Adding switches to devo 6s

Ok, I do have a question about the extra trim switches. In particular, we need to add code so you can turn them on/off in hardware.ini.

How fine a control do we want? My first take on it was to just enable trim left & trim right switch pairs, but you might want to make the two buttons instead.

So, is turning on both buttons on one trim switch at once acceptable, or do I need to deal with all sixteen possible configurations?

Let's keep it simple, and just turn them on as pairs. If there is any way to maintain consistency with the Devo8s then I think that might be preferred, but looking down the road I would think it is best to keep the code as simple as possible.

This only shows up in one place: the bit of code that figures out what you turned on in the hardware.ini file. If setting it multiple times works, then I can do it with 4 symbols (one per button), which isn't to bad. Maybe adding one for all as well. If enough people complain about wanting two on one switch, that's just two more. But that would be it.

Then I'm good either way! We got switches!

Ok, I've just uploaded a new version. This one adds the requirement that the extra buttons be configured. The default hardware.ini has been updated to document how. deviationtx.com/downloads-new/category/2...m-devo6-extra-inputs

Having this is going to be a requirement before I create a pull request, so if you could test this and make sure it makes sense, I'd appreciate it. Not clear that there's a real distinction between the up and down buttons on a side, or between the two sides. I used the names from the 8, and just carried that through. If there's an obvious way to set the buttons up and it's that gets the names wrong, let me know and I'll fix it.

The simulator needs some testing as well, but someone who can build it for linux or windows will need to do so. Sources can be found in ssh://hg@bitbucket.org/mwm/deviation, the devo6-extra-switches branch.

I will try this new build tonight or tomorrow AM. My switch installation is still kinda temporary while I figure out how I really want them to work!.

I was poking around in the Devo 8 and Devo 10 docs and i'm wondering if there is a chance for one more analog input. On the Devo 10, ADC_IN_10 through 15 are used for Aux4 and the sticks. On the Devo 8, ADC_IN_10-13 are used just for the sticks. On both, ADC_IN_14 is used for the battery voltage. So on the 6 and 8, is ADC_IN_15 (PC5) unused? There is no trace attached on the top, and I cannot locate a via that connects to it from the bottom... but I didn't poke it very hard yet!

I would expect that it would be visible in software? I plan to keep looking at the Hardware

mwm wrote: Ok, I've just uploaded a new version. This one adds the requirement that the extra buttons be configured. The default hardware.ini has been updated to document how. deviationtx.com/downloads-new/category/2...m-devo6-extra-inputs

Having this is going to be a requirement before I create a pull request, so if you could test this and make sure it makes sense, I'd appreciate it. Not clear that there's a real distinction between the up and down buttons on a side, or between the two sides. I used the names from the 8, and just carried that through. If there's an obvious way to set the buttons up and it's that gets the names wrong, let me know and I'll fix it.

The simulator needs some testing as well, but someone who can build it for linux or windows will need to do so. Sources can be found in ssh://hg@bitbucket.org/mwm/deviation, the devo6-extra-switches branch.

I downloaded and installed the new version, but the Hardware.ini doesn't seem to be different than the previous one. I checked to make sure that the version was right, and it's fc236a4. The above link brings me to the download page, but I can't see anywhere in the Zip or file system with reference for the changes. The TX did not recognize all the new trim buttons, and when I tried to go into the trim configuration screen the TX reset every time. I guess if I'm not configuring Hardware.ini correctly then they could be a problem, but I can't find any reference material for the changes needed.

In both this version and the last "-4433285", the button monitor has two issues:
1. the Button Monitor screen has the Right and Left trim button info on the Left and Right side of the screen, respectively. So the Right new buttons ended up under the old Left trim buttons, and the Left new buttons are under the Right old trim buttons.
2.Also, there seems to be some sort of writing in the upper left of the screen over the exit button. I can't make out what it might be.

So I'll keep working this. My two new switches will be here probably by Saturday and I can't wait to actually start flying with this!

By the way, in my efforts here I've documented the pin assignments used on the Devo6s processor, using PBs notes on the Devo8s. I added these assignments to the STM matrix that documents the pins and intended usage for each processor package. Since it turned out to be one big matrix, I also took a few minutes to add the other Devo TX pin assignments that PB has posted here.

This is one spreadsheet that you can filter by processor package and sort by pin number or assignment. It really makes the process of figuring out what is on each pin a whole lot easier.

I cannot seem to add it to a post, so I've put the spreadsheet onto my googledrive . If you like it can be posted with the other articles, but I can't do it.

Well, the button monitor issues were just bugs - I didn't fix the button test page layout. That's now been fixed, and extra buttons are dealt with properly. Rather, if you don't have them turned on, they aren't on the page. The extra inputs didn't have these problems - one of the advantages of piggy-backing on the 7E code!

Not having the new hardware.ini was just a Doh! moment. I thought it as added to the zip file by the Makefile. Not so. I've bundled it into this zip file. It'll come out next to the dfu & the debug zip.

Aside: I'd appreciate testing by people who don't have the extra hardware added! Need to verify that things are working properly for all of us as well. I'll be testing it that way, but just me isn't enough.

New build: deviationtx.com/downloads-new/category/2...m-devo6-extra-inputs

I loaded this one (9df0f1d) and it looks really good. The button monitor is great, and they all work as expected -- when you press the enter button it exits the screen, is this by design (I think this is because of how the screen moves focus to the Exit icon when you press buttons)? I was able to configure and use the new buttons very nicely. I set them to step by 2.5 and assigned them to Channel 6 and 7 and they can simulate a potentiometer very nicely!

When I get the switches installed I'll let you know how those go. In the meantime I need to try a variety of trim button settings (in Hardware.ini) and work on the multimodule for this transmitter.

Thanks again for your help.

Just a heads up: since the extra switches are connected to pins instead of the button matrix. I believe that they can be used as analog inputs instead of switches. This is something I'm interested in, but will require changing the way things are specified.

I decided to install just the one 2-way switch because for now I need to have a throttle hold in addition to the other buttons. It is working great! I've posted a photo on my googledrive with the "finished" version.
Deviated Devo6S

Let me know when you've got a way to add an analog pot; I've got some 5k little ones coming in this week, along with some new connectors.

I still have to install the multimodule. It is assembled and ready to install, but I rescued an A7105 that had a lifted connector pad and I want to be sure it's working right before I put it in.

Once I get that installed, I'll run a few models in the coming days. I have a couple of Blade DSMX models and a bunch of mini helis and quads to try. If I run into problems I'll let you know.

Mind sharing where you found your MOM buttons? I've been looking for some good ones recently.


That 6S looks great! People that didn't know would have no clue it didn't come like thay.

Those momentary switches are Radio Shack, a pack of one red, one black for about $3. They have smaller and larger ones, but these looked about right. I like having a button to use for Panic or flip, and these fit the bill. They are 1/4" panel mount, while the rest are 6mm, so I need to figure out better dressing nuts. Digikey has a great selection of momentary switches if you can navigate their catalog.

The toggle is Banggood. I overspent for some blue switch nuts for the switches on eBay to finish it off, but I can't find them in 1/4".

I have posted a description of the hardware mods on my Blog at RCGroups .

Well, the ability to use the extra inputs as analog switches as well as switches isn't really doable without a lot more work.

I've merged in the latest changes from the main line, and uploaded a new test build. deviationtx.com/downloads-new/category/2...m-devo6-extra-inputs

As soon as you can let me know that this is working properly, I'll create a pull request to get it merged into the default code so it'll show up in the nightly builds - when the start happening again.

For now at least I can live with digital switches along with the new trims. I can use the trims or my external controller for gimbals or gains or whatever. Besides I cannot find any pots that are small enough to fit with everything else I've got stuffed in there.

I'll test in the AM... Got my haptic vibrating motor ready to install!

Yeah sorry about my lack of progress and testing Mike, got a new bub due in a couple of weeks so busy getting the house sorted. Also haven't had a proper flying field for a while so that's put a dampener on a lot of the aeronautical activities.

I suppose I should at least load up the software and confirm that it works without the switches enabled or physically present, I do have my physical switches and a module (and a haptic motor) to put in but as per usual have been trying to decide the optimal mounting position and method as I don't want to drill a hole and then regret it... which means it's be another few months/years...

Well, I can test those builds on the 6 and 10. But I'd like to know that they at least don't cause major issues on other things.

I'm not planning on adding any of these things to my 6, so the test with them is the one I'm really waiting on before creating a pull request.

Wow, didn't realize how fast this week went by. The latest test build, deviation-devo6-v4.0.1-9df0f1d, works great with the trims and switches. I could not seem to break anything, the trims work very well, and without fail. The switches work too, and I love the additional functionality.

Everything works as expected, and I can't find anything that isn't working, so as far as I'm concerned it's good to go.

Thanks again for the excellent work.

Ok, the pull request has been created at bitbucket.org/deviationtx/deviation/pull...devo6-extra-switches

I'd appreciate a couple of reviews so I can merge this!