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General Discussion / Tinyduino aircraft gauges?
« on: May 07, 2015, 02:27:00 PM »
Hi, I am new to the Arduino world, having just received my first starter kit today. I jumped into this for basic learning and fun, but I also have a goal of offering fellow homebuilt and ultralight aircraft enthusiasts an open source solution for Arduino-based gauges.
I am trying to come up with a simple modular system that could be adapted for different gauges: altimeter/vertical speed to start, then maybe airspeed indicator, and finally things like compass, an accelerometer for turn/bank indications and a G meter. By a modular system I mean one simple display format, that could be used unchanged for most if not all of the functions above, ideally combining both a numeric indication and an analog graphic. Only the code and the sensors and maybe the colors would change.
One option I have come up with is a Tinyduino with a stock or custom sensor Tinyshield, a Matrix LED Tinyshield, a 4-digit 7-segment or alphanumeric display in the same color, a backup battery and voltage regulator, and a couple of buttons or maybe a rotary encoder with push-to-select on the front for settings and adjustments. The matrix would allow each gauge to show both a numerical value and an analog indication at a glance. The altimeter would show a numerical value for altitude and an larger or smaller up or down arrow for climb or descent. The compass would show a numerical value for heading and an arrow indicating north and so on for the other gauges.
My questions for this group are--does this sound like something within the processing power of a Tinyduino. I have lots to learn, I know, but are there any obvious pitfalls or constraints that I am overlooking?
Thanks and regards,
Matthew
I am trying to come up with a simple modular system that could be adapted for different gauges: altimeter/vertical speed to start, then maybe airspeed indicator, and finally things like compass, an accelerometer for turn/bank indications and a G meter. By a modular system I mean one simple display format, that could be used unchanged for most if not all of the functions above, ideally combining both a numeric indication and an analog graphic. Only the code and the sensors and maybe the colors would change.
One option I have come up with is a Tinyduino with a stock or custom sensor Tinyshield, a Matrix LED Tinyshield, a 4-digit 7-segment or alphanumeric display in the same color, a backup battery and voltage regulator, and a couple of buttons or maybe a rotary encoder with push-to-select on the front for settings and adjustments. The matrix would allow each gauge to show both a numerical value and an analog indication at a glance. The altimeter would show a numerical value for altitude and an larger or smaller up or down arrow for climb or descent. The compass would show a numerical value for heading and an arrow indicating north and so on for the other gauges.
My questions for this group are--does this sound like something within the processing power of a Tinyduino. I have lots to learn, I know, but are there any obvious pitfalls or constraints that I am overlooking?
Thanks and regards,
Matthew