The Holy Grail    Let's build the radio-control transmitter to end all transmitters. More than enough model memory. More than enough mixers. Software upgrades. Easy to program. Unlimited flexibility. Infinite customization. Choose your own user interface. Choose your own ergonomics.

The major manufacturers won't sell such systems at any price - though for a little more than a thousand dollars they'll sell you something that they can upgrade next year.

A Grass-Roots Approach     If we're going to get a radio system that takes full advantage of modern technology, it's not going to come from one of the major manufacturers - it's going to come to us from a group of hardware/software/hacker/modeler hobbyists, in the form of plans and part numbers on a web site. Electronics hobbyists at home will be able to build their own systems - people who would rather fly than build will have to get their systems from third-party vendors who will do the assembly for a reasonable cost.

I envision an open, collaborative process not unlike the open-source software model that produced Linux. A single person, or even a handful of people, is unlikely to invest the time, money, and energy required to design and build a commercially viable system, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. With the R&D investments (time, money, energy...) requirements spread over a group of hobbyists, the project becomes realistic, maybe even inevitable.

Under construction...

Timeline

Select components

We're not going to build this thing from scratch. We will jump-start the effort with as many off-the-self subassemblies as possible, like commercially available gimbals, LCD displays, and radio frequency modules. I like the idea of using a single board computer, but one or more PIC processors might also do the trick.

Interface to a Futaba/Hitec frequency module

This is just another "off-the-shelf subassemby," but it's a bit unique in that it doesn't come with documentation. We'll need to learn to interface with these modules. Actually I suspect someone has done this already as part of a college robotics project, but I won't know for sure until I have the plans...

I would prefer to use Futaba and Hitec rather than JR or Airtronics for three reasons... First, there are two companies building modules in the same format (Futaba and Hitec, as you might have guessed), so they should be in stock at most hobby shops for a very long time. Second, synthesized modules are available in this format (and again, from two manufacturers). Third, I already own a few Futaba modules.

Build a prototype

I envision a bulky rectangular box that weighs too much, transmits on perhaps six channels, and isn't very comfortable. But if it can control an aircraft, it's a success.

Build something truly interesting

Over the course of time, I envision a very comfortable box that doesn't weigh too much, transmits up to ten channels, and includes a new 'wish list' feature every time you check this web site.

Contribute

There are several ways you can contribute to the project.

Manifesto

Built-in Limitations

Ever wish you had a transmitter with a better display, more model memories, more programmable mixers per model, or some new feature that the major manufacturers haven't even thought of yet? (Or worse, one that they considered, but decided against - like single-stick designs or built-in frequency monitors?)

The major manufacturers need to trickle the new features out slowly. That's how they sell transmitters - they get people to upgrade. So every couple years we get a transmitter with just barely enough new features to convince a bunch of people to upgrade.

The problem is, if they built a Tx that really made use of today's technology, they'd sell one to everybody and then they'd go out of business because they couldn't sell an 'upgrade' version a couple years later. What customer would bother spending a dime to upgrade a Tx with memory enough for 1000 helis, each with 5 flight modes (or 1000 airplanes each with 100 p-mixes) plus triple rates and 32-bit resolution and a color LCD and a frequency monitor and glowbee charger and every other 'wish-list' items?

A Grass-Roots Approach

If we're going to get a radio system that takes full advantage of modern technology, it's going to come to us from a group of hardware/software/hacker/modeler hobbyists, in the form of plans and part numbers on a web site. With luck, third-party vendors might produce systems using the published plans, so that people who don't enjoy playing with soldering irons and oscilloscopes can enjoy the new systems, too.

Why you should get involved.

Single Board Computers

The Catch