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Arduino-based mode switch

Posted by Stefan Gofferje on August 4, 2013 at 3:55am

FILE0080.jpg?width=750First, I used combinations of switches to select the mode of my APM. But IMHO, there is hardly anything more counter-intuitive and if things hit the fan, you can be sure to switch to the wrong mode out of pure hectic.

Next, I replaced a pot of my transmitter with a 6-position switch and variable resistors. That is already better, but to get to one mode, you likely have to switch through other modes. Also, without any markings, again, not very intuitive and it's impossible to see at one glance which mode you are in.

Finally, I hacked together a small board with 6 pushbuttons, 6 LEDs and an Arduino Pro Mini. The Arduino creates an 8-channel PPM stream of which channel 1 contains the data for the mode. The whole thing connects to the trainer port of my 9x. Additionally, I steal 5V from the display output of my FrSky module but theoretically, the Arduino could also be powered by the 3S transmitter LiPo. The program is pretty easy. Check the buttons and set the respective PPM value. The LEDs are not set by the buttons but by the actual value of PPM1 - just to be safe, in case e.g. the Arduino resets or something.

Here's the schematic:

APM_mode_switch_schem.png?width=750I'll attach design files for the PCB and the source code in the comments then.

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Comments

  • not2fast July 22, 2015 at 10:44am

    I connect inside the Taranis. I sent a bunch of pictures in a reply to your3702051966?profile=original PM. Let me know if you don't get them. I'm going to try to put them here too. They will do more good here than on my "comment wall", whatever that is.

    The way this handles pictures is kind of clunky but.......


    3702052154?profile=original3702051815?profile=original3702051451?profile=original3702051788?profile=original

  • not2fast July 22, 2015 at 10:17am

    Holly smokes!! You've taken mods to a whole new level.

  • not2fast June 9, 2015 at 5:01pm

    Don't know your details but I am running this code on a Taranis on ch 5.

  • Stefan Gofferje May 28, 2015 at 9:58am

    The download links have changed, though. New links:

    Code: http://stefan.gofferje.net/downloads/file/27-mode-switch-for-apm-so...
    Gerber: http://stefan.gofferje.net/downloads/file/29-mode-switch-for-apm-ge...
    PDF: http://stefan.gofferje.net/downloads/file/28-mode-switch-for-apm-la...

  • Stefan Gofferje May 28, 2015 at 9:49am

    I fixed the downloads. Should work now.

  • not2fast May 23, 2015 at 3:54pm

    RobC  my comments to your page have been "moderated"?

  • not2fast May 23, 2015 at 12:28pm

    I figured i will never need twelve switches and sliders but I sure need the APM buttons in handy spots. I use the buttons for flaps on a non-APM Bixler 2 and the buttons on my APM B2 and everything is internal. If anyone is interested in this I can take pictures of the inside. By the way, all the radios I've put together using the Arduino board have used the code from Stefan's original Arduino Mode project. It works flawlessly. Thanks again Stefan

  • not2fast May 22, 2015 at 8:14pm

    I have put together a setup with my Taranis using the illuminated push buttons I used on my 9XR that works pretty good. I have a copy of the code too, or I could3702009539?profile=original upload it from one of my controllers.

  • Peter Webster September 17, 2014 at 3:04am

    With Taranis you can use 6 momentary pushbutton switches rather than the cumbersome 6-position rotary switch. You need to program 12 logical switches, 6 special functions, and a global variable. The pushbuttons don't light up as they are pushed, but that's no negative if you've got voice announce, flight mode on telemetry or OSD...

  • Crady von Pawlak May 9, 2014 at 10:03am

    Cool!

This reply was deleted.