Connect any RC Transmitter with RC Simulator

Use any RC transmitter and receiver with an RC flight simulator using Arduino Uno and UnoJoy.

IntermediateFull instructions provided8,144

Connect any RC Transmitter with RC Simulator

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

RC receiver

Example of an RC receiver

RC transmitter

Example of an RC transmitter

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

Based on the UnoJoy library we wanted to make an RC flight simulator controller with any RC transmitter and receiver even though the receiver or transmitter does not have PPM or any other connection to PC just the PWM signal pins for servos. Basically for more outdated and old RC transmitters and receivers. For this project, we used only sticks from the RC transmitter. Maybe we will update the project with buttons for meanwhile this was not necessary for basic flying.

Step 1: Download files

First, we download the files from UnoJoy GitHub. We import the UnoJoy library into Arduino IDE. Then we upload the code below to Arduino Uno. Where we define digital pins and convert the RC receiver output signal.

Step 2: Convert Arduino Uno to USB game controller

To connect Arduino to PC as a USB game controller we used the instructions, software, and drivers found at UnoJoy GitHub. First, we download the files from the UnoJoy GitHub and JRE FLIP tool. Install JRE FLIP tool. To convert Arduino Uno to USB controller we must first put it into "Arduino Uno DFU" mode. The official documentation can be found here. We connect Arduino to PC and short two of the pins by the USB connector as shown in the picture below with a wire. It should make disconnect and reconnect sounds and the lights on board should flicker. Meanwhile, remove the wire.

Short 2 pins

When we have done this we open the UnoJoy folder and run TurnIntoAJoystick.bat.

Turn Arduino into a Joystick

When the program has finished we unplug Arduino. If we get an error stating "AtLibUsbDfu.dll not found", we can solve it by updating the driver by selecting the folder where the AtLibUsbDfu.dll is located. We solved the issue by watching the following video.

Step 3: Connect the RC receiver to Arduino Uno

Then we have to connect the Arduino to the RC receiver (Jeti model rex 4 channel in our case). To supply the receiver with the power we connect it to the Arduino 5V pin and GND pin. We connect the 4 signal pins to the 2, 3, 4 and 5 digital pins. Connections for this 4 channel RC receiver are shown in the picture below. We used 4 channel receiver but it is possible to use a receiver with more channels. We plugin Arduino again and the PC should recognize it as a USB controller.

Step 4: Test the controller

After all the above is done we go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers and we should see the game controller UnoJoy Joystick. If we right-click on it and click game controller settings and then properties we can test if everything is functioning properly as expected and calibrate if needed.

This solution is not the best but for older RC receivers it does the job. We tested it with the Multiplex MultiFlight Simulator and after a little calibration, we were ready to fly.

Code

Processing receiver signals

#include "UnoJoy.h"

//Declaring a channel variable 
int channel_1;
int channel_2;
int channel_3;
int channel_4;

int ch1;
int ch2;
int ch3;
int ch4;


void setup(){
  setupPins();
  setupUnoJoy();
  
}

void loop(){

  //Getting fresh data
  dataForController_t controllerData = getControllerData();
  setControllerData(controllerData);

  
}

void setupPins(void){
  //Setting all the digital pins as inputs with the pull-up enabled
  for (int i = 2; i <= 12; i++){
    pinMode(i, INPUT);
    digitalWrite(i, HIGH);
  }
}

dataForController_t getControllerData(void){
  
  //Useing the getBlankDataForController() function to set up a place for the controller data. 
  dataForController_t controllerData = getBlankDataForController();
  
  //Reading the pulse duration from pins
  channel_1 = pulseIn (2, HIGH);
  channel_2 = pulseIn (3, HIGH);
  channel_3 = pulseIn (4, HIGH);
  channel_4 = pulseIn (5, HIGH);

  //Limitation of the pulse duration and the conversion to an 8 bit number
  ch1 = map(constrain(channel_1, 1000, 2000), 1000, 2000, 0, 255);
  ch2 = map(constrain(channel_2, 1000, 2000), 1000, 2000, 0, 255);
  ch3 = map(constrain(channel_3, 1000, 2000), 1000, 2000, 0, 255);
  ch4 = map(constrain(channel_4, 1000, 2000), 1000, 2000, 0, 255);
 
  //Setting the controller sticks
  controllerData.leftStickX = ch1;
  controllerData.leftStickY = ch2;
  controllerData.rightStickX = ch3;
  controllerData.rightStickY = ch4;
  //Returning the data
  return controllerData;
}

Credits

eruiec11

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Connect any RC Transmitter with RC Simulator