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    Force Sensors 

    Published on 03-31-2012 09:04 AM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell


    Force Sensors

    We’re used to turning a yoke and pushing and pulling a joy stick, but not all flight controls respond to large movements. Some real flight controls move so little they seem to be frozen in place, but the aircraft responds nonetheless. These controls react to the force applied to them. The F-16 side stick controller is a notable example.
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    Electromagnetic Head Tracking 

    Published on 02-29-2012 09:00 PM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell

    Electromagnetic Head Tracking


    Head tracking systems let you interact with a simulation application by changing the position and/or orientation of your head. Systems like TrackIR, FreeTrack, and FaceTrackNoIR use optical means. Relying on IR or visible light imagery derived from a webcam, they track either facial features or reflective dots on your hat or head.
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    Designing Realistic Control Panels 

    Published on 01-21-2012 06:43 PM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell

    Designing Realistic Control Panels


    Part of the process of building a realistic flight simulator is determining dimensions and how pieces fit together. The main instrument panel and controls grab a lot of the builder’s attention, but secondary control panels are major contributors to the overall look and feel of a sim as well.
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    Immersion & Scenery Display 

    Published on 12-19-2011 06:49 PM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell

    Immersion & Scenery Display


    Immersion is the feeling that you’re part of a virtual world. It’s what we aim for in our creation of ever more realistic flight simulators. We want to be a part of a virtual aviation world which allows us to experience flight as realistically as possible.

    Vision is a big part of immersion. High quality imagery ...
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    Springs and Control Loading 

    Published on 11-02-2011 10:10 PM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell


    Springs and Control Loading


    Control loading systems provide the forces which resist movement of the controls in simulators. Ideally the control loading forces will mimic the control forces experienced by pilots in real aircraft. In fact, designers of commercial and military simulators go to great expense to assure that they do.
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    Building Surface Mount Electronics 

    Published on 08-21-2011 09:50 AM

    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell


    Building Surface Mount Electronics

    We depend on electronics for many of our sim functions. Circuitry interfaces flight and engine controls, blinks annunciator lamps, and spins steam-gauge style instruments. Mostly we can find suitable off-the-shelf electronics. Sometimes we build electronics because no standard gear will do what we want. Sometimes we build electronics just for the satisfaction it brings. ...
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    Making Tee Joints 

    Published on 07-23-2011 10:10 AM
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    MyCockpit ® Presents "Mikes Tips" by Mike Powell


    Making Tee Joints

    The ingenuity of the flight sim community never ceases to amaze. In this article, author Mike Powell demonstrates another use of a product that can be found in almost any garage and is nearly equally as popular. Its simplicity will leave you dumb-struck. ...
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