Electrics - 2011/04

94 MODEL AVIATION
Also included in this column:
• Toledo babeeeeee!
• Weatronics update
XPS radio news—and it’s big!
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
“Radical Dave” Thacker of Radical RC hands out tons of knowledge at the Weak Signals’
Toledo R/C Expo.
The Castle Creations booth at Toledo is full
of engineers, projects, and product. Staff
members are present to answer questions.
Hobby Lobby has a huge display at Toledo
each year. Jason Cole (R) demonstrates
the flight simulator for a modeler.
Bill Stevens of Stevens AeroModel has something for any interested builder or
potential builder.
TAKING OFF: It’s that time again: trade
shows and spring fly-ins. I don’t know if it
can get any better than the spring season when
it comes to RC stuff. Then again, some things
never seem to change, such as the multitude
of connectors on the market and none of them
being the same.
Representatives from Xtreme Power
Systems (XPS) will be at the Weak Signals’
Toledo R/C Expo, or Toledo Show, this year,
as usual, but there is much bigger news from
the company than in past years. XPS has been
working on producing its own branded
transmitter, to complement its fine line of
conversion modules, etc.
It is hoped that the first production
versions will be ready at Toledo or shortly
after. This is an exciting development,
because it will have 16 channels and is open
source based. That’s big for you techies,
because you can code till your heart’s content
to modify the functions.
I’ve talked to Jim Drew of XPS, and he
had the following to say about the new
system. I’m already on the list to buy one.
“The features of the transmitter (which at
this point has no name):
“• 16 channels, 4 stick pots, 2 slider pots, 2
knob pots, 6 two position switches, 2 two
position switches, and 4 trims (photos are of a
prototype and subject to change).
“• 240 x 64 backlit (white) LCD display.
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Rotary dial with center push button. 4 menu
buttons.
“• Uses a 2S 2200mAh Lipo pack.
Roughly 20 hours of continuous operation on
a single charge
“• Single super bright RGB LED for
warnings and status.
“• Built in audio/speech system with
microphone for recording.
“• 160MHZ (40MIPs) CPU with DSP and
DMA controller, 256KB of code space.
“• 24MB of storage for audio/speech data.
“• 128K EEPROM to hold either 100
models (with a picture) or 200 models without
a picture
“• Wirelessly upgradable using our
exciting XDP or Telemetry Station devices.
Can be upgraded using a serial interface as
well.
“• Open source application support (run apps like your iPhone,
Droid, etc.)
“What can it do? In short, everything! Besides having the fastest
frame rate of any radio on the market (programmable from 5ms-20ms),
it is also the easiest to use.
“The focus for this radio is to make it user friendly. So, we have a
model setup wizard built in that shows you cartoons and pictures of
various setups as you answer the questions.
“For example, when it asks how many servos you are using in the
wing, it shows a picture of a wing with the aileron and flaps (animated
of course!), and you can select the different configurations that are
possible by simply moving the rotary dial. You continue with the setup
all of the way through landing gear, gear door sequencing (we jet pilots
need that!) and even through various mixing. If you are familiar with
the little ‘paper clip’ cartoon found in Microsoft Word, you will get an
idea of the direction we have taken the normally tedious setup process.
“The number of mixes is basically unlimited. I might cap it at 32
though to save storage memory.
“Audio/Speech support is a big factor, and we just decided to add
the built-in microphone so that we can record memos about your model
or replace the existing speech for various functions.
“Imagine during your flight that you move the gear switch and a
nice female voice says ‘gear up’ ... or when you turn on your
transmitter you get a notification that the gear switch is in the wrong
position (and it prevents transmitting until that is corrected or ignored).
“The DSC port is a transfer port, a trainer port (wireless training is
possible between the transmitters), or an audio output (so you can use
headphones, an ear piece, etc.).
“The application support is great. You can run apps like prop calc, a
basic calculator, spectrum analyzer, etc. We plan to have a tach app
that can use an optical tach plugged into the DSC port. You can
upgrade (flash) or program your receiver settings right from the
transmitter too.
“We will be releasing a developer package so that anyone with
experience with Microchip DSP processors will be able to write apps
very easily. We provide a complete library of routines for handling the
display, inputs, audio, speech, etc. Applications are simply uploaded to
the transmitter wirelessly or through the DSC port.
“Of course, full bi-directional communications including telemetry
is the heart of the RF section, which is the latest available (finally
completed in late 2010). The range is roughly 3 times what we were
seeing with our previous technology.
“The high horsepower CPU coupled with the new RF technology
gives us the fastest transmitter ever created. With a maximum total
latency of just 5ms, and a channel to channel servo pulse output latency
of just 71 microseconds, helicopter pilots will be in heaven! Swash
plate interactions are nonexistent thanks to the simultaneous servo
outputs.
“Why 16 channels? Because channels are free. Yes, free! There is
no difference in cost between producing a 9 channel radio vs. a 16, 32,
or 64 channel radio. Programming has to include the extra channels,
but that really is not that much more involved.
“We are already working with the top glider, heli, and 3D guys to
implement
features that
they want.
Features that
we at XPS
want (like
auto-trim,
automatic
model
recognition,
and gear
protection) are
already built
in. But, since
we have an open source setup, it is possible for someone to write their
own mixing algorithm if they wanted to.
“AMR (automatic model recognition) is a key feature for
XtremeLink. It is something that we have talked about in the public
forums for the last 5 years, but we could never implement because we
didn’t have our own transmitter.
“AMR notifies you that you have the wrong model selected and it
can switch to the correct model for you automatically. When you
power up the transmitter (or switch models), it will also tell you if you
left a model on! This really helps prevent those potential accidents in
the pits—especially with electrics!
“We are also releasing a new XtremeLink module for the Aurora
A9. The new module chops the Aurora 9/Hitec AHFSS latency in half!
Our telemetry data comes through the A9’s display too!”
Wow! I can’t wait to get my hands on this new radio!
I’ve used the XPS conversion module in my Multiplex Royal Evo
12 since it became available, and it’s been solid. Now to have this level
of adaptability in a transmitter is exciting.
The Toledo Show will be held again this year at the SeaGate Centre,
and the dates are April 1-3. This is the expo’s 57th year.
Although there have been many rumors going around about a
change of location, the Weak Signals will continue to use the SeaGate
Centre. If you haven’t been, you owe it to yourself to make this
pilgrimage.
All of the big vendors will be at the show, along with many
manufacturers. One of my all-time favorites is Castle Creations, which
has been leading the way in ESCs for years.
Although the company doesn’t sell its products at the show (no
competing with their dealers), its engineers and owner will be on hand
to answer questions. I expect to see a couple new, exciting offerings
from Castle Creations this year, but it’s too early to let that cat out of
the bag!
Are you looking for a flight simulator but don’t know which one to
buy? You’ll find every one on the market at the Toledo Show, and each
one will be set up on a big-screen monitor for you to try. Get there
early, though, because the simulator stations stay busy.
Horizon Hobby and Great Planes will have huge booths set up with
Left: This is the prototype from
Xtreme Power Systems for a
yet-to-be-named 16-channel
radio.
Below: A view of the XPS
prototype internals.
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their products on display, and many of the
engineers and factory demonstration pilots
will be present to answer your questions.
Those companies don’t sell at the show, but
products will be available from vendors.
You won’t want to miss the Nick Ziroli
Plans booth, where you’ll find Nick and a
host of characters. Did I use the word
“characters”? Well, yeah; that’s what I meant,
and they’re the biggest names in modeling
today.
Rich Uravitch and his products are
represented at the Ziroli booth, and he and
Nick are a blast to hang out with. Their
products are top-notch too, and some will be
for sale at the show.
I’ve shown my TME (Tejera
Microsystems Engineering) Xtrema charger
many times in this column and claimed that
it’s a must-have in my shop. Albert Tejera is
the mind behind the inventions, and he will be
in his booth demonstrating them. He also
makes one of the finest smoke systems I’ve
ever seen.
Aero-Model Inc./Hacker Brushless USA
is another booth you won’t want to miss. For
years Sean and Dana Plummer have been
providing electric-power modelers with some
of the finest motors in the world, and they
continue to expand their line.
Sean is a wealth of information, and his
Web site features combo deals. Not all purple
motors are the same, so go to Toledo to see
the original that other makers are copying.
Stevens AeroModel will appeal to anyone
who loves to build and to the person who
wants to get into building. Bill Stevens has a
booth on the main floor that is packed with
some of the finest little laser-cut kits for
indoor and park flying you’ll find anywhere.
He is always in the booth, which is fully
stocked for selling.
You can go to the indoor fly-in to see
Bill’s products in flight, and then return to
buy them the next day. He also carries
motors, controllers, and tools, so you can get
all equipment from him to optimize your
models. Check out his electric CL designs
too!
We used to have to struggle to find decent
spinners for electric models, but that’s no
longer the case because of Tru-Turn Precision
Model Products. This company has developed
a line of specialized electric spinners and
propeller nuts. If you have a motor with you
at the show, the Tru-Turn staff will match it
with the right setup for your needs.
No big show would be complete without
Dave Thacker and Radical RC. He spends
more time offering advice and help to
modelers than any normal guy. “Radical
Dave” knows electrics and carries a ton of
products, and he uses the stuff he sells. This is
a must-stop-at booth.
The Toledo Show wouldn’t be the Toledo
Show if Hobby Lobby wasn’t there in all its
glory. Its booth has grown every year, and the
products are incredible.
I think I’ve reviewed almost every one of
the company’s thrust-vectoring jets in the last
year, and you can find them at this expo,
along with flight simulators, hard-to-find
accessories, and great advice. Don’t miss it!
Hitec/Multiplex is another group that
won’t be selling at the show but will have
numerous reps there to describe everything on
display and answer questions. The company
has a full line of great-flying foam airplanes
and exceptional radios. The telemetry in the
Hitec Aurora system is getting rave reviews.
If you’ve wanted to try helicopters but
have no one to help you, consider the
Multiplex Funcopter. It is a highly updated
version of the old Lite Machines Corona
fixed-pitch aircraft, and it’s encased in
impact-resistant foam.
I got to play with a Funcopter at the
NEAT Fair, and it’s an impressive machine
that is incredibly crashworthy. It’s the trainer
for helicopters.
After I covered the Weatronics radio system
in the December column, I heard from a
couple of readers who tried to contact the
company and had trouble doing so. I received
the following from Gerhard Paasche, US
distributor, clarifying issues that Weatronics
has faced with the recent death of the
company’s founder.
“Some of you have experienced waiting
times and late deliveries as well as poor
service on problems and questions about the
system.
“Weatronic Germany has moved and
restructured within Germany. They also
changed servers and service provider, which
caused quite some problems. I am not
offering excuses. I am just stating the facts.
The service during this time has regrettably
been below standard.
“Now the good news.
“Weatronic has developed more new
receivers and accessories. I am getting the
first ones in house this month and I will be
updating my website as well. (For an outlook
on what is coming, go to www.weatronic.com
and see what they are offering in Europe right
now.)
“I will be filling existing orders within this
month and will be taking orders for current
products now—and new products as soon as
they appear on the website. Please let me
know what you think and I will be happy to
answer your questions.”
I hope that Weatronics has resolved its
issues by now, because I continue to be
impressed with the radio system and have
had great service from it in my giant-scale
WACO.
Final Approach: That’s it! It’s trade show
season and time for some big fly-ins too, so
I’ll be heading out on the road for a while. I
hope to see you at the field. MA
Sources:
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
www.xtremepowersystems.net
Toledo Show
www.toledoshow.com
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