PoKeys57U controller for F16 and train simulators

[aljosa]

Hi,

I've been using PoKeys57U controller (PoLabs) for keys, buttons, switches, led matrixes etc. I started with arduino but later found out PoKeys has already in-built joystick functionality which is great. With simple PoKeys configuration software you can simply map analog and digital i/o to joystick buttons and wipers. I've been using it for flight simulators. They added plugins support for x-plane which enables usage of simulator parameters and send them back to the i/o of pokeys to control led matrixes etc. Another great feature is that no programming is needed. Additionally you can program it via their PoIL language or by using block diagrams in PoBlocks software. Great stuff.

There are two interesting projects published on their blog page about using PoKeys as a F16 fighter flight simulator and Railway simulator.

I am thinking now about using it for controller of stepper motors for motion simulator because they have solutions for stepper motor drivers PoStep or PoKeys57CNC which purpose is to drive CNC machines (motors, spindle, switches...) but I got information that some customers used it for motion simulators. It would be interesting...

[boris]

Hi aljosa!
Can you please share more details about your setup?
I am specially interested in more photos of the inside.
Is PoKeys board powered via USB, or it needs external power supply?
How many PoKeys boards can be connected to the computer at the same time?

[aljosa]

The projects I mentioned are presented on their (PoLabs) blog page and I found them when I was about to use arduino. I am currently working in two different types of flight simulators. Both are WIP (work in progress) and my first plans were to use arduino then I was looking around for joystick support and I hit into the PoKeys.

As I mentioned I am able to used analog and digital inputs of PoKeys directly in simulator without a single line of code because PoKeys is virtual joystick.
For example... I have real controls such as rudder pedals, ailerons, flaps etc.. for RPY (pitch, roll, yaw) I use analog potentiometers and I connected them to PoKeys board then I configure in PoKeys software where I would like to map those inputs and a map them to axes and that's all. Additionally I can apply filtering to analog inputs to get rid of any noise when long cables are used. Again without a single line of code.

Then for the switches .. digital inputs has already pull ups so no additional pullups off the board are neccessary. However if long cables are used then it's still good to add them off the board.

Switches has different configuration modes so you can use momentary and latching. Digital inputs offers triggering so you can decide what to do on detected edges. Furthermore.... you can assign keyboard key combination so beside sending command to joystick you can send keyboard keys which is sometimes very useful. For instance when you need to remove protection cover in simulator and you would like to do that with single control.

To answer your questions... Yes PoKeys is HID USB device presented as virtual joystick and keyboard etc... so no special drivers are required and yes it's powered over USB.

Well you can connect "as many as possible" to your computer. Depends how many USB port you have free. But the limit for the usb HUBs is 127 ports (USB specification). However if you run out of i/o on PoKeys they provide extension boards but I really doubt you will need more than two pokeys (one has 55 i/o's) which is usually more than enough.

I attached some images. There are rudder pedals where you can see two pots. One is for rudder amd the oter is roll. Both are connected directly to PoKeys.

Next one is throttle and below you can see pokeys with all connections. This simulator is still work in progress and it will be available for public in september. Then I will be able to post better images and videos to show you the full picture of what we made.

And yes I must admit I am really positively impressed by that PoKeys57U device. At the beginning I was sceptical because I hadn't heard about it before and I didn't know what to expect and now I can say it's really great thing. I might suggest PoLabs to make some extension boards especially designed for flight simulators.

[Montreeman]

It is useful information to readers too much. I feel that it is very good.

[Pimpimpaka]

It is a story that many people should read very. Because it is good, useful.

[fork-winged devil]

hi there awesome looking cockpit well done i will be looking for a hi end card to move my full size ka 50 helicopter cockpit i built a year ago ,lots of cards out there so i got lots of reading to do so not to make the wrong choice

Thanks Tony