Gear Door Control via Sequencer
The transmitter menu Menu → Advanced Properties → Sequencer provides multiple independent sequencers (Q1, Q2, Q3, etc.). Each sequencer includes:
- A time axis in seconds (blue arrow)
- A servo position axis in % deflection (red arrow)
- A dedicated configuration menu
Objective:
- When extending the landing gear, the doors open first, followed by the gear after a defined delay.
- When retracting the landing gear, the gear retracts first and the doors close after a defined delay.
Setup Instructions:
- Create Function for Gear Doors:
- Go to Menu → Model → Function Assignments
- Press F3 (+) to create one or more new functions to control the gear "Doors".
- Assign Function to Channels:
- Go to Menu → Model → Servo Assignment
- Assign the created function(s) to free channel outputs (e.g., channel 9 and 10).
- Configure Sequencer Q1:
- Go to Menu → Advanced Properties → Sequencer
- Set the Q1 switch to match the switch used for gear control (e.g., Sf).
- Enter the sequencer curve editor.
- Define Sequencer Points:
- First, set the Time to 0.0 s and create the initial point by pressing F3 (+).
- Assign a servo value of –100% to indicate doors closed.
- Add a second point at 0.3 s (use rotary dial), press F3 (+) and set servo value to +100% for doors fully open.
- Add a third point at 3.0 s to delay door closing after gear retraction. Keep value at +100%.
- Add a final point (e.g., 3.3 s) and set value to –100% to close the doors.
- Mirror Sequence for Opposite Servo (Q2):
- For gear doors that open in the opposite direction, create a second sequencer Q2 using F1.
- Mirror the curve values from Q1.
- Label and Configure Both Sequencers:
- In each sequencer (Q1 and Q2), open Advanced settings.
- Set Name (e.g., Left Door, Right Door) in Label.
- Set Path Type to Symmetrical so the same timing applies in both directions (extend/retract).
- Set Overwrite Channel to match the servo output (e.g., channel 9 for Q1, channel 10 for Q2).
- Ensure Reliable Operation:
- Enable Always Finish Sequence. This ensures that any partial gear movement completes before reacting to a new command. Prevents jamming from partially opened doors.
- Enable Always Finish Sequence. This ensures that any partial gear movement completes before reacting to a new command. Prevents jamming from partially opened doors.
This sequencer setup ensures clean, reliable operation of gear doors that avoid mechanical conflict during flight.
Lighting Control via Sequencer
Just like the gear doors, you can use the sequencer function to control the model's lighting. The following example describes the setup of position and anti-collision lights.
Sequencer for Position Lights:
- In Menu/Model/Function Assignment, create a new function named Lights using button F3 (+). Do not assign a control to this function.
- In Menu/Model/Servo Assignment, assign the Lights function to a free channel (e.g., Channel 8).
- In Menu/Model/Device Explorer/Receiver/Alternative Pin Config, set output no. 8 as Digital Output.
- In Menu/Advanced Properties/Sequencer, create a sequence Q1 (as described earlier) with this timeline:
0s = +100%, 0.1s = -100%, 0.5s = -100%
→ This will make the position lights blink once with a 0.5s pause. - In the same menu, assign a Switch to sequencer Q1.
Tip: The sequencer can be triggered by a dedicated switch, or better, reuse a switch used for another purpose – for example, the throttle lock switch (e.g., Sf) or turbine starter. This way, activating the position lights also indicates motor arming.
- Under Advanced, name the sequence (e.g., Blink). In the Overwrite channel field, choose the previously assigned Lights (8) channel.
- Set the Path type to Asymmetric, enable Loop and Always finish sequence. This setup causes the blinking sequence to repeat continuously with a short pause.
Sequencer for Anti-Collision Lights:
This lighting greatly improves model orientation visibility. A suitable setup is a loop of three flashes followed by a short pause.
- The procedure is the same as for the position lights.
- The only difference is in the sequence itself. In Menu/Advanced Properties/Sequencer, create a new sequence Q2 with this timeline:
0s = +100%, 0.1s = -100%, 0.2s = +100%, 0.3s = -100%, 0.4s = +100%, 0.5s = -100%, 1s = -100%
→ This means three flashes over 0.3s, followed by a 0.5s pause, repeating in a loop.
Connecting the LEDs:
Receiver or Central Box outputs can handle a maximum current of 25 mA. This is insufficient for effective lighting in daylight.
To directly connect multiple 1–3 W LEDs to a receiver output configured as Digital Output, you can use the following connection:
Alternatively, you can use LED driver circuits (e.g., Micro LED Driver LD3080SA), which can power multiple high-power LEDs per output from the receiver or Central Box, across a wide supply voltage range.
Creating and Using Voice Announcements
The Duplex system allows the use of voice announcements in various situations. This eliminates the need to constantly monitor the transmitter display, significantly improving safety and overall awareness of model status, telemetry data, or potential risks. Voice output is useful in the following transmitter menus:
Alarms
Each monitored system or telemetry parameter can have one or more threshold values assigned, which trigger the respective alarm. It’s recommended to assign a short voice message explaining the alarm activation, such as “Low battery voltage,” “Maximum current exceeded,” etc.
Voice Output
Switching a control or activating a function can trigger the announcement of selected current values, e.g., “Current altitude,” “Current flight speed,” “Remaining battery capacity.”
System Sounds
This is a list of important system and safety events that are automatically triggered and should be accompanied by explanatory announcements, such as “Receiver reset,” “Weak signal,” “Telemetry lost,” etc.
Sounds on Event
It is possible to assign voice announcements to changes in control switch positions. This function increases pilot comfort and confirms commands, e.g. switching the engine to idle will trigger the message "Idle", etc.
Most of the necessary audio files are already stored in the transmitter’s memory under the directory “Menu/Applications/File Explorer/SD Card/Audio.” Since each user may have different needs, it‘s also possible to create custom audio files. You can do this using the built-in microphone on the transmitter or, preferably, on a PC using some of the free text-to-speech program. The program have to support saving voice files in the *.wav format. Audio files please save it directly to the “Audio” folder of your transmitter for further use.
Recommendations for WAV audio file:
- Audio file name max. 8 characters.
- Supported "sample rate":
- SampleRate_8000 = 8 kHz
- SampleRate_16000 = 16 kHz
- SampleRate_32000 = 32 kHz
- SampleRate_11025 = 11.025 kHz
- SampleRate_22050 = 22.05 kHz
- SampleRate_44100 = 44.1 kHz
- SampleRate_48000 = 48 kHz