Thrustmaster Cougar Throttle Standalone USB adapter
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Dear all,
following some really neat piece of info online (https://pit.uriba.org/uriba/standalone-cougar-tqs-part-i/ ), I created my own version of the Thrustmaster Cougar Standalone USB adapter.Differently from other DIY projects, mine is based on Teensy, which provides two analog input converters, and comes with all the digital I/O needed to cover the Cougar functions.
In the post of my blog you’ll also find the details on how to change the USB device identifier/name so that under Windows it shows up as Cougar instead of Teensy (this step is possibly the most difficult one, and completely eye candy, at the end of the day, possibly an unnecessary headache).
The code, also available, has several features:
- an hardware calibration routine ( so to center the axis and take advantage of their full span ). The calibrated data is saved in the Teensy EEPROM and read at startup.
- axis shaping for the Antenna ( so to have more accuracy in the usable range ±40, and coarse up to ±90)
- axis filtering, thanks to the Teensy high frequency it is possible to filter the reads with only minimal delay
- Dogfight override button (Center button)
- In the calibration routine it is possible to set a value for Idle detent (cut-off), currently that part of the code is commented.
- buttons de-bounce
And I also shared the PCB circuit to seamlessly connect the components, a 3D printable case and other neat features, check it out!
https://giovannimedici.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/standalone-usb-adapter-for-tm-cougar-throttle/
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Fantastic job!
Would It be possible to achieve such a result for someone totally inexperienced? (I read your blog post but I’m still not sure I will have the attitude to make it) And how much will It cost?Inviato dal mio CPH2145 utilizzando Tapatalk
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@irpus I think it would definitely feasible, only basic soldering skills are needed. The software is available.
I’d skip all the rather complex configuration to change the way windows names the device, and in that way it is just an ordinary arduino upload to the board. Also the 3d printed case is just eye candy.
So the cost is limited to the components you chose basically -
@antares190 thank you again. I’ll think about that even thou the worst parte of May Cougar Is the gimbal in the stick, actually.
I gas a look at your blog and must say that you do a lot of impressive things. -
@irpus If the problem of your Cougar stick is due to play in the gimbal, there are several hardware mod that can be done (one is to get rid of it and switch to Force Sensing Resistors), but there are also gimbal replacements available in the market.
If the source of the problem is related to potentiometer wear, you.may try to clean them, or directly replace them. If you chose the latter I’d pick hall sensor solution, as it provide superior output more consistent in time. -
@antares190 actually at the moment I have no real problem. I feel that the stick Is too stiff and It makes precision use difficult. I was thinking to a replacement for the pots with hall sensor (there are kits available in the community) but was thinking that it has less importance of I don’t make the gimbal smoother first.
I’m not planning a for an upgrade for a force sensor (even of for the F-16 would be the top ) because I use this stick for other flight simulators both military and civil.
Could you point me to a mod for the gimbal that you judge as valid?
PS.
Just out of curiosity : are you italian? I’m asking because your name on the blog seems to say so. I’m italian. -
@irpus the cougar stick is kind of well known for its less than optimum diagonal movements, among others that’s one of the reasons which led Thrustmaster to develop the Warthog base.
You are right, the commercial solutions for updating the cougar stick gimbal are no more available, scrolling the web I found some custom solutions, but custom-design of machined parts can easily be quite expensive, hence I would say that compatible bases are still the best option for an update :
Warthog base
Or virpil baseAnyway let me share few of the custom solutions I found:
https://hanskrohn.com/cougar-flight-stick/
https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/166030-cougar-replacement-gimballink text
http://cougar.flyfoxy.com a tons of mods
To conclude, yes you are right I’m Italian, there is a rather big community out there!
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@antares190 beh allora grazie di cuore per il tuo aiuto e per la tua enorme disponibilità!
Sono rare le persone come te, in gamba e disposte a condividere e aiutare.
Ciao!