BFF Control Loader Software
UPDATE July '19: If you are a
3rd party software developer or would just like to try
writing your own force feedback or specialist loading
software a new CL Controller software app is now available
which may be of interest. This app combines loading test
functions currently provided in the Driver Test App with a
new user loading data input mode to allow 3rd party software
to drive the CL system cards.
For more details visit the
CL Controller web page here....
The BFF Control Loader
V2 software is used with our CL_SPU_USB and BLDRV3 motor
driver cards in flight simulator flight control loaders.
It extracts live telemetry from FSX/P3D and
X-Plane flight sims and instructs real-time loading of
brushless drive motors in the flight controls.
Online User Guide
BFF CL
Software V2 features
The flight
control forces simulated by the BFF CL Software include:
-
Airspeed dependent
aerodynamic loading (returning forces proportional to control
surface displacement and airspeed)
-
Adjustable aerodynamic force gains
(equivalent to adjustable control surface area)
-
Angle of attack (alpha and beta)
effects (eg for longitudinal stability response)
-
Realistic GA trim behaviour (independent
of simulator trim system, controls can be trimmed in any
position) using trim potentiometers or trim
buttons/switches.
-
Control surface static & dynamic
weight effects (aircraft acceleration effects)
-
Prop-wash effects
-
Engine vibrations (vary with power &
rpm)
-
Runway vibration effects (vary with
runway speed)
-
Stall buffeting effects (frequency
and amplitude definable - eg stick vibration type
behaviour)
-
Damping and friction adjustments (-ve
gains definable)
Auto Pilot following (native sim A/P only)
Separate configuration program with saveable
configuration settings
Driver Test App for setup and commissioning
Helicopter cyclic trim loading mode.
Heavy Jet mode.
Sim-Avionics &
ProSim, and also
Failure Mode Loading.
Stick pusher effects.
When
used with the CL_SPU_USB + BLDRV3 brushless motor drivers the CL
software exports flight simulator dependent force components
at approximately 55Hz. These are added to the force
components calculated onboard the BLDRV3 card at 500Hz.
The on-board force processing of the BLDRV3 allows the
CL software to run with minimal system resource which allows
it to run on the same PC as the flight sim.
The included Configuration Manager
application allows the
configuration settings to be adjusted and saved in
configuration files and to be updated in the main CL
software as it runs. This allows the force effects to be
tuned with the CL system active.
Requirements
Runs on Windows 7+ PC's.
For FS9/X/2020 & P3D you will need an
up-to-date version of Pete Dowson's FSUIPC
installed. And for use with X-Plane 9.6+ you
will need to install Torsten Spiering's XPUIPC
v1.9.0 or later. For both see links to the
right......
Control Loading Model
The loading calculation model has been
developed to provide effective force demands for low cost
self-build systems (compared to commercial control loader systems)
and is principally based on the behaviour of GA aircraft
with reversible controls.
Additional modes are available for heavy jet operations. The model uses control axis
position and velocity as the indicator of control surface
position and velocity, this is measured at the brushless
motor quadrature encoder. Airspeed, aircraft AoA,
accelerations, engine condition, runway speed, stall state
and other dynamic flight data are all
taken live from the flight sim (FS9/X or X-Plane). Trim surface position is taken from the
independent trim pot positions or trim button/switch
operation.
Aerodynamic loads are
calculated from control surface deflection and aircraft AoA and airspeed.
The airspeed exponent used in the calculation of control
surface lift can be adjusted to suit different control
types. For small aircraft with controls mechanically
connected to the control surfaces airspeed squared can be
set. For fly-by-wire systems a linear relationship can be
set (stiffness varies linearly with airspeed).
The model allows control forces to be
calculated without the need to monitor applied loading and
this greatly reduces the complexity and cost for self-build systems
by avoiding the need for force sensors in the controls.
For Auto Pilot following the CL_SPU_USB +
BLDRV3
cards switch automatically into a PID controlled position
following mode and the CL software generates position
demands based on the A/P control actions read from the flight sim. The A/P following can be disengaged by moving the
controls or by the usual sim panel controls.
A/P following can be disabled if not required.
Note that the A/P following functionality is active for the
simulator software's native A/P system only - not for
external A/P packages. UPDATE - A/P following for Sim-A and
Pro Sim are now also available.
System
To operate effectively the software must be
used in a properly designed and built system as described on
the BLDRV3 page. The
quality of the force feedback you obtain will be critically
dependent on the quality of the design and build of the force
transmission and other mechanical elements in your controls.
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