The Synchron

[aterren]

Originally Posted by callouscade

For dimming capabilities, I have found an extremely precise way to control the brightness of the LEDs, which can be control from 0 (off) to 167 (FULL) so there is 167 levels of brightness for each channel.

Currently I'm studying my brains out learning an AP Physics course that I have yet to take in school for the SAT Subject test Jan 24, as part of my application to MIT. On page 200... 800 pages to go. Development will continue Jan 25 with a shipment of a LOT of channel controllers to wire up and test, and the beginning of me programming my GUI which I HOPE will be done at the end of February.

Thanks
Cade

Props to you as a high school student taking this on. I did something similar and it formative in my career. Let me know if you need funds for round 1 and we can chat. I'd be willing to help but of course have questions first.

[callouscade]

The Synchron - Flight w/Stationary Overlay (4 min 43 sec)

Quick video edit it made.

New channel drivers are on their way to me now. Can't wait to build them so that size and weight is down.

Soon to come with be another application of The Synchron. At my school in March, we will be decorating the gymnasium with LEDs for a concert and The Synchron will drive a light show for the concerts. There will be an estimated total of 75 meters of LEDs for the show.

Thanks
Cade

[myxiplx]

Quick question, how large do you see the final unit being? And could you give a rough guess at the cost to buy an early version?

I like my little 250 night flier, something like this could be fun to tinker with :-)

[callouscade]

The unit with the newer small controllers, assuming they function properly after testing, will be about the size of a Castle 120HV, but a quarter the thickness. I also have the capability to produce a 5 channel version which would be about the size of a 250's battery.

I'm assuming you would be powering off the flight battery... I'd have to do some testing and see if the system functions alright with large current fluctuations from motor draw. I had a dead cell in the battery in my very first prototype and the system rebooted mid flight from 'low voltage'.

Cade

[FrenkyL]

Hello Cade, I tried to wrote you a PM, but you stored PM quota ... Is there any progress with your unit ?

[callouscade]

FrenkyL- I just deleted some messages if you want to try PMing again.

I've been so busy with work, graduating from High School, getting ready for college, getting ready for IRCHA, and building/designing the Synchron that I never find time to go on HeliFreak and post anymore.

As far as progress... I've made countless programming advances allowing me to put more data on the unit while using less memory. I've reduced the weight more using the original channel controllers, but have not had success with my newer micro channel controllers. I know exactly what the issues are, but haven't had time to resolve them. I'm using the old system for the IRCHA show. You'll notice it isn't THAT heavy, because its going on a nitro machine. Last year the whole unit made my electric fly like an MCPX. With all the changes I've made, I can't even feel a difference in the air when it's been on my electric. Nitro is the same.

You all will be able to the Synchron in action again at IRCHA during the Night Flight Competition. I'll be flying it on my nitro machine (assuming it makes it until Saturday lol) showcasing what it can do.

If anyone wants to see the unit up close before I post any pictures, you can find me sometime at IRCHA this year. I'll be camping along the back side of the road on the main flight line. Look for a little tiny white utility trailer with a pirate flag on it and a bunch of Pop up tents outside it! I'd post pictures here, but it isn't pretty enough to be worthy of that.

Thanks
Cade

[DUCDOC]

Okay take my money now! Must have!

[Commodore8888]

That's good to hear Cade!


We'll have to compare notes for sure. When do you get to Muncie? Montee and I will be there early (Sunday. Montee's doing Nats while I call).

Did you ever get a PC or UI interface working? First thing I did. I would have lost my mind hand programming in data that was any more complex than just some test lighting


PS, if you ever get stuck on memory (as in storing lots more channel detail or something else), Winbond makes some killer 1MB flash chips that talk on SPI bus. Cheap, fairly small, and very fast for how easy to use and basic they are.

I ended up using one on my stuff. Little uC had no hope to store everything I wanted data wise

[callouscade]

I'll be arriving sometime Sunday at IRCHA. I drive the truck with all the merchandise for HeliDirect.

I've gotten my memory issues taken care of. I had a little over 6,000 different LED intensity settings made up... which took up a boat load of memory. I dropped that down to 20 different intensity levels (brightness levels) which made each show only take up 1/4 of the memory it had before.

I've yet to make a GUI... I just don't have the time. I have an excel spreadsheet that I'm using to program which makes things fly by pretty darn fast. Still not as fast as I'd like my GUI to be once I do build it, but it's gotten much easier as I've found tricks to making the script easy to read.

I'll have with me at IRCHA a large 18 channel unit that I used to power over 200meters of LEDs on a giant sign this past year. This will be to highlight the versatility of the unit from small helicopter applications to large scale applications.

Thanks
Cade

[callouscade]

Hey Everyone! Currently on the way home from IRCHA in the Uhaul truck for HeliDirect. Greg took over driving for a while. Hope everyone who was at the IRCHA Jamboree had a great time!

I'd like to give a HUGE THANKS to the team from Ozone Drones! They had their 3D printer on site and designed and printed a case for the Synchron. The current case is very large because the way the unit was made and soldered together was not optimal for a case design. After this post is made, I'll be redesigning the case for a smaller compact design.

www.ozonedrones.com

Coming Soon: I will post my competition night flight once I receiver it from Mark Ryder!

Thanks
Cade

[hpiblitz144]

any update on the system? looking to get my night flying rig ready! really waiting for this!

[4li3n]

Dark-(K)night-Goblin Test3 (6 min 26 sec)

[callouscade]

SO here's where I'm at right now!

I'm at Embry-Riddle now and time is like an endangered species.

I'm currently having the GUI developed by an external source because I do not have time to do it myself. The final case design is built and I just have to assemble the product 'unit'.

It will be two pieces, the control board and the controllers. 3 different channel control boards and controllers will be available. They attach either right to each other or can be tethered to run the controllers further from the control board.

I will let you all know when the GUI is done. The HHOOPPEE (no promises) is to have some units ready for OHB.

Thanks
Cade

[callouscade]

GREAT NEWS!!

The the user interface not being started yet, I decided to abort the project with the external source.

After talking with my EGR115 (into to computer programming for engineers) instructor, my final project for the class will be creating a user interface for Synchron in Matlab. This is due in early December. Once it's done, all I will need to do is edit the code a little bit, convert it somehow to C so that I can make a windows application, and add serial commands. At that point, it will be done.

I took apart my prototype Synchron a few weeks ago. This weekend, i will be re-building it in the "production style" casing that I've been printing out. Pictures of this will be soon to come!

Thanks
Cade

[DUCDOC]

4li3n What are you using for main blades?

[hpiblitz144]

I will be waiting for this! I need to get my night flyer up and running! And this is the perfect way to top it off!

[Raptorapture]

Originally Posted by callouscade

GREAT NEWS!!

The the user interface not being started yet, I decided to abort the project with the external source.

After talking with my EGR115 (into to computer programming for engineers) instructor, my final project for the class will be creating a user interface for Synchron in Matlab. This is due in early December. Once it's done, all I will need to do is edit the code a little bit, convert it somehow to C so that I can make a windows application, and add serial commands. At that point, it will be done.

I took apart my prototype Synchron a few weeks ago. This weekend, i will be re-building it in the "production style" casing that I've been printing out. Pictures of this will be soon to come!

Thanks
Cade

That is great! Glad to see you getting to participate in the hobby while advancing your education. Good luck with the assignment

[Commodore8888]

If you're doing a windows interface Cade, C isn't that fun for drawing a GUI. C# is excellent, but windows locked (but .net is awesome to have. Pulling user input is easy).

The library N-Audio is freaking amazing for doing waveforms, audio processing, etc. C# syntax is very similar to C, however for precise timing you'll want to learn threading concepts.

MATLAB is another decent option for sure. I've done a good bit of DSP in there for ee222 and ee322 and the syntax isn't terrible at all.

I'm in the same boat as you on projects though. Using my light thingy for the EE capstone course.

[callouscade]

The user interface is half way there! I submitted my assignment yesterday which accomplishes making script files for each individual channel of the controller. After finals this week I will be making the code to make all the different channels into one proper script, then will work on turning it into a Windows application.

Anyone coming to OHB, there will be Synchrons in the night competition! Stick around to watch!

Thanks
Cade

[hpiblitz144]

any update?