I have been flying RC for about 7 years but without control of the left stick. I am a quadriplegic with NO use of its my left hand or arm and NO wrist or finger movement in my right hand. I have a modified stick for my ailerons and elevator and can move my right arm to control the plane in the air. With someone controlling the throttle beside me I can land and take off easily. The single stick transmitter with the rotating knob is not an option. Someone built me a pneumatic actuator that attaches to my transmitter and I move the throttle by sipping or blowing in the tube connected to the device. This works the throttle but I have no idea how much a sip or puff is advancing the gimbal unless I can hear the engine. That is not precise enough control. From all I can figure the only way to get fine throttle and rubber control is to remove the left pot and attach it to some type of headgear and have longer wires soldered to the transmitter. This gives me the ability to control the gimbal with my tongue. All of my planes are on older Futaba radios, but I would only want to modify one. I could use it as a buddy box for the other planes. Does this sound feasible and how difficult would it be?

Doug, I'm no expert when it comes to radio mod's. I just wanted to say how impressed I am with your determination. I am going up for my first flight soon, since my accident. It's been 3 years in the making. I did fly rc quite a bit in the late 70's so I hope it's still in my memory bank's.I'm an incomplete quad. I have about 60% use of my left hand and 30% with right. thumb & forefinger on both so I think I'll be able to manage. I'm all bad on my G-2 sim. But looking forward to the real thing. PS A special thx. to my instructor DAVE AGAR and to any who have helped, from newbies, to fliers with special need's get into the hobby we all enjoy so much. ??? DOUG I DO FEEL I NEED A TRANS. TRAY, IF YOU USE ONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT BRAND OR TYPE IT IS. Thx Buz^

I really wish you were closer to me bud. I could sure get you going on something like that. Most of us guys are pretty knowledgeable when it comes to improvising. You could mount the pot on a velcro adjustable strap, one that goes around the back of your head and another to go across the top. The leads coming off the pot could be extended and a male plug attached. A female plug could be fitted on the box to accept the male end coming off the head piece. In theory it would be very simple, in reality I'm sure the lengthing of the wires would disturb the function of the pot, however; most pots are rated to handle more than their given, perhaps the added resistance would not come into play. I know a few guys that would love to give this a shot or at least participate. What model of Futaba Radio and what channel is it on?

If we build it will you use it
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Perhaps together we can all get this made real soon. Feel free to email me directly, especially if your in Doug's area.

Doug my next step was to email you and let you know what the Heli pilots have started. I just noticed there is no Email button under your post, please email me [email protected] we need some info

Like I have always said, "RC'ers" are the greatest people on the Earth. Seeing his determination and what he has to overcome makes my disability look small!!!!!!!!! You go guys! :thumbup:

Greetings Doug! My roomate Nick(quad C4/5) and I have been going through the same thing as you over the last couple of years.
Building a lap-tray for the transmitter took some trial and error, as you know geometry is critical to be able to eliminate cross control. The springs for the right gimble had to be modified so they were three or four times as strong as stock, as he has to move his whole arm fore and aft, side to side for control. We were using a buddy box so I could take off and land for him. I had thought of the sip-n-puff idea but it was beyond me to figure how to make one work, also more $$ than he wanted to spend in case it didn't work. When I was unloading the plane(2 meter gas motorglider) the other day, I had the answer when I looked into the fusalage!! The tiny cable pushrod(goldenrod?) for the throttle control!! I made two little L brackets and glued one above the throttle stick on the front of the transmitter and one opposite(below) of it. It was a simple matter to take a 1/4"x1/2" piece of sheet metal and drill a hole in the middle and at each end, unscrew the knob on the throttle stick, slip sheetmetal piece on using middle hole and screw the knob back on. A small spring hooked to the lower L bracket and the hole in the sheetmetal piece works as a throttle return. A bolt on ball and socket goes in the upper hole on the throttle stick. The upper L bracket has a hole sized so only the cable can go throgh and not the sheath.
Then it's just finding the right cable length to reach your mouth.
The mouth control is a clothespin!! hooked up similarly to the other end. Nick bites down to punch the throttle!
Oh by the way, Nick soloed a couple days ago! The grin seems to be permanent!


Best regards, Dale

Dale,
I thought of a similar clothespin and cable system years ago but the club members said the cable would flex if it was not anchored along the way to the joystick, as if will between servo and rudder/ elevator. Anyway, after using the pneumatic device for a while I realized that I really need rudder for ground control on takeoff and landing. The pot in front him of my mouth would give me throttle and rudder control with my tongue. I may sound greedy, but I really want both.

Doug

Doug flys with Futaba FM radio equipment. We're going ahead with the idea by removing the left stick and installing it on a bracket. We are currently looking for a FP-T4NBF 4 channel TX. This is the unit that we will modify. Of course any other newer compatible box could be used to. Anybody ????

Hello again Doug..
Yes there is a small amount of flex in the cable, but it is minimized by removing the throttle detent in the transmitter and using a very light return spring. A little drop of (very light!) oil in the cable helped alot. This is with an O.S. 10 in a 2 meter glider with rud.,ele. and throt. with taildragger L.G. so high precision isn't required, although Nick has no problem finding the throttle position (1/4,1/2etc.) that he needs.
However, Nick is getting bored doing lazy loops, barrel rolls and spins. He wants to move up to a Kadet LT (or similar) with ailerons.
He's using the same Futaba trans. also. Can't wait to see the solution you come up with.

Dale

Do you have any control of either foot? A person might be able to rig up one surface control to be moved with a modified guitar pedal or something along those lines.

We now have everything we need to make a modified buddy box. Doug you will be dealing with that pesky adverse yaw shortly. Hammerheads are fun with full Rudder to
Thanks everyone

I am going to put up a little web page. Others can view our progress and maybe some can build along. I will also try and setup a messaging system, so you can help us out along the way. We have to wait for USPS to deliver all that's needed so, we've got some time

I just have to say, I think you guys are great!!!

Hey doug. Good seeing you on here. Have you got a chance to see matt or talked to him since he started flying last week. He seems to be getting a kick out of the T-37 right now. Hopefully he will get to fly the T-38 next. Did you make it to the CWS ? Anyways talk to ya later... Nick Brown

Doug, rcpilotsteve...

Any updates/news on the project?

Dale

We've got everything we need on order. We managed to buy a Futaba buddy box here on RCU, mail system seems to be a little slow this time but, I'm expecting it real soon.
When it arrives I'd say within a week it will be on its way to Doug. Just have to get some ideas from Doug to finalize the mounting. How he wants to wear it, what would be most comfortable. Any input???

I imagine Doug is thinking of something like this to attach the joystick to.(clearview type?)
www.orthobionics.com/rehab1/pointers/64.htm
This is the first one that came up in a search, I'm sure there are other alternatives possibly less expensive.
It depends how much Doug wants to spend and how ridiculous he's willing to look. (j/k Doug!)
rcpilotsteve(may I call you Steve?), Are you going to install the gimbal in a Radio Shack project box or similar, and what do you think it might weigh? I'll have to see if I can find one of these headpointers locally to get a look at before I get any ideas.

Take care, Dale

Hi Dale,
I'm going to get the website up real soon and post some pics. The Radio arrived today
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I'm going to use the insides of a Welding mask/safety mask ect, with the adjustable padded head band. I'll post the URL by the weekend

"I'm going to use the insides of a Welding mask/safety mask ect, with the adjustable padded head band."
Sounds good Steve, can't wait to see some pics.

If your interested in seeing the modified TX for Doug here's a link. Email any suggestions or tips to me at [email protected]
www.members.tripod.com/scratchbuilt

I just updated the site with a pic of me wearing the Rig. Tomorrow I'm going to fly with it.
www.members.tripod.com/scratchbuilt

Looks great Steve! Whats the A.U.W. and how much of it is hanging off the front? Are you easily getting full stick deflection in both axis? Man I hope the flights go well.

Dale

I'm on the way to the field.
The unit is very comfortable you can only see a slight bit of black when you look to the side at the adjuster.
The actual unit weight is 17oz when I support the center of the unit and let the box lay on the scale it is measuring 7oz. I used seamless thin walled aluminium to hold the box. Very easy to achieve full deflection but, I did have to loosen the Rudder off quite a bit. I'll let you know how it goes
Actually I built it so I light that I made two supports. He will have an extra one just in case

A very successful flight with the Modified Buddy Box. It will take a bit of getting used to but what a riot. Doug I wish your needs were different but this Rig works well.