MyGlassCockpit V1.4 12 Apr 2003 Test Release This release is for testing purposes only and should not be used for flight except as a backup system. After installing, execute the GlassCock.exe file. One of the custom controls is an evaluation version, so click the OK button when the evaluation notification pops up. Powerup ------- After the splash screen, the various interfaces and systems will be initialized. The system will attempt to communicate with a GPS and/or a Rocky Mountain MicroEncoder (RMI). First it will look for a GPS. If found, you will be able to see the Longitude and Latitude indicated by the GPS. The display will continue for 30 cycles of valid data before continuing its self-test. Second, it will look for an RMI. If found, you will be able to see the various outputs from the RMI. The display will continue for 30 cycles of valid data before continuing its self-test. If either GPS or RMI is detected, the system will start up in "Real Mode" (see below), and then the moving map will be displayed. If you are sure you want to use Simulator mode (see below), just disconnect everything from your 2 serial comm ports. If nothing is detected on either comm port, the system will immediately pop up a screen allowing you to specify "Simulator" mode or "Go without GPS/RMI", in which case the system will continue to look for either of those 2 devices every 10 seconds, just in case they come online. Real Mode --------- In Real Mode, the proper map for your present location (as specified by GPS) will be selected, and the system will assume you want to go flying. Simulator Mode -------------- The simulator mode places you at TKI (McKinney airport, Texas), so the map will be centered there. See the keypad instructions below and select "Simulator" to begin the simulation. When you start it, the "airplane" will begin accelerating to cruise speed. As it does so, it will begin to climb. You can "fly" the airplane by using the autopilot to set altitudes and headings. Controlling the Glass Cockpit ----------------------------- THe system was designed initially to use a 10-key pad for all inputs, eliminating the need for a full-size keyboard in the cockpit. Later it was modified to allow use of a touch-screen stylus or a mouse. Keypad Instructions ------------------- They keypad is used both for its up-down arrows, as well as its numeric keys. To activate the keypad, press the slash (/) key, and a menu will pop up on the main screen. You can scroll up and down in the menu with the up-arrow (8) and down-arrow (2) keys. To launch a menu option after you have selected it, press the Enter key on the keypad. Touch-screen or Mouse instructions ---------------------------------- If you want to activate the menu, look for the "Menu" button at the top right of the screen and click on it with your mouse or the stylus. After the menu pops up, you can double-click on any menu option and launch the command box for that menu. The Menu -------- Altitude Heading Waypoint Runways Tolerance Configuration Shutdown Simulator RMI Test Altitude -------- After you launch the Altitude Hold window, you can 1. Hold the current altitude by pressing Enter without entering anything else, OR 2. Climb or descend to any altitude by entering the number, then pressing Enter. Heading ------- After you launch the Heading Hold window, you can 1. Hold the current heading by pressing Enter without entering anything else, OR 2. Turn to any heading by "dialing in" the number (see below), then pressing Enter. Waypoint -------- After you launch the Waypoint window, you can enter a waypoint by "dialing in" the airport identifier and pressing Enter. The airport ID you entered will be searched in the database, and if found, it will be displayed in the top right corner of the moving map, along with details such as bearing, distance, name, etc. If Heading Hold is enabled (see above), a bug will appear on the HSI, and the airplane will fly toward the new waypoint. Runways ------- After you have selected a Waypoint, you can launch the Runways option and it will display runway headings and lengths next to the airfield selected. The display lasts a few seconds and then vanishes. Tolerance --------- The autopilot has both a "Soft" and a "Hard" mode. In Soft mode, the autopilot will make shallow 15 degree turns and gentle climbs (at cruise climb speed). Altitude will be held to within 100 ft and heading to within a wider tolerance, to avoid any harsh maneuvering. In Hard mode, the autopilot will make steeper turns and will climb at Maximum Rate of Climb. Altitude will be held to within 10 ft and heading to within a very narrow tolerance, which may result in more drastic maneuvering. The exact tolerances can be overridden in the Configuration window (see below). Configuration ------------- Parameters such as Soft and Hard mode tolerances, Maximum Rate of Climb, Stall speed, and other air- craft-dependent parameters can be set in the Configuration screen. These will normally not be changed during the flight, but will be set on the ground and may only require rare changes afterward. All changes to the configuration settings are saved to disk and will be re-loaded when you restart the program. Some of the configuration settings take effect immediately, but others, especially the ones dealing with the GPS and RMI communications, require you to stop the Glass Cockpit and re-launch it. You should not normally need to power off the computer to effect these settings, but in some obstinate cases, you could try it, if you are having difficulty acquiring the GPS or RMI. If you do not have a GPS connected, specify a port number of 0 (zero), or the system will be bogged down trying to look for it every 10 seconds. Similarly, if you do not have an RMI Microencoder connected, specify a port number of 0 (zero) for that device. Most of the rest of the settings are fairly self- explanatory. Make sure to click "OK" to save the settings. Shutdown -------- This shuts down the entire glass cockpit. After it has been shut down, it has to be re-launched by double-clicking the GlassCock.exe icon if it should be started again. Simulator --------- You can start the simulator by launching this menu option. RMI Test ------------- This will allow you to see all of the data being provided by your RMI Microencoder. This can be useful if you do not understand the variations between TRUE Airspeed and INDICATED Airspeed, for instance, or if you feel you are not getting correct data from the MicroEncoder. If you see complete gibberish in the bottom part of the display, and the airspeed and altimeter data is corrupted, you may need to change your baud rate settings, for instance. Dialing In Numbers and Waypoints -------------------------------- Imagine the dial-in window as having 3 separate digits or characters, similar to the way many NAV radios used to work. You dial in the first digit by using the Up-arrow (or 8 key) or the Down-arrow (or 2 key). Then you move to the second digit by pressing the Right-arrow (or 6 key), and continue the process. You can move left with the Left-arrow to make changes if you need to. When finished, press the Enter key. Minimizing the Instruments -------------------------- You can click on either the Artificial Horizon (AH) or the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI), and they will be minimized to the bottom of the screen. Simultaneously, both the Airspeed and the Altimeter tapes will be removed, and the Digital Airspeed Indicator and the Digital Altimeter will be moved up to the left and right sides of the compass, respectively. At the same time, the map will be re-centered on the middle of the screen, giving you a better view of the landscape around your aircraft in the North and South directions. Some people may want to fly this way all the time, while others will want the tape displays and the AH/HSI instruments all the time. To bring back the original screen display, just click on either the minimized AH or HSI. Maps ---- Download maps from AeroPlanner.com (http://www.aerochart.com/mapping/spot/chunky.cfm) I recommend the 800 pixel size. Use JPG format for the graphic, and OziExplorer for the georeference file and click the Update option on their web site before downloading. After downloading, place the .JPG file and the .OZI file into the same directory where you have installed MyGlassCockpit, with the following naming convention: W970N331.jpg means the map is centered on West 97 degrees, 0 minutes, North 33 degrees, 10 minutes. W963N343.jpg means the map is centered on West 96 degrees, 30 minutes, North 34 degrees, 30 minutes. GPS Failure In-flight --------------------- Failure of the GPS in-flight will result in an error display popping up in the center left of the screen. "GPS FAIL" (No data is being received from the GPS) "GPS NO DATA" (No valid data is being received from the GPS - may indicate a baud rate problem) The map will no longer be updated, and you should no longer trust the autopilot to recognize when you have reached a waypoint. RMI Failure In-Flight --------------------- Failure of the RMI in-flight will result in an error display popping up in the center left of the screen. Error messages may be: "RMI FAIL" (No valid data is being received from the RMI), "RMI ASI FAIL" (The Airspeed data from the RMI contains errors or is blank) "RMI MIN SPD" (The Airspeed data from the RMI is at or below the minimum airspeed handled by the RMI) "RMI HDG FAIL" (The Heading data from the RMI contains errors or is blank) "RMI ALT FAIL" (The Altitude data from the RMI contains errors or is blank) In case of airspeed data failure, the system will automatically switch over to GPS Ground Speed data, and the Digital Airspeed Indicator will show "GS" in front of the speed value. Be aware that Ground Speed will NOT help you prevent a stall! In case of Heading data failure, the system will automatically switch over to use GPS Ground Track instead. In that case, the indicator just below the compass will read "TRU" instead of "MAG", letting you know that the heading display is a TRUE heading, and not a magnetic heading. First-Time Connection of GPS and RMI ------------------------------------ Here are some hints that may help you getting your GPS and MicroEncoder hooked up right the first time. Check your manual to find out what baud rate your device communicates at. If you have a choice, pick 9600 baud, NO parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. Some older RMI MicroEncoders can only go up to 2400, and the baud rates above that are non-standard. DO not use a non-standard baud rate (1200,2400,or 9600). You can use HyperTerminal to look at the comm port to see if your device is transmitting properly. You will find it under Programs - Accessories - Communications. Make sure to specify a direct COM port connection. If the device is hooked up, you should see data almost immediately. The RMI does transmit some non-printable characters, but you should be able to see numbers that look like altitudes sprinkled in the data. Complete gibberish usually means the baud rate is set wrong. The DB-9 comm port connectors should have pin 2 wired to data and 9 to ground. Go into Settings - Control Panel - Modems, and remove all modems. Go into Settings - Control Panel - System - Device Manager - Serial Ports, and make sure the comm ports you are using have the numbering you are expecting. Don't worry about setting the baud rates in the Control Panel, because we override them in the Glass Cockpit software. Troubleshooting --------------- A box at the top left, just under the Autopilot status display may say "NO GPS" or "NO RMI". These are merely indications that you have set the Port Number to zero for either of those devices. Keypad not responding - If you have used the keypad to enter some information such as altitude or a waypoint, and it is no longer responding, click in the small text input box directly below the Servo box on the left upper part of the screen. Then touch the Slash key (/) on the keypad, and it should work again. If most all else fails, use the Shutdown command (see menu above). If absolutely all else fails, re-boot.