Archived Projects
Summary
2017-19 | ArdSimX Interface
2015-17 | ArdSim Library
2014-15 | ARDref Interface
2013-14 | XPData library
2012-13 | Baron 58 program
2011-12 | First Tests with UDP
ArdSimX, Input/Output Interface for X-Plane
ArdSimX Plugin and ArdSimX Firmware is archived project (active development in period of 2016-2018). It was a predecessor of the current SimVimX System and it is not supposed to be developed and supported further.
ArdSimX features
The main part of this interface was the ArdSimX Plugin for X-Plane, that provided a link with ArdSimX firmware uploaded to Arduino board. You had to upload ArdSimX base skecth with the installed ArdSimX library (firmware). No Arduino coding required! Plugin and Firmware cannot work separately and are only used together! Arduino in this project is used only as a convenient controller platform for ArdSimX firmware and is not supposed to be programmed by user as usual Arduino.
Latest version was: ArdSimX Plugin v. 1.32 (June 2017), ArdSimX Library (June 2018). Issues remained: Some serial drivers on Windows and MasOS Sierra systems caused problems with ArdSimX, you might encounter problems in some systems when multiple USB boards was used.
NOTE: If you used ArdSimX before, you can easily transfer your old cockpit to the SimVimX System and you will have less problems.
!!! We do not provide support for any commercial cockpit hardware that you could buy somewhere as a module proposed as ArdSimX-compatible, and especially module with embedded controller board and loaded ArdSimX firmware, with all the switches connected to it. We are not responsible for any problems that you may encounter.
NOTE: Some product sellers initially used ArdSimX in their hardware modules/devices (even as embedded that is against the Terms of Use), but later have released their own plugins with the same input features to sell their products without ArdSimX.
ArdSimX Configurator
The interactive configurator below is for informational purposes only. It hasn't been working for a long time, please don't expect it to work because some scripts and database were lost once moving the site to another hosting some time ago and I can't waste time rebuilding it all.
Please use the SimVimX System that has replaced ArdSim/ArdSimX, since it includes all previous interfaces capabilities and offers much more control and output options and requires less efforts and costs to use, provides very flexible input/output configuration..
With +/- buttons you can add more boards to your system or delete them from configuration. To select the board you want to configure press the button with the number.
Board #
Board Type:
Choose an Arduino type for each board number in your system.
If you build a small cockpit in most cases it will be enough to use only a single Arduino Mega board.
If you build a small cockpit in most cases it will be enough to use only a single Arduino Mega board.
| Mega 1280/2560 |
| Uno (and similar) |
| Nano |
| Micro |
| Mini (Pro) |
If you will change connection type (LAN/USB) for the board that has beed configured before, all pins that are reserved for this type of connection will be cleared (pins #0,1 for USB, #10,50..53 or 10..13 for LAN)
| LAN | USB |
With these buttons you can configure the "Key-Matrix" to extend the number of buttons and swithes for your panel.
The "Matrix Input" list tab becomes active after matrix NxM has been configured.
The "Matrix Input" list tab becomes active after matrix NxM has been configured.
Matrix Inputs:
Encoders Port:
LED Displays:
Is I2C I/O used?
If you will use an "Port" connection" type for Encoders you should assign the encoder input Port pins. Two pins assigned for encoder port will be used for all encoders
(only for those connected to the port, not directly!)
.
(only for those connected to the port, not directly!)
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Before configuring the 7-segment outputs or Serial LEDs output, you should select which 2 pins will be assigned as common "D" and "L" inputs for all 74HC595 registers used with this Arduino board 
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. This optional checkbox is only needed to reserve some pins if you plan to use I2C communication in the selected Arduino board to link with other devices (such as LCD displays with inbuilt I2C inteface, etc).
Save current configuration into the data config file for ArdSimX plugin
Open existing config file (data.cfg) to edit it
Click on a pin on the board to assign input/output for it.
Use the options on the left to add more boards to your ArdSimX system, choose the appropriate board type, and configure a button-matrix for the current board, if you need it.
Use the options on the left to add more boards to your ArdSimX system, choose the appropriate board type, and configure a button-matrix for the current board, if you need it.
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| A15 |
Programmed Outputs - Define datarefs to receive and use in your custom code (not linked with Arduino pins)
Programmed Inputs - Define datarefs to send to X-Plane from your code (not linked with Arduino pins)
| 1D | |
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| 10D |
Programmed Inputs - Define datarefs to send to X-Plane from your code (not linked with Arduino pins)
| C1 | |
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Digital Pin #
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Please first select 2 pins that will be assigned for 74HC595 registers ("LED Displays" buttonon the left). This 2 output pins will be used as common D/L signals for all 7-segment displays and LEDs (serial digital outputs)
Please first select a pin that will be assigned as step direction pin!
This output pin will be used for all steppers connected to this board.
Click on a digital pin to assign it as steppers direction output
Select parameter to be controlled with this switch (click on the field below):
3-position switch for two commands.
Use a toggle button instead of switch.
Enter any other pin number if needed -
3-position switch for two commands.
Use a toggle button instead of switch.
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You can control up to 4 parameter with one switch. Select number>1 if this switch will control more than one parameter:
Next free pin will be used as second switch input. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Enter any other pin number if needed -
Button input (also can be used as one input position for multiposition switch)
Cycle between commands on each click (otherwise they are all executed simultaneously).
Select number of parameters to be controlled with one button:
"Press-and-hold" action (support for repeating or secondary functions) Optional: Command executes in the moment when button is released
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
"Press-and-hold" action (support for repeating or secondary functions) Optional: Command executes in the moment when button is released
Optional
Programmed inputs/outputs
Only use this when you need to exchange data with something other than the input/output devices supported by ArdSimX.
An example of such situation would be data output to an LCD, or sending data to the simulator on a pre-programmed event.
Please, read this page before using Programmed I/O.
Matrix - x - Click the line with node number to configure
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Unit number (if any) #
Select controlled encoders:
Select matrix rows and columns pins in the Arduino board picture (read description on the Matrix connection page)
First row pin - Last row pin -First col pin - Last col pin -
Row Col
Select 2 encoder Port pins - click on first of 2 pins to be assigned as Bus for all encoders connected to this bus.
Select 2 pins for Registers D and L inputs - click on first of 2 pins to be assigned as Registers D/L.
ArdSimX uses a single config file, named "data.cfg", which includes I/O configuration and connection information for all your Arduino boards. After you've finished using the online configurator, press the "Save" button to download this file. To be used by the plugin, the "data.cfg" file must be placed in ArdSim's plugin folder (X-Plane/Resources/plugins/ArdSimX).
Input/Output Pin Color legend
Here is the color scheme for Arduino pins in the ArdSimX Configurator for different types of input and output devices. When making a configuration, click an assigned Arduino pin to change its parameters or clear it. Pins marked with the white dot cannot be clicked.Inputs
- Toggle Switch [ one input Pin ].- Click Button [ one input Pin ].
- Mode Switch Button ( Encoder mode switch) [ one input Pin ]
- Encoder, Direct connection [ 2 input Pins ].
- Encoder, Port connection [ one output Pin ].
- Axis Input on analog input Pin.
- Rotary Switch on analog input Pin.
Outputs
- LED with direct connection (or digital output) [ one output Pin ]- Register "S" output for Serial LEDs (or digital outputs) [ one output Pin ]
- 7-Segment display output, the "S" signal [ one output Pin for one multi-digit display]
- Stepper motor output (without sensor) [ one output Pin ]
- Stepper motor output/input (with sensor) [ one output Pin, one input Pin ], sensor connects to the input pin with white dot.
- Analog Gauge output (coil ammeter) [ one output Pin ]. Only Arduino PWM pins can be used.
- Servo output (reserved, not included in the library yet) [ one output Pin ]
Common Pins
- Encoder Port [ two input Pins for all connected encoders]- Registers "D" and "L" outputs [for all connected multi-digit 7-Segment displays and Serial LEDs ]
- Stepper motors DIR output [ one output Pin for every stepper connected]
- Matrix row pins
- Matrix column pins