Can You Pilot A RC Plane With A Flight Controller?

[Gizmo j]

I have the flight controller above, was wondering if I can make RC planes and pilot them with the flight controller.

 

[Muadib]

Does your controller have a radio? Since it's hooked to a pc, I'm guessing not.

 

[nakedfrog]

Can it be done? I'm inclined to think it could be done.
Can you do it? I kinda have my doubts. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

[Gizmo j]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088M1C3LL/?coliid=I30KMC9CFH146L&colid=9KRE6O2JE6FJ&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I want to figure out how to control this RC helicopter with my flight controller.

 

[Gizmo j]

Is there a way to turn a USB port into a radio transmitter?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I can't see why not, with some clever programming/hardware. A typical RC drone will have a remote controller, with a receiver onboard the plane/drone and then the flight controller. You match each control to the pin of the controller, so that each joystick/button does something.

So to do it with a PC you would need software that can take the input from the computer's joystick, then translate it into an output via USB or other method to a radio transmitter that then acts as the RC remote. If you really wanted to get fancy you could also do it via IP, and put a cellular modem on the plane. You could go pretty far as long as you don't lose cell signal. It would be illegal to do it that way mind you as you need to always have line of sight.

It's something I always kind of wanted to get into but it can be an expensive hobby.

 

[sdifox]

Umm, how would that work? You are going to sit in your room and fly the rc plane blind? Not to mention radio waves won't work all that well with walls and other obstacles in the transmitter/receiver's way.

Just go to a open field like everybody else.

 

[sandorski]

If you knew some Programming, knew how to read Inputs from the device, knew how the RC Aircraft actuators work,[edit]the Radio Transmitter is the tricky part needing some kind of Digital->Analog convertor[/edit], but it could be done. Someone else has probably already done it though, but you may need specific flight controllers. I would find an active RC group and ask there.

 

[Gizmo j]

Here is me piloting a rc helicopter, is there a way to control it with my flight controller?

 

[Gizmo j]

I've asked this already, but is there a way to plug a radio to a USB port?

 

[Red Squirrel]

If you REALLY want to have fun, walk around an airport parking lot holding your controller while looking up at the sky.

(just kidding don't do that)

 

[Ken g6]

I've asked this already, but is there a way to plug a radio to a USB port?

Certainly.

Is there a way to turn a USB port into a radio transmitter?

That too. A software-defined radio can broadcast or receive over a wide range of frequencies. Just don't expect it to come cheap!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=adalm+pluto&ref=nb_sb_noss

And I can't tell if your copter uses a frequency this thing can use.

 

[zinfamous]

I also think it would be really difficult. Flight sticks are designed to be used within the cockpit, from that perspective, no?

For an RC thing, I'd think you want something more standard with separate dials and switches, because you aren't flying within the machine. I think the z axis would be all fucked up in your brain trying to control that with a flight stick.

 

[nakedfrog]

I've asked this already, but is there a way to plug a radio to a USB port?

There isn't going to be a straight-up plug-and-play solution, if that's what you're asking. It's going to involve effort on your behalf. You should keep working on your programming skills.

 

[Ken g6]

I found a couple of interesting sites:

Open Source Autopilot for Drones - PX4 Autopilot

px4.io

ArduPilot

ArduPilot is a trusted, versatile, and open source autopilot system supporting many vehicle types: multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers and more. The source code is developed by a large community of professionals and enthusiasts. New developers...

ardupilot.org

I have a feeling getting your current copter working with this sort of software will be inordinately hard because (1) it's cheap, probably not using standard parts and (2) it's not a quadcopter, so it's unstable and much harder to fly.

 

[Gizmo j]

The rc helicopter I posted is the cheapest helicopter on Amazon.