Hard Deck Function

[jperkosk]

Yeah, animation sucks, but we're not Disney quality review forum here, unless I've wandered off again, of course. How will it save it? Pretty much the same way Tareq would if he were around to rip the Tx out of your about to become very sorry ass dumb thumbs, except faster. Never had this type of moment? Congratulations, you don't need this product.

Would like your heli saved from a popped link? This maybe a wrong forum for this particular situation, as it depends on how fast and effective your prayers are. This line was almost as lame as yours, sorry.

Astonishingly bashing reception on the part of people who seemingly refuse to understand what the new technology is or what it's impact is going to be. Glad to see that there are fewer bashers of general fbl concepts nowadays here on HF (there are still some), meaning there is still a hope.

Don't feel threatened, gentleman, there is still a safe haven to be found in fixing a collective mixing cradle on a 30 year old rappy. Avoid using a second servo if you find the cradle flexing too much, that would require coordination of two servos, unacceptable increase of those dreadful electronic components that can fail . A pitchfork adapter is way more reliable, if you can prevent all of the 30-or-so links from popping of course

[jperkosk]

They still can't post any pics, Mel, until FMA is ready to ship or thereabouts.

Thanks for the link to the thread in main forum, I quite enjoy pointing out the stupidity to the temporarily blinded by their fear of the new technology

I also enjoyed almost a complete set of technical specs that Tim, Jack and Rich were provoked into revealing, otherwise would be months to satisfy my curiosity, was in real danger of running out of tequila in attempt to bribe Howard into coughing up some info

And yest, the pics will reveal something, look at the Skookum unit on their site: it's clearly GPS+barometric combination. Also it's very clear from the revealed bits of FMA R&D that GPS is no good for emergency recovery, something I was always suspecting, too slow. How does the barometric ER combined with GPS based RTH strike you, all for a few hundred rather than thousand? Tim, how long before a GPS add-on to the HD module is ready for beta testing?

[nightflyr]

Originally Posted by Navigator53

Me thinks it's some kinda UK humor, you know how they are on the other side of the pond Night

UK hard deck = Mother Earth

[flyfasteddie]

I've been amazed at the level of negativity as well. It's a new product. It does stuff. Are you interested in the stuff it does? Buy it. If not, don't buy it. Pretty basic.

I think there are a lot of people like myself who are very interested in the product but don't really have anything to say about it yet because we haven't had a chance to play with it. That may skew the results somewhat.

I wasn't really sure about the CPII in the first place because I didn't know much about it. Videos that demonstrated it were intriguing, but I really didn't get a chance to find out how useful it was until I started flying with one. It's saved me from an untold number of crashes and I still use it as a bail-out. If the HD can automate the bail-out, so much the better.

I think the HD may be similar in that you have to play with it to appreciate it. I'll bet there are a lot of us quietly watching from the sidelines. I for one applaud your work on this product.

[thorian]

All I can say is that I am most likely going to buy one to put in a $9 450 clone to be used as a basic flight trainer. They fly good when they don't explode due to sudden acts of gravity.

[pril250]

Originally Posted by nightflyr

UK hard deck = Mother Earth

[Ivor Hill]

Originally Posted by Navigator53

Me thinks it's some kinda UK humor, you know how they are on the other side of the pond Night

Guess so it took another Englishman to work it out. Edit oops got it wrong Night worked it out.
But seriously it's a fantastic idea looking forward to the vids. Also wondering that since it's an add on can it be made to work with other systems.

[nightflyr]

Sorry Ivor the HD module will only function with a CPII

[philipfrank]

SkEye-Ball Productions has been given the right to shoot an exclusive first public video of the FMA Copilot Hard Deck Module in action.

Many are claiming the Hard Deck can't be done. IT BE DONE!

This device levels the heli, no matter what, at 50 feet in a millisecond, and it frigging works. I got video. FMA wants a video produced to finally show proof that it works.

IT WORKS. I was amazed. This product may change the rc world forever. Below the Hard Deck (50 feet) you cannot tilt the machine more than 30 degrees or it self levels.

The heli is virtually uncrashable unless you hold it level and drive it in the ground with negative pitch. Oh, and it works on planes too...

The video has to be approved by the president of FMA and my Art Director Technical Advisor-Russ. Nothing fancy, just pure proof. First video of the product in action.

2 vids being produced. 1 for helis, 1 for plankers. You can go out and put the machine in any orientation you want and it will instantaneously self righ itself at 50 feet. I was blown away.

This is going to generate some 'activity'. You will be able to attempt any maneuver you want and if you lose it, the device will self level the heli. Or plane...

Video in production now...

Stay tuned here: https://vimeo.com/user8214753/videos

And get ready to git'sum.

[nightflyr]

Happy to hear there will be some pro footage to see..

My home footage doesn't do the system any justice

[philipfrank]

Footage. Just footage...

[jperkosk]

Ivor, by the looks of it it's nothing but a dual or differential barometric sensor with some internal signal processing and filtering that reports the altitude to the CP2 main module over a serial bus. The rest is done in CP2's firmware.

Night can't say anything publicly because he's been shown the hardware so he's bound to secrecy by gentleman's agreement if not by omerta

I haven't been shown or told anything so I can speculate all I want but bet you I'm right on the money

[nightflyr]

It's coming....

[im4711]

Originally Posted by nightflyr

It's coming....

Yep - it will be up within the next 2 days. So at least we will see some real video.

[philipfrank]

Heli video will be up in about 1 hour...

[runesb]

[philipfrank]

Revolectrix Copilot II Hard Deck (9 min 45 sec)

[nightflyr]

https://vimeo.com/43327187

[nightflyr]

Thanks Philip

[im4711]

Saw the video and its looking good (as you folks explained). I understand from the video that below 50 ft you cannot tilt it more then 30 degrees. which assures you to get it leveled. Thats good. Remaining question is if I can put that function on a channel to turn it on and off or if I have to have one heli just prepared that way.

Example: I like to try a new maneuver and turn the "hard deck" feature on and go above 50 ft learning. After a bit I want to just fly around enjoy what I already learned below the 50 ft. So can I turn it on and off during a flight or is it a generic setup that stays?