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Vars
- Thread starter zeebee
- Start date
Flying Bike - vars and formulae for engine labor
Hello All,
Earlier I asked about controlling built-in FSX dialogs with a joystick, and I haven't made too much headway in that department. But someone in my lab suggested looking into SendMessage(), and I could always start building my own dialogs, presumably with joystick controllability via SimConnect. I'll report on any successes.
But now it is time to switch gears. The joystick is connected to a stationary recumbent exercise bike. Needless to say, pedaling the bike powers the aircraft. This has worked quite well, and our demo machine has proven popular with many folks, from kids to adults. We usually stick to flying the ultralight, since we're not exactly pilots around here.
The bike has an eddy current brake that provides electromagnetic resistance. We have this functionality connected up to our SimConnect module, but we haven't determined the appropriate circumstances under which the simulation should automatically vary the resistance up or down. Instead, the resistance can be controlled manually, or as a function of time via a preset exercise program, just like on the equipment down at your local gym.
We have mooted the possibility of using a simple function like rate of increasing/decreasing altitude, for increasing/decreasing resistance, but I thought I'd throw the question out there for other ideas. I imagine there is a whole spectrum of sensible formulae of varying complexity, so it is worth noting that we're more interested in flying ultralights and Cessnas than 747s and F-14s.
Zeebee
Hello All,
Earlier I asked about controlling built-in FSX dialogs with a joystick, and I haven't made too much headway in that department. But someone in my lab suggested looking into SendMessage(), and I could always start building my own dialogs, presumably with joystick controllability via SimConnect. I'll report on any successes.
But now it is time to switch gears. The joystick is connected to a stationary recumbent exercise bike. Needless to say, pedaling the bike powers the aircraft. This has worked quite well, and our demo machine has proven popular with many folks, from kids to adults. We usually stick to flying the ultralight, since we're not exactly pilots around here.
The bike has an eddy current brake that provides electromagnetic resistance. We have this functionality connected up to our SimConnect module, but we haven't determined the appropriate circumstances under which the simulation should automatically vary the resistance up or down. Instead, the resistance can be controlled manually, or as a function of time via a preset exercise program, just like on the equipment down at your local gym.
We have mooted the possibility of using a simple function like rate of increasing/decreasing altitude, for increasing/decreasing resistance, but I thought I'd throw the question out there for other ideas. I imagine there is a whole spectrum of sensible formulae of varying complexity, so it is worth noting that we're more interested in flying ultralights and Cessnas than 747s and F-14s.
Zeebee
I've decided to go with "YOKE Y POSITION" for setting the resistance level of the FSX aircraft "engine". If you pull back on the yoke (actually a joystick) the pedaling gets harder, if you push forward the pedaling gets easier.
Other simulation data that might be of interest include aircraft pitch and velocity, vertical speed and acceleration, elevator position, and altitude. (Doubtless, there is considerable overlap in these variables.) But the yoke position serves as a good first approximation.
Zeebee
Other simulation data that might be of interest include aircraft pitch and velocity, vertical speed and acceleration, elevator position, and altitude. (Doubtless, there is considerable overlap in these variables.) But the yoke position serves as a good first approximation.
Zeebee