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Pre-order the iPhly iPhone R/C controller on Kickstarter

Posted by Ari Krupnik on March 25, 2011 at 1:00pm

Please visit the Kickstarter project page: iPhly.org/ks.

It's all in the wrist. Roll the phone to roll. Tilt down to pitch down. Swipe up to throttle up. Swipe side-to-side to yaw.

You can store as many model memories as you like. You can give them long names. You can photograph your models using the iPhone's camera. Seven-segment displays on a TX are so last century.

The software is GPL. The schematics and SVN are on iPhly.org. The app is in the app store (if you don't want to compile your own). I am using KS to raise money for a production run.

Please visit the Kickstarter project page: iPhly.org/ks and share with your pilot friends.

Ari.

tx, hardware, iphly, iphone, open

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Comments

Ari Krupnik March 26, 2011 at 10:34pm

@Greg Fletcher: Thank you for describing the product you want. The positive intention of rejection is to move away from relationships that aren't working and make room for ones that are. Good job experiencing and sharing your rejection.

Serial ports: iPhone serial port requires an MFi license: developer.apple.com/programs/mfi. I can't say much more without violating my NDA. Android serial ports come in a great variety depending on manufacturers and models. The fragmentation makes it challenging to to target the "Android platform" with a physical dongle, especially if you I want to sell to people who don't want to root their phones.
hamish March 26, 2011 at 2:31pm

naaaaaaah man i remember reading something about the serial port. the phone needed jailbreaking tho.. .

http://resolvehax.blogspot.com/2010/10/iphone-serial-port.html

http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Iphone+Serial+Port+Tutorial

I've been fiddeling (and succeeding) with the hardware serial ports on my android phone, no time lately though. I wrote up some of what i did on a crappy dissorganised website
I.S. March 26, 2011 at 9:24am

the dock connector has a srial Tx and Rx indeed. attaching it to an Xbee should be simple (electrically), but plenty of programming under the hood.
Greg Fletcher March 26, 2011 at 9:12am

Why don't you add a couple of joy sticks. I wouldn't want to fly a plane with this. What happens when a call comes in and you instinctively put it up to your ear? Just kidding ;) I realy don't understand why you don't want sticks. I see no advantage and lots of disadvantages to this. When you center a joy stick you know you are trimmed centered. There is no tactile feedback with a tilting Iphone. When the Iphone can be a telemetry interface connected to an Xbee, I will get one.
Developer

Mark Colwell March 26, 2011 at 8:39am

Great project, I want the Android version if it is ported. I have a G1, I ordered a FrSky DF 2.4Ghz Combo Pack for JR from HobbyKing It should be here next week.

Hope you port it over. Thanks
Ari Krupnik March 26, 2011 at 7:02am

@Thomas: I guess what you're asking for is a switch that can flip a channel from one preset to another, like a landing gear switch? That's easy to add.

@SciFly: I have App Store approval. The app is in iTunes now.

Not sure about the your question on drift. I use accelerometers for input.
SciFly March 26, 2011 at 12:47am

great work.did the app store approve this??do they have to?does the unit drift?
Thomas March 25, 2011 at 10:17pm

@Ari

Just wanted to say great work on keeping the RC world up to date with the modern age, Just one question though. Does your app have the ability to be updated to use it with APM? As I am thinking IMO that to have an additional toggle on the display to change the mode your APM is in would be helpful for a fully functional RC control.
Ari Krupnik March 25, 2011 at 10:07pm

Yes
SupreCharger March 25, 2011 at 9:48pm

Does this adapter support iPhone4?