computer2cockpit

[computer2cockpit]

Hi, everyone.

We are a small team working on development of flight simulation hardware. The core of our system is flight simulation interface designed to connect twin engine cockpit. The hardware that we are developing is conected via this interface. We are currently prototyping hardware for twin engine piston cockpit. We have future plans for twin turboprop and twin jet controls and panels compatible with existing interface.
We are posting on forums to reach to the community and tell what we are working on. We are hoping to get some opinions and feedback. We are NOT selling anything.

I can see that cockpit builders are active on this forum, and we are hoping that our interface might be interesting to them also. It i designed to connect entire cockpit.

For more details about the project visit our:
WEB - http://www.computer2cockpit.com
FAQ - http://www.computer2cockpit.com/?page_id=771

Snd if you have any questions/suggestions feel free to start the discussion or contact us via e-mail contact@computer2cockpit.com

Thank you for support!

Miroslav Å egvić
Head of Project

[Splitpin]

Miroslav , thanks for taking the time to join our forum , and post the info.
Seems odd that nobody has made a comment so far , but , on behalf of them .... thank you.

[tomkilpatrick]

I had a flick through your website, and I must say, I'm interested..

[computer2cockpit]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Feb 11 2014,7:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Miroslav , thanks for taking the time to join our forum , and post the info.
Seems odd that nobody has made a comment so far , but , on behalf of them .... thank you.

Thank you Splitpin for the welcome. Since there is no category called 'hardware' I posted under technical issues, so I'm guessing it's not first thing people check when they come to forum.
I posted this as an introductory post, I didn't want to put too much information. If anyone want to know more, just ask, I will answer.

QUOTE (tomkilpatrick @ Feb 11 2014,7:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had a flick through your website, and I must say, I'm interested..

Thank you tomkilpatrick for the interest. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to start the discussion.

[tomkilpatrick]

Hey, just a few questions

Have you guys got an estimate for the pricing? How about shipping, will it ship assembled, or will it require some? And what's the compatibility with Prepar3d and other sims such as X-Plane? I'm really quite keen now.

[computer2cockpit]

QUOTE (tomkilpatrick @ Feb 13 2014,11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey, just a few questions

Have you guys got an estimate for the pricing? How about shipping, will it ship assembled, or will it require some? And what's the compatibility with Prepar3d and other sims such as X-Plane? I'm really quite keen now.

Hi, well the prices are changing with design changes, but the price for the full set that you can find under FAQ section on our web site will probably remain for the first series we will produce. If you want to know specifics about prices, send me an e-mail on contact@computer2cockpit.com i cant talk about that on this forum.

Will it ship assembled? Well the hardware will be assembled, and you will only need to connect it to a interface. and

When it comes to compatibility, we will make it compatible with all major OS and flight simulator franchises including an open source one, the FlightGear.



A member of another forum asked me to explain how is this hardware different that other, so i will post the same explanation here just to give some more specifics on the project:

There are a lot of manufacturers of flight simulation hardware on the market. Some offer "consumer hardware" that should be affordable to everyone, and some offer "high grade" hardware that is out of reach for most of the users/enthusiasts. And some offer certified hardware, that can be used to build professional flight simulation devices.
Consumer hardware is mostly focused on popular single engine aircraft like Cessna and Eclipse. High grade hardware focuses on passenger jets.
The consumer hardware is adapted for flight simulation gaming. It mostly has a lot of multi-functional buttons.

We have started designing this product line with primary goal to offer hardware that will have Full Cockpit Functionality. The reason is that primary function of this product is to allow for flight preparation. There are many fresh pilots and low time pilots out there that could benefit from such product. Multi-functional devices are hard to use for efficient flight training.
Since twin engine piston aircraft are widely used in flight training, we chose to make our hardware mostly similar to generic twin engine piston cockpit. We chose Seneca II model from FlightGear.

Next problem was how to make this hardware affordable. Since we decided to crowd-fund(fall 2014) the project, it was clear to us that the product must be affordable from the first series. We adapted the design for small series production, to reduce the initial production costs to minimum. There are some inevitable bureaucratic costs that we cannot avoid. So by optimizing the design for small production and separating the interface from the hardware, we managed to reduce the price significantly. For example if you try to assemble this cockpit from available hardware on the market, it would cost you at least 80% more. And you will not get full functionality.

So the solution became modular, with interface connecting all cockpit parts to computer. Modular approach allows user to eg. buy interface and controls today, and if he likes what he gets, buy panels later. It also allows for a user that has existing yoke, pedals and TQ, to just complete his cockpit with our interface and panels.

Compatibility with FlightGear is important to us because our primary target group are pilots that don't care what software they are running as long as they can practice. Making this product compatible with opensource software as well, lowers the initial acquisition cost. They just need the hardware to start practicing. By completely compatible, we mean that all the panels and controls will be supported in FlightGear.

Custom cockpit builders are another target group for us. This interface is designed to connect entire twin engine aircraft input. There are a lot of input cards on the market, but none of them cover entire cockpit in a single card.


These are the benefits of this solution, and the reasons why it is built the way it is.

If you have other questions feel free to ask, i will answer all of them. We are here to talk about this approach, and to get some feedback.
For example, FG forum users suggested extra buttons on right side of yoke, map holder, extra PTT switch, and stopwatch control. We entered all the changes to the design.

Some users suggested that we make similar devices like Sa..ek but cheaper, or advanced joystick with many multi-functional buttons, and the answer to that is that there are already products like these on the market, and that we are not trying to compete with that, but offer something different, new. Full cockpit functionality at reasonable prices.

[computer2cockpit]

Hi, everyone.

Here's a little project update.
Flight Simulation interface firmware development is now complete.
Few pictures from testing can be found on bottom of this page.

Thank you for support.

Back to work.

Regards,

[tomkilpatrick]

Thanks for keeping in touch, will have a look through when I'm back home. -T

[computer2cockpit]

Hi Guys,

We've published our Newsletter with design changes and additional products described.


More pictures on the web
Tell us what you think!

[Ian Warren]

All those pretty modules, who needs a keyboard , surprised you have not gone towards a panel rack for each component.

[computer2cockpit]

Glad you like it,

we believe that most of users will have some of existing simulation equipment and we don't want to impose our mounting system.
However every panel and control has M6 threaded holes on the backside and can be easily mounted on custom panel or homemade cockpit.

[computer2cockpit]

Full list of simulated functions now available here.

Support us by answering the poll.

Thanks

[Ian Warren]

Be ideal for the non or hate the keyboard type fella or simmer , for the one who dose like the buttons and switch's - cowl flaps for example, DC-3s here in the NZ and in OZ had then removed and riveted, maintenance thing and were not really needed, you may want a transfer option for those switch's, for the ones who love the A2A type B-17 , a four quad throttle system later maybe.