====== A-4 Simulator ======

===== Navy A-4 Hardware ===== 

  * [[originalphotos|Marana Airport Visit Original A-4 Navy Sim Photos]]
  * [[.componentinventory:start|Component Inventory]]

===== Restoration =====

  * [[simulatorcomponents|Needed Simulator Components]]
  * [[https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/10-reasons-raspberry-pi-isnt-a-good-choice-for-commercial-products/|Reasons not to use Raspberry Pi]]


  * To activate the Navy sim gauges, thinking I can connect servos to a Servo Controller attached to a Raspberry Pi, and it gets info from X-Plane via UDP.
  * [[altimeter|Altimeter]]
  * [[.arduinonano:|Arduino Nano V3 Microcontroller]]
  * [[.arduinomega:|Arduino Mega 2560 Microcontroller]]
  * [[diary|Diary]]
  * [[enginestarting|Engine Starting Datarefs and Notes]]
  * [[filelocations|File Locations for Development]]
  * [[font|Font for cockpit instruments]]
  * [[.hardware:|Hardware - Related to A4-Sim project]]
  * [[jsonfileformat|JSON File Format (a4simData.json)]]
  * [[joystickoverridedatarefs|Joystick Override Datarefs]]
  * [[jstpinout|JST (Japan Solderless Terminal) Pinout]]
  * [[.xplane11:|X-Plane 11 Info]]
  * [[maincontrols|Main Controls]]
  * [[http://military-fasteners.com|Military Fasteners.com]]
  * [[stick|Stick]]
  * [[.pythonudpserver:|Python UDP Server]]
  * [[expenses|Restoration Expenses]]
  * [[.servos:|Servos]]
  * [[throttlequadrant|Throttle Quadrant]]
  * [[photointerrupter|Photo Interrupter]]
  * [[levelconverter|Level Converter]]
  * [[seat|Seat, Ejection Seat]]
  * [[specs|Specs of A-4 Aircraft]]
  * [[https://trello.com/b/VUxlpmEm/a-4-simulator|Trello Project Tracking]]
  * [[troubleshooting|Troubleshooting]]
  * [[udp|UDP Notes]]
  * [[:vendors|Vendors of Hardware/Software]]
  * [[.raspberrypi:|Connor Raspberry Pi computer]]
  * [[flightcontrols|Flight Controls Aileron/Elevator/Rudder]]


==== Soldering ====

Soldering PCBs with surface-mount components. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=531&v=3NN7UGWYmBY

==== Creating Circuit Boards ====

  * [[https://easyeda.com/|EasyEDA - An Easier and Powerful Online PCB Design Tool]] 
  * [[https://docs.easyeda.com/en/Introduction/Introduction-to-EasyEDA/index.html|EasyEDA Instructions]] - To create circuits and PCBs
  * I am preferring KiCAD. Although complicated, much of the functionality is more straightforward [1/14/2020]





==== ADC (Analog to Digital conversion) ====

Need to be able to measure analog inputs, such as rudder and pitch controls, and convert to values suitable for X-Plane simulator inputs. e.g., 2.3 V from a rudder potentiometer, to -12 degrees for the X-Plane simulator.

The Arduino can measure an analog signal without any additional components. 10 bits - 0 to 1023 value output.

==== Boolean analog to digital conversion ====

Need to be able to detect switch position, such as "beacon lights on" and convert to a true/false value for the X-Plane simulator.

Similarly, need to be able to group switch positions, such as flap selector switch, and convert to a digital number value, such as flap 25% deployment.

===== Smart Controller =====

It is intended that there be a small computer (initially proposed as Raspberry Pi) which will server as a smart interface between the hardware controls and outputs. This computer will have its own display which can show local values and allows comprehensive calibration.