Air Manager Does Arduino

[@tasercs]

" I knew nothing about Arduino when I started, I didn't even know how to spell it..." I'm still laughing at that Russ. Another useful and inspiring video that we can come back to again and again.

[@ericcsuf]

Very helpful. I want a completely physical panel, but it seems a waste to ignore the assets available in AM for graphic instruments. Combining the two seems the best of both worlds. This shows it's easy (once you know how), and efficient. Subscribed.

[@onthemark40]

Awesome video. I was not going to bother with using Arduino to interface with instruments as it looked too difficult. Watching this video I think I will give it a try. Will start with making a Knobster and go from there. Arduino Nano, Mega, encoders, push buttons, and switches have been ordered 😀.

[@rbarlow]

Yes it’s easier than I thought and kind of fun once you get started. If you watch my video you’re starting with a lot more knowledge than I had.

[@mxcollin95]

Very, very cool! I love when companies are cool enough to keep their stuff accessible and tweak-able to people who use their product!!! Thanks for putting this video together. Great job! 👍

[@HoNau77]

Watching your videos educates in 3 ways: learning air manager and Arduino and improving my English. 😀

[@geekdomo]

Thank you for another great video. I have not noticed this on other videos of yours but this one (I know is over 4 years old) but your screen recording software adds a very distracting and harsh fake mouse click. If you are doing screen recordings, I recommend OBS (not the same as in an airplane ;) ) its free and does not add the really loud and unnecessary clicks. Thanks once again for all you do!

[@rbarlow]

👍

[@MrSnacko]

FANTASTIC! I was looking for a video like this all day yesterday. This is a huge leap forward!!

[@DanielLooper]

Great Video, quick and easy process as explained, I setup one rotary encoder tonight, ready to move forward. thank you very much!

[@carbidedge]

Super video, many thank, this is the push I needed to get back into flight sim again. Keep up the great work.

[@harryonnekink3686]

Hi Russ, is there any change that you put the lua file underneath this video. I am not able to find it in the API, or am too little experienced to compilate a complete scretch. Thanx in advance.

[@simhoper8953]

This is a wonderful video! I am trying to build a Saab340 home sim. I will be getting Air Manager for sure!

[@rbarlow]

Good choice! Depending on how deep yopu get into it Air manager can do everything for your cockpit including hardware controls.

[@simhoper8953]

@@rbarlow I have designed eng, prop gauges from the scratch. They work well with AM. But I can't get Arduino communicating with the AM, even though the code is right and the switches are working in the AM console. Will dig deep!

[@rbarlow]

simhoper did you: Select the correct Arduino model when flashing the Arduino and did. it say successful? Does the Arduino shoe up on the devices tab in bold(not gray) text? Do you have the correct PIN numbers ( and D or A correct).

[@rbarlow]

simhoper also since this Video hardware was added to user properties and allows users to change Arduino type and pins assigned on the fly see siminnovations.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_prop_add_hardware_id

[@rbarlow]

simhoper finally remember the sim with the latest Air Manager plug in must be operating for the Arduino device to work

[@dthillafap]

Hi Russ , I really appreciate your videos. I've been wanting to exploit the hardware features of AM3 for some time , but at some point because of my programming illiteracy I lose the thread of where I'm supposed to go next. Moreover there is no explanation particularly in the AM documents about why something is being done . In your video for example I lose it during the multiple cut and pastes into the King Nav script. What is the purpose of that process ? I know that it needs to be done , but is that script being edited, an Xplane file ? Or is a new file for AM being created? And there is swapping between notepad and AM GUI . Its hard to follow in real time. If this was a classroom , I could put my hand up and ask for clarification . Another example , in the AM wiki part of some of the example scripts are in color green ,red , blue .....what does this mean ? My problem is that I am as far from a programmer as can be . The supporting documentation in its many forms , video , wiki , documents, sometimes assume programming literacy , so the whole process of incorporating hardware with AM comes to a stand still for me. If I have a suggestion, these presentations need to slow down the amount of content being introduced in a given time period,and, more explanation of each step offered when it gets complicated. I hope you and AM take this as feedback, not criticism.

[@buckrodgers770]

Hey Russ do you think this would work for a push/pull switch for a parking brake in msfs or doesnt it work that way? I do have Air Manager.

[@rbarlow]

Sure Michael. I just used a simple push switch on my cockpit. I did gear with lites , flaps and park brake on a Nano

[@buckrodgers770]

@@rbarlow That's great Russ. I had no idea Air Manager had that capability. I ordered an arduino uno and some other bits to give it a go. Many Thanks

[@JoseGonzalez-dp3yq]

I’m looking to be able to utilize different variations of instrument panels for different aircraft while learning how to fly.

[@davidcooke285]

I have the knobster and tying to code the inputs for testing. In the below code I can get D3 to work (not D3 + D4) on the outer knob (large) but the inter knob I cannot get it to work and if I combine any other functions to the dial_change_large function. It no longer works correctly, I get odd results. Sometimes two clicks get a output. I cannot get the inter knob to work by it itself either. Any assistance would be appreciated. I used the 3.5 Boot loader with no good results. Thanks Dave -- Callback function which is called when the rotary encoder is turned -- direction 1 : The dial turned clockwise -- direciton -1: The dial turned counterclockwise function dial_change_large(direction) if direction == 1 then print("The LARGE dial turned clockwise") end if direction == -1 then print("The LARGE dial turned counterclockwise") end end -- Create a new rotary encoder hw_dial_add("ARDUINO_NANO_A_D3", "ARDUINO_NANO_A_D3", dial_change_large) --function dial_change_small(direction) -- -- if direction == 1 then -- print("The small dial turned clockwise") -- end -- -- if direction == -1 then -- print("The small dial turned counterclockwise") -- end -- --end -- ---- Create a new rotary encoder --hw_dial_add("ARDUINO_NANO_A_D4", "ARDUINO_NANO_A_D4", dial_change_small)

[@buckrodgers770]

Dumb question Russ but do you have to have everything wired in before you can do anything with the arduino unit? My PC recognized my uno and says connected but that's about it.

[@rbarlow]

Not dumb. If you connect the Arduino to your computer it will power up from the USB ( you may need additional power from the adapter for Mega and Uno I think). Then you can flash it right from Air Manager. Best to see which com ports are already active by clicking "Flash" and checking the pop up menu to see any that are active you plug in the Arduino, so you will know which one was added by the Arduino when you plugged it in. Otherwise it is trial and error until you find the Arduino com port. And if it is a Nano clone, be sure to check "Use old bootloader" before flashing. After flashing it should show up in bold print under the Actions column in the Home tab. If you click that line the settings on the right pane should show State: Connected Then just wire things up and you should be good to go.

[@buckrodgers770]

@@rbarlow thanks Russ I'm working on the project now. Also designing a box in Tinkercad to 3d print to mount it all in. Got it flashed and connected, now just the wiring bit left.

[@rbarlow]

@@buckrodgers770 are you using hardware functions or are you creating your own script? What controls does your project have?

[@buckrodgers770]

@@rbarlow I'm trying to make a parking brake with 2 LED's one red and green for an on/off state. I have to teach myself how it all works.

[@buckrodgers770]

@@rbarlow I have a bunch of resistors, LED's, wires and all that. A push/pull switch like a Cessna and the breadboard and UNO the USB to the UNO. I have a home cockpit and it's something I wanted to teach myself to make.

[@neilrampersad4291]

great video, I use air manager and looking to do exactly what you just showed, thank you

[@mikefeetham4772]

Russ, could you share where you got the dual concentric rotary encoders? They're a rare part to find these days. I've been doing a lot with Arduino and X-Plane, but now I think Air Manager may be an easier solution to some of the things I'm trying to do.

[@rbarlow]

Leo Bodnar in Europe sells Elma dual encoders and Desktop Aviation and PROPWashSim.com also sell a less sturdy encoder but it works

[@onthemark40]

Do you think it would be possible to leave the coding for the on display dials and push button for frequency change and then add Arduino code. Then having the ability to use the hardware knobs or the touch display.

[@rbarlow]

Yes that would be no problem either one would work just like you can make a frequency change on the simulator screen or on the air manager panel the hardware would just add another possibility

[@mikemike6096]

But how many assignments can you actually have on one single 2560mega? Would I need 15 mega boards to setup a 172 panel with every switch, dial and button for max realism?

[@mierbeuker8148]

I need a large knob encoder. Mine does embarrassing things when mixed with too much alcohol. It can be downright dangerous sometimes. You can never be sure what you will wake up next to. I hate having to slip into ninja mode on a hangover, but sometimes you just have to, to ensure your escape!! Where can I buy one?

[@harpoon_bakery162]

How is the support at the Air Manager division of SIM Innovations? Tech Support is key getting complicated software like that up and running. thanks in advance! Can I also get support for a Knobster?

[@Glasairman]

after my successful flash to a Mega it doesnt see it, only talks about a "Flight Illusion" device (on AM 3.1.7). Anyone any ideas?

[@Glasairman]

Feedback & Tip for everyone: there is a box to be ticked in Settings which allows "Connect to Arduino" which set off as default

[@bebo995]

Hi Russ, can you re-do this video using a Raspberry Pi that is displaying a instrument in the Pi Air Player? I'm in need of help getting the encoders to work there through the GPIO. The Wiki is too light on these.

[@rbarlow]

Not that expert on raspi but the Sim Innovations forums have lots of raspi users that can help. Corjan, lead programmer, reads the posts regularly.

[@CarstenDittrich2014]

Super. Very good to see how fairly easy it can be done. Thank you!. A question, just because I am all new to this: 1) Which encoder did you use there, where would I find such a piece of hardware, 2 ring+push?

[@armazemdehistorias]

Hello! I'm a fan of Air Manager. I'm trying to make the arduino work with rotary encoder. I did everything correctly, but by setting frequency in the knob, Com1 shows random numbers rather than the sequence. Large and small knob. I researched and found no solution. Any chance of a tip? I ma using Rotary encoder for Arduino, Pic Ky-040.

[@nicolast.davinci1561]

I have been playing around with Arduino the last month. Trying to get it to interface with X-Plane and DCS. I found that I was able to use the Rotary encoders are regular buttons, i.e. Pin 2, Pin 3 an Ground on Arduino or as part of a matrix. The matrix provides increased options. Each Arduino board can have up to a maximum of 81 functions. I prefer using the Arduino Pro Micro which interfaces directly with the USB and requires no additional coding to work in X-Plane, DCS or FSX.

[@mikemike6096]

Russ/anyone... My rotary encoder in air manager displays “the dial turned clockwise” and the same for counter clockwise but (twice per detent/click.) Not one one each click like yours.....but my script is correct. Is it my encoder. It’s a 360 degree 20 position encoder. I’m so confused. TIA

[@rbarlow]

A bit over my head but there is a encoder preferences setting for clicks per input. Assuming you have it connected correctly. I’d ask Ralph or Corjan at Sim Innovations

[@mikemike6096]

@@rbarlow Ok. I purchased AM this week and have about half my Cessna panel instruments working with rotary encoders in XP. I owe a lot to you and your video on how to do that’....so thank you!! Next step is Reality Xp for the Garmin 650/750, but I’m sure that’s gonna be a big can of worms to figure out, lol.

[@rbarlow]

There are custom datarefs and commands for the RXP GTNs so it is not too hard to figure out. Keep me posted and send a photo or two when you have it done. Send it to barlow320 which is at gmail which is a com domain name.

[@mikemike6096]

@@rbarlow Rogo..

[@NickWilmans]

Does it requires script programming knowledge?

[@slammer7520]

Hi. Can you help me with a code i want to implement ? I'm using a single encoder for each radio channel, and what i want to implement is when i press the encoder button it'll change the standby Khz, and when pressed again it'll change standby Mhz.

[@rbarlow]

Slammer the easiest way to do that is to create a variable to store the state of which is selected, something like local g_mhz_selected = 1 (this variable needs to be initialized outside and before any encoder or button callback functions) When g_mhz_selected is 1 you will have the encoder call the command(event) to set the MHz and if 0 to set the KHz. When the button is pressed you can use the following to flip flop the 1and zero value for the global variable g_mhz_selected g _mhz_selected = math.abs( g_mhz_selected - 1) Besides changing the variable you might want to change a led or an onscreen graphic to give the user some feedback which part is currently selected . That’s the theory. Give it a try and if you need more help I can write the code for you but see if you can make it work first.

[@slammer7520]

@@rbarlow Well, i'm not that much into the logic or principles of Lua coding, tbh. That's why i'm beggin' for help at their forums. I also need to implement 7219 modules for radios and mcp displays.

[@rbarlow]

Slammer I am at FlightSimExpo this weekend. No time to help right now but maybe next week. You might get quicker help on the Sim Innovations forums. There are some real hardware experts there that can guide you. Otherwise remind me next week when I am back home.

[@yair1956]

Ca you run multiple Arduino, cuz I already have one Mega2560 integrated and drive to my 530 GPS ?

[@rbarlow]

Yes I know of several people who have large cockpits with over 10. Just be sure to select a unique channel letter for each Arduino of the same type (Mega for example) when installing the Arduino software.

[@yair1956]

@@rbarlow ..tnx u so much Russ

[@ellonysman]

Just discovered. Air manager and the knobster, greatidea!👍🚁🤡🥓✈️🍺

[@jaykumar-pm9hq]

You have a wire connection guide , like on the encoder end and arduino end pls

[@tomroubsouay]

I'd like to know this as well. Tried pausing the video just to get an idea but moving too rapid for clear screen grab.

[@rbarlow]

Leo Bodnar offers the Elma E37 which is quite expensive $35 but Desktop Aviators and Propwashsim.com both have much less expensive options that although less robust will still work.Bodnar ships from Europe. Just google them.

[@Rc2Go]

Hey Russ, I am enjoying the knobster and air manager, I wanted some more dials and switches, so I bought some for my arduino, how to I connect the arduino to air manager on iPad? Great video otherwise! I really like your stuff

[@rbarlow]

Can’t connect Arduino to the iPad version.... you could to a windows tablet running Air Manager or Air Player. Look at the wiki to see what Arduino devices are compatible

[@Rc2Go]

Russ Barlow okay thanks, ill try that

[@christianbeyrend5209]

very frustrating, i been following few tutorial, nothing work has shown. Nothing work

[@rbarlow]

It’s been a while since I did that video…it worked for me. The interface may have changed. You do not explain what you problem is

[@christianbeyrend5209]

​@rbarlow it is frustrating because it seam I am the only one who can not get anything work. I have an arduino micro, and the program do not recognize it. I just received a Leonardo, so I am going to try again and see if I have more luck.

[@Thegasman-hc3zz]

Air manager does arduino. Mobiflight does arduino.... can they both be run on one arduino?

[@rbarlow]

No the each run a separate program called a sketch in Arduino talk. The good news is that they are cheap and you can have multiple Arduinos on your usb bus. The main difference is that Air Manager can do a lot more than just Arduino and is infinitely flexible but it costs. Mobiflight is a good solution if you just want to add only a few simple switches or knobs to your sim and is free.

[@Thegasman-hc3zz]

@@rbarlow yeah I wondered of a sketch can combine both. Be an interesting experiment. I am building a big widebody sim for a local Air collection based on a bac 1-11.

[@rbarlow]

@@Thegasman-hc3zz interesting. I flew at USAir and when I started we flew the BAC 1-11s. I never flew it but did ride the jump seat a few times. I loved the howling sound the extending flaps made. To run both sketches simultaneously they would have to be written as a single sketch. Besides mobiflight their are sketches that run on Arduino Leonardo boards that can emulate a joystick so you need no software but can assign them attached switches and encoders in your sim as you would any other joystick control.

[@Thegasman-hc3zz]

@@rbarlowmy current issue is adding 3 screens displaying instruments. Controls wise I just need to add a paid of sliding pots for throttles hence the mobiflight option. Trying to avoid another pc to maintain running instruments.

[@Thegasman-hc3zz]

@@rbarlow is there someway I could pick your brains a bit more indepth? Email perhaps? Thanks

[@MRRGNDTOAIRCJS]

I need libraries for 3 axys control For flight simulator.

[@hashimiqbal6822]

Is their anyway i can use ardino with my flight simulator wothout having to do any coding?

[@rbarlow]

If you could find existing instruments in the Air Manager store that do what you want but probably not. Sorry

[@jtharpe226]

SimVim uses Arduino and you don’t need to code.

[@rigilchrist]

Ah, that's better, Russ - thanks! Could you give a source or part number for the encoder and the concentric knobs? And what about the code on the Arduino? Presumably there's a small program required to run on it - or will this work out of the box? Thanks again for your skill and generosity in sharing these things. :)

[@rbarlow]

Bob Gilchrist thanks for pointing that out. I got new editing software an just clicked “upload to KZbin” but missed the “higher quality” option. I got that encoder from Desktop Aviator but they are often out of stock. www.desktopaviator.com/Products/8mm_Encoder/index.html Another source that I like. www.propwashsim.com/node/15 If you want a true aircraft quality dual encoder the gold standard is the Elma E37. They are a bit pricey but used to be only available through Leo Bodnar in Europe www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_75&products_id=196 These are available now through a friend that orders them for his GPS kits and the price is better than Bodnar and less shipping to US. See simwarekits.com and if it doesn’t show them for sale just email him at his contact email and say I sent you. There are several ways to do Arduino, SimVim, ArdSimX, LinktoFS, and Air Manager is just one I prefer. I am biased since I have been a long time user of Air Manager even before it supported Arduino. An Arduino is just a computer so it needs software to do anything and just as a pc can run windows or Linux, these little microprocessors can run various programs to get the job done.

[@rigilchrist]

Thanks for the links, Russ. I'm an IT Pro, but specialise in servers, storage, routing and networking. Though I once programmed in Assembler, I've never used anything like an Arduino. I'm still unclear where it gets its code from to send encoder input to the serial port? Does this get transferred from AM or does it need to be loaded some other way? Thanks!

[@ralphrietveld]

Bob Gilchrist You don't need to do any Arduino programming, Air Manager does all the communication. All you need to do is that little script that Russ shows in this video.

[@rigilchrist]

Sorry for the delay in replying - I've been travelling. That's super, thanks! Do you have any idea if Knobster is imminent as a product?

[@ralphrietveld]

Bob Gilchrist You mean when it'll be released?

[@JoeSmith-zv4ic]

Does air manager read from the game directly of from a LAN webpage? I'm building a sim for war thunder... yes I know it's not a true sim... but I love it

[@rbarlow]

Directly from the sim via LAN

[@JoeSmith-zv4ic]

@@rbarlow Thankyou for the quick reply. Would this be possible to setup from war thunder? All the flight info is on a LAN page. I'm building a 2Dof moving spitfire simulator with a forcefeedback stick. But wanting some working gauges too. Any help or advice would be great. Thankyou J

[@willembont4790]

Very cool stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@chrisparks262]

Does this work with Arma 3

[@AlthumbsIronfoot]

For your problems with your comments ports try setting a static port in Windows device manager. Like four come one go to properties, there you should see ports. Do a little research on it as well because it's been awhile since I have done this.

[@rbarlow]

This issue has been resolved with later versions of Air Manager.

[@Rc2Go]

I can't even find air manager on the App Store...

[@rbarlow]

Jesse Fremont are you looking on an iPhone? Since it is iPad only it will only show up on an iPad

[@Rc2Go]

Russ Barlow ahh, I was going to use an old iPhone 6 Plus.

[@cherfieldm]

Thanks Russ.

[@omarsoufan4877]

thanks alot for your effort

[@saffiysheikh8508]

Great video

[@fredbaronsimulator7641]

Good stuff Russ!

[@_PGT]

Hi Russ, Excellent video, just what I need for my flight sim setup. I'm over in the UK, just ordered all the parts and been trying to get it all to work today. Scripting/programming works all OK, not convinced I have the connections between the rotary encoder and the Arduino correct. Do you have to supply a 5v connection between the 2 items as well as data? What is the orange and yellow connections you have, they are "analog in" on mine???? Any chance you can drop me the details ? Paul (at) thrower.org Cheers in advance

[@_PGT]

OK, just sorted it, misspelled ARDUINO the first time I used it and copied the mistake throughout my scripts!!!! Doohh!!

[@rbarlow]

Paul Thrower each single encoder requires two digital pins on the Arduino. One clockwise and one ccwise. The third middle pin on the encoder is connected to ground.

[@_PGT]

Cheers Russ, got it all sorted now, cock-up in my spelling! Any chance of a video of how to create a Knobster, would be my dream to turn it into "One knob to rule them all!" (You can use that as a Title for the video). :-) Thanks for all the brilliant videos you do.

[@rbarlow]

Paul Thrower stand by a few days. I will be announcing a kit to build a Knobster as well as a DIY guide to scratch build one

[@_PGT]

Absolutely can't wait, have built my own knobster, works correctly on my own coding, but all a bit messed up when used on existing instruments, need to know what I am doing wrong :-(