Aloha Pololu
919. April 2015 by Peter
I installed a Pololu Meastro Servo card the other day in the cockpit.
The reason was that the OpenCockpits card I currently used in the overhead only controls 6 servos where as this Pololu card can control 12 servos, enough for the entire overhead.
Interfacing was pretty easy. Just a bit set up with the Pololu program where the servos should be enabled and calibrated. Then just select the card in Prosim and adjust the sliders so the servos can be calibrated.
One of the reasone I changed to Pololu is that I have heard that OpenCockpits can have a hard time managing two servo cards on the same computer.
However I might put the – now not used – servo card to some use in my throttle at some point. I am thinking about powering the throttle handles, speed brake arm and parking brake with servos. But more on this later down the road.
Build a Boeing 
Using the card on the throttle is a very interesting idea Peter, maybe the servo could power the throttle to move like it does when you use auto throttle but you might come across some problems with that since the auto throttle sometimes moves the handles with real quick movements, maybe a servo wouldn’t keep up? Just a thought.
Hi.
I have done some preliminary tests. Not the most stable of solutions as the servo must move a heavy handle on top of a stick. The high center of gravity together with a small movement radius for a servo makes it a bit unstable. But good enough for me at this point. I have not interfaced it yet, so I do not know how it will respond when the A/T takes over. My plan is for the servos to be disconnected from power when no command mode is on. Else I will not be able to move the servos manually. More on this later down the road.
Hi Peter…Keep up the good work. Like your idea of using servos for auto thottle,may need heavy duty types due to the loads..this aloha pololu card, 12 servos that brill, must look into it.
Regards Paul
Hello Peter, I need some help with open cockpit servo USB card, connected 737 flaps guage its detecting the card at devices and printers, but when I downloaded the software from open cockpit site it says disconnected, how do I configure the card ?
Thank you,
Hashim
Hi Hashim.
You can write me an e-mail.
Regards Peter
Hi peter, does this work well with prosim? Is it as easy as the pokey with the plug-change a prosim setting-play or is it more like the Opencockpits one with a whole lot of coding? Thanks/tak, James
Hi James.
Just as easy as Pokeys. Point’n’shoot.
/Peter
Hello Peter , congratulation for you job
I found that with http://www.mobiflight.com/ you can manage Prosim with a not expensive Arduino Mega.china version (12 euros)
You can see a pairs of posts in its Forum about Prosim.
With Mobiflgiht I did some testing with a stepper motor for 3 dollars and I confirm that runs well
(not only stepper but also servo, switches encoder leds 7SEG display etc.)
After my testing , if positive may be change from SIOC to Mobiflight
Since I would also like to go to Prosim (now I’ve IFLY), I wanted to know if you have already considered this way or if you have tested something about.
Thanks!
Ireca
I must a build a cockpit but I am lost as snail in mud