Physical virtual cockpit help?
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Hello there.
I want to make BMS experience as enjoyable as I can of course like everyone else here.
In my opinion, the best compromise is a physical cockpit but as for the poor mortals like myself it’s impossible to build one, the next best thing is extracting MFD’s and consoles to touchscreens (tablets). It has been done on various ways (komurcu, steveh2112, mikej et al). Now what I am after, is to extract ideally all the consoles (left/right, aux, Instrument Panel) zone by zone according to their layouts/positions as close as possible and put them on android tablets as they’re very cheap – you can get one with $50. So ideally:- instrument panel 4-6
- aux consoles (left + right) 2
and maybe if it’s not much hassle, - left+right consoles 4-6
So you have a physical virtual pit made of 8 to 14 tablets, for $400 to $700. Plus you avoid hardware labor. Plus you can easily mount/dismount the pit. Plus you can also use the tablets for some other projects etc.
I’m willing to spend $400 and have 3 consoles – center + aux.
Now the questions:
1. Is there a way for a regular user to do input/output (cockpit buttons/MFD) extraction to android tablets? regular user = beginner C++/C#/Java programmer. Are there any tutorials/documentation/walkthrough’s? Where can I get help?
2. What limits the number of tablets simultaneously usable?
3. Other considerations? -
Why tablets? Buying normal touchsxreens to connect to your computer works easier I think, and Cheaper plus more variations in size possible
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Hello there.
I want to make BMS experience as enjoyable as I can of course like everyone else here.
In my opinion, the best compromise is a physical cockpit but as for the poor mortals like myself it’s impossible to build one, the next best thing is extracting MFD’s and consoles to touchscreens (tablets). It has been done on various ways (komurcu, steveh2112, mikej et al). Now what I am after, is to extract ideally all the consoles (left/right, aux, Instrument Panel) zone by zone according to their layouts/positions as close as possible and put them on android tablets as they’re very cheap – you can get one with $50. So ideally:- instrument panel 4-6
- aux consoles (left + right) 2
and maybe if it’s not much hassle, - left+right consoles 4-6
So you have a physical virtual pit made of 8 to 14 tablets, for $400 to $700. Plus you avoid hardware labor. Plus you can easily mount/dismount the pit. Plus you can also use the tablets for some other projects etc.
I’m willing to spend $400 and have 3 consoles – center + aux.
Now the questions:
1. Is there a way for a regular user to do input/output (cockpit buttons/MFD) extraction to android tablets? regular user = beginner C++/C#/Java programmer. Are there any tutorials/documentation/walkthrough’s? Where can I get help?
2. What limits the number of tablets simultaneously usable?
3. Other considerations?If you have basic knowledge of HTML ad javascript you can use my YAME panel and customize at your needs. You can find it in the software forum and in a few days I will release a new version with some corrections.
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Thanks for replying.
Focaldesign, all I could find is touchscreen monitors, which are useless since you can’t connect multiple ones. Without sarcasm I’m saying that I’m not aware of other technology like i.e. touchscreen without OS that’s purely an input/output HID. It would be awesome if it were, since I wouldn’t have to program for Android. Or it may be some video signal splitting but I doubt it’s feasible for 6 screens. As for tablets use, a PC can have like 12 USB ports
BTW, thanks for open up my mind – I have to reduce the monitor count to a total of 6: 4 central console + 2 aux. Please tell me if there’s more I don’t know.roccio, first thank you for offering me your software. I’ll check it out what it can do and whether you can totally customize layout of output/input on the tablet. If it can pull it off with your ware then I’ll be in debt
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Thanks for replying.
Focaldesign, all I could find is touchscreen monitors, which are useless since you can’t connect multiple ones. Without sarcasm I’m saying that I’m not aware of other technology like i.e. touchscreen without OS that’s purely an input/output HID. It would be awesome if it were, since I wouldn’t have to program for Android. Or it may be some video signal splitting but I doubt it’s feasible for 6 screens. As for tablets use, a PC can have like 12 USB ports
BTW, thanks for open up my mind – I have to reduce the monitor count to a total of 6: 4 central console + 2 aux. Please tell me if there’s more I don’t know.roccio, first thank you for offering me your software. I’ll check it out what it can do and whether you can totally customize layout of output/input on the tablet. If it can pull it off with your ware then I’ll be in debt
Of course you can have multiple ones. You can find a load of different sizes here: http://stores.ebay.nl/chinatobby/category485977819-/_i.html?_fsub=485977819&_sid=1070328859&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
For example this one has a touchscreen for left & right console
Depending on what you want as touch and what as real tactile stuff, you can have more or less screens.
For software you can use Helios. -
In that video he’s using a 3- video card rig and I guess he plugs in the 10 monitors plus the projector in 4-output cards. I prefer monitors over tablets so much more because I’m not willing to delve into Android but if I’d have to eventually, I would. The link you gave is about touch overlays to put over regular monitors. I looked for touchscreens on ebay on my own and could only find the same: screen overlays.
BTW Nice cockpit the one on YouTube. It fills me with constructive envy :d although I wouldn’t go so far as to build/buy the framework. -
The link you gave is about touch overlays to put over regular monitors. I looked for touchscreens on ebay on my own and could only find the same: screen overlays.
So that fixes the issue, no? You can find numerous lcd’s with & without bezel to your liking and just overlay it with a touchscreen layer. That seems less of a hassle then using several android tablets imho.
-
Hello there.
I want to make BMS experience as enjoyable as I can of course like everyone else here.
In my opinion, the best compromise is a physical cockpit but as for the poor mortals like myself it’s impossible to build one, the next best thing is extracting MFD’s and consoles to touchscreens (tablets). It has been done on various ways (komurcu, steveh2112, mikej et al). Now what I am after, is to extract ideally all the consoles (left/right, aux, Instrument Panel) zone by zone according to their layouts/positions as close as possible and put them on android tablets as they’re very cheap – you can get one with $50. So ideally:- instrument panel 4-6
- aux consoles (left + right) 2
and maybe if it’s not much hassle, - left+right consoles 4-6
So you have a physical virtual pit made of 8 to 14 tablets, for $400 to $700. Plus you avoid hardware labor. Plus you can easily mount/dismount the pit. Plus you can also use the tablets for some other projects etc.
I’m willing to spend $400 and have 3 consoles – center + aux.
Now the questions:
1. Is there a way for a regular user to do input/output (cockpit buttons/MFD) extraction to android tablets? regular user = beginner C++/C#/Java programmer. Are there any tutorials/documentation/walkthrough’s? Where can I get help?
2. What limits the number of tablets simultaneously usable?
3. Other considerations?Where are you going to put all these screens ? You say you are not willing or able to build a physical frame.
I would suggest you get on with something much more practical. You can put all the displays on a 2nd hand 15-19" screen at very little cost. Maybe even FREE.
Add to that a pair of thrustmaster MFD`s and you will have an enjoyable enhancement for less than 100USD maybe. -
The idea is to have all the input/output at the right positions respective to the player. For me it’s no use/fun to just have all crammed on 1-2 monitors. It’s about kinesthetic memory so that, in any simulator the player gets in, he can play right away, without accommodation.
I tried to play BMS on a regular monitor/TV and a joystick with throttle and even with FreeTrack, it’s too complex, too realistic, too damn sweet not to play it as close to a real… simulator.
As for the money, I guess the frame would cost me just as about as the monitors; and I don’t have the room for it, so I’m gonna improvize something in the living room and mount/dismount every time. Something like a chevalet for central panel and 2 stools for aux -
In that video he’s using a 3- video card rig and I guess he plugs in the 10 monitors plus the projector in 4-output cards.
Three Video Card Rigs are pretty easy these days, but if it bothers you so much you can always get a single card that supports six monitors. I have two of them in my rig right now.
