· Flight Simulator

December 2004
               

Watch this copy of a training flight simulator make its moves!

This is an overview of the construction. The RCX is attached to the moving platform on which the training cockpit is placed. In the upper part of the picture are the sensors that allow a direct control of the simulator.

Closer view of the cockpit. It has space for two "test pilots" and can incline to any of its 4 sides by using two motors.
Click here to download a video of the moving simulator! (455 KB)

Zoom of the rotation sensor. This sensor is used in combination with the touch sensors (see further down) to control the simulator. As the RCX doesn't have enough inputs to use 4 different sensors, I used a rotation sensor to select the motor you want to control and two touch sensors to control the direction of that motor.
The white clutch gear is used so that the lever does not spin on its own. So it's just added friction.

As you can see, the gear system is very simple (cockpit was removed for better view). The red micro-motor inclines the platform sideways, while the motor in the background is geared down to make it slower and create not-so-quick forward and backward movements. See below for a top view of the platform.

Top view of the gearing system.

The complete "control panel". The RCX has 2 inputs left for touch sensors, so I multiplexed the top and left sensors, as well as the right and bottom ones. Depending on the position of the rotation sensor, both perform the same action (either up/down or left/right).

The test pilots are happy to take a ride in the simulator.

Detail shot of the touch sensor array.

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