REFLECTOR: New Collection and Control Hardware

[michalk]

I'm using the PC-flight systems gyro.  If you dig long enough you can 
find the location where they sell the gyro only.  I went for the laptop 
installation so I could get the software as well, even though I don't 
intend to use it that way other than for debugging.

The magnetic compass was ordered along with my Micro Encoder.  There are 
lots of compasses available.  I probably spent more than I needed to on 
the compass, but I felt the extra effort put into aviation hardware is 
worth it.

NOTE:  Be careful when selecting off the shelf consumer grade parts.

It's tempting to see the prices for consumer stuff when shoehorning 
avionics into electronics.  The best defense is to go with industrial 
quality where you can get your hands on a certificate that gives numbers 
for tolerances on temperature, humidity, vibration and such.
It may be okay to go with consumer grade, just be wary of where you are 
putting your eggs.

Running a 60 watt Pentium at with a marginal fan at sea level is 
completely different than trying to do the same thing at 10,000 feet.

Joe Ewen wrote:
> Sounds like a nice system.  I too am creating my own acquisition and 
> control system.  I am curious about what solid state compass and solid 
> state gyro you are using.
> Thanks,
> Joe
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "michalk" <michalk at awpi.com>
> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 12:27 PM
> Subject: REFLECTOR: New Collection and Control Hardware
> 
> 
>> 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.
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> 
> 
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