outfitted with six EGT, six CHT and one spare thermocouple amplifier. 
The onboard CPU, an 8051 derivative also has a temperature sensor which 
  it supports in its command set.

The engine monitor module communicates, but needs testing to make sure 
all of the circuits are correct.  This module collects two oil pressures 
(across oil filter), MAP, two intake manifold temps (across turbo), fuel 
flow to pressure regulator, exhaust back pressure, and three fuel 
pressures(across two fuel filters).

The EFI module (third revision now) needs to be populated, but is the 
most complex of all of them.  It reports RPM, MAP and a host of other 
information, about 50 parameters total about the health of the backup 
EFI system.  I am also still working on this firmware.

The airplane group of guys here came up with an electric prop controller 
that needs testing for the IVO that we plan on getting on the SMBUS as 
well.  In addition, I developed schematics for an autopilot, power 
monitor, angle of attack sensor and throttle/turbo control.

Since this is all network interfaced, the panel display can be of almost 
any design from a simple LED based like the prop controller to an MFD. 
The group already has the panel mount prop display that will include 
takeoff and cruise modes, all with a simple interface.

Before my first flight, the backup EFI system has to be functional, so 
that's where all of my effort is at this time.