It seems the Fssb R3 has a lot of potential development so here is one idea that i call the "virtual active inceptor" that i think would be interesting to implement (if possible).
The concept
The idea is based on the active inceptor system installed on the F-35 lightning II. The stick of the plane has three working modes: Active, Passive and Jammed. In the passive mode, the stick is very much like the Fssb R3. The force exterted on the stick is sensed and passed to the input command system that will map a g, pitch rate, AOA or whatever command for a given sensed force. In Active mode however the behavior is different. The pilot exerts a force on the stick and a program will actively move (through electrical motors) the stick to a position according to a force vs displacement function. The input command system receives not a force input put a stick position input. The great thing is that function is varying with conditions. Thus it is possible to have a constant stick position vs input command function but the force needed to go to that position will vary depending on flight conditions.
The following links show you how it works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=govXiJja2aE
https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 4245,d.bGs
Why it is relevant to the fssb R3?
The ffsb R3 is not active but passive, i.e, there's no mechanical feedback from the flight control laws to the stick. However if we look at the complete stick to simulation input chain we can see that virtually, the Fssb R3 is an active stick. Indeed, the simer exerts a force on the stick and that force is translated into an X or Y axis position which is exactly like a displacement except that this displacement is virtual.
The idea would thus to have a programmable (either by realsim or the simmer via an interface) force vs position function that would change depending on flight parameters like speed, AOA, altitude or even landing gear up or down etc..
As it is possible to export flight parameters from the main simulators we use (DCS, BMS, BOS etc..), those parameters would be fed into the fssb R3 hardware and sensitivity function altered.
see the simplified example here.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2 ... hoto%2cjpg
Why it would be interesting for our flight simulations?
I think it could improve the experience in the following cases:
- In general this would improve the cues on speed vs aircraft response that we don't have because we do not have inertial forces effects and most of us play through limited FOV screens. Over control and PIO are very frequent in simulation flights
- For planes that do not have FWB systems and/or heavy servo commands, that would help simulated the actual physical feedback (i.e: higher aerodynamics forces at speed, lighter at high AOA or high Altitude)
- For FBW planes this would allow to simulate an improved flight control system. Currently, the most advanced FBW plane simulated (in a realistic manner) is the F-16, and the F-16 doesn't have flight parameter variable gains, only cruise and landing gear gains. planes like F-22 and F-35 do have variable gains depending on speed and altitude. This would be funny simulating that
Tell me what do you think of this idea?
if it is something doable, i'd be happy to help with testing it.