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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
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DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control -- Episode 440

 

I love to fly in simulators, especially helicopters. But, there is just not an affordable collective control that I have found, so I decided to make one for myself! I am going to build a joystick using an Arduino Micro, with a bunch of buttons for assignable controls and a high quality encoder for the collective axis.

Supplemental Content:

 

Also you can watch the live Twitch recording about this build: element14 Presents Live Twitch Stream: DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
BOURNS Absolute Rotary Encoder, 120 rpm, 128 PPR, EAW Series BOURNS 1 Buy Now
ARDUINO Development Board, Arduino Micro, ATmega32U4 MCU, 20 3.3V I/O, 12 Analogue Inputs, ISCP Header ARDUINO 1 Buy Now
ITW SWITCHES Pushbutton Switch, Industrial, 59 Series, 13.6 mm, SPST-NO-DB, Momentary, Square ITW SWITCHES 1 Buy Now
ITW SWITCHES Pushbutton Switch, Industrial, 59 Series, 13.6 mm, SPST-NO-DB, Momentary, Square ITW SWITCHES 1 Buy Now
ITW SWITCHES Pushbutton Switch, Industrial, 59 Series, 13.6 mm, SPST-NO-DB, Momentary, Round ITW SWITCHES 1 Buy Now
ITW SWITCHES Pushbutton Switch, Industrial, 59 Series, 13.6 mm, SPST-NO-DB, Momentary, Round ITW SWITCHES 1 Buy Now
C & K COMPONENTS SWITCH, SPDT, 5A, 120VAC C & K COMPONENTS 3 Buy Now
BOURNS Incremental Rotary Encoder, Pro Audio, Continuous. 24 Detents, 24 Pulses, Quadrature Output BOURNS 1 Buy Now

 

Additional Parts:

 

Product Name

5 Way Momentary Square SMD Tactitle Switch

M3x5x2 Square Nuts

8mm Bore Diameter ball mounted pillow blocks

T6 Seamless Aluminum Round Straight Tubing 16 Gauge 1-3/8" OD
Attachments:
HelicopterCollective_Resources.zip
image
DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control

element14 presents  |  About Kaleb |  Project Videos

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  • First, awesome project.  I been looking at helicopter flight controls for a long time and came to the same conclusion as you, If I want one, I'll have to build my own.  Any chance you could release the CAD file in .STEP format?  I'd love to make this and add some features.  Mostly a proper rotational throttle control, but I'd like to make some changes to the head unit with the switches as well.    Also, the code is not in the downloaded project file, just the STL's.

  • in reply to jrsphoto

    Hi John, Thank you!

     

    Give me a few and I will work on getting the code and STEP/FBX files available.

  • in reply to KalebTheMaker

    John, There are a couple of new links. One for code on github, and the other is a link the 3d model. You can download which ever part in many different formats.

     

    If you do make some modifications, we would love to see them! Please post any updates!

     

    -Kaleb

  • in reply to KalebTheMaker

    Got the designs, thanks much Kaleb.  Any chance you've got some designs for a cyclic control and maybe even pedals in the works?  I can dream ;-)

     

    I've been thinking about a cyclic design since finding this model: https://grabcad.com/library/cobra-flight-grip-1.  I'll take a look at your designs and start thinking how to best add the rotational throttle control.. I don't think it will be that hard, especially using an optical encoder for it. I have an old design I did maybe 10 years ago that used a potentiometer for this, which required some clever gearing to get the throttle rotation correct and provide full rotation of the pot.  I don't think any of this would be required for this with an encoder.  I'll keep you posted.  Glad to see the designs were in Fusion..  Love that platform!

     

    John

  • in reply to jrsphoto

    Awesome, glad you got it!

     

    You know, for a cyclic I have been using a saitek X-55 and it works pretty well, so I don't think I am going to work on that step. But... Pedals are a different story. I do not have any and have thought about building some. They may be on the table after a few other projects in the queue!

     

    I think the problem with the pot is going to extend to the encoder as well. Since they have x steps per rotation, we either have to have the throttle rotate 360 degrees to get full steps, or like you said, some clever gearing to change that 90 degree turn into 360. Same thing I had to do with the gearing on the collective, except my math was wrong and I am only getting about 300 degrees out of it. haha. Whoops! It seems to be just fine since the bourns encoder has 128 steps per turn.

     

    Good luck and keep me posted, would really like to see what you come up with!

     

    -Kaleb Clark

  • in reply to KalebTheMaker

    Excellent project Kaleb,

     

    If you need help with gearing calculations I might be able to help as I have been mastering doing gearing and gearbox designs in Fusion 360, as I do a lot of gearbox design work for my friend who needs them for his rope winders.  So gotten pretty good at it, as I found when used correctly planetary gearing can be used to get compact gearing in a compact space. 9 to 1 ratio easy to do!

     

    Regards

    Paul

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  • in reply to KalebTheMaker

    Excellent project Kaleb,

     

    If you need help with gearing calculations I might be able to help as I have been mastering doing gearing and gearbox designs in Fusion 360, as I do a lot of gearbox design work for my friend who needs them for his rope winders.  So gotten pretty good at it, as I found when used correctly planetary gearing can be used to get compact gearing in a compact space. 9 to 1 ratio easy to do!

     

    Regards

    Paul

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