Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler

[Tommy R]

Originally Posted by jerry56

Not yet ... kind of intimidating ....really want to see how this works out

Yeah, very intimidating for sure. I've done all the soldering now, but getting hung up on the software aspect of it. Hoping to get it resolved soon....

[Wombii]

It's a great soundkit. Using it in my firetruck. I'm using my own hardware and heavily modified an older version of the firmware though. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

This truck is so beautiful!

[Tommy R]

Originally Posted by Wombii

It's a great soundkit. Using it in my firetruck. I'm using my own hardware and heavily modified an older version of the firmware though. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

This truck is so beautiful!

Thank you very much! I'm really looking forward to getting the ESP32 unit working. Right now I'm researching SBUS/radio stuff. I use a Sanwa MT4-S radio setup and hoping I can make it work well enough. It's only 4 channels, though, so I'm prepared to get a Flysky Noble if I decide I want more channels.

FYI, I just ordered a Lesu locking front axle so coupled with the transmission shifter all 4 channels are used up, but maybe I can use the dual rate or something to operate lights and such? That's the kind of thing I need to determine.

[Wombii]

In theory it should be possible to add some code for that. I have used an arduino to control multiple things from a single channel in the past. But it won't be quick or easy and might not be user-friendly in use. I don't know if I can gather enough energy to dive into the soundkit code for a challenge like that right now, but I might take a look.
Having more channels for light controls is definitely easier.

[Tommy R]

Oh, I wouldn't ask you to do that! I'm thinking of getting a Flysky Noble transmitter and I believe it can support 8 channels. I just want to make sure that it will be compatible with the ESP32 MFCU.

[Tommy R]

Hey Wombii (or anyone else in the know), I've got a basic and likely very stupid question to ask.

If I use the SBUS feature from a receiver, does that mean I can control many more channels than my standard transmitter/receiver would normally control? As I understand, PWM would mean I can only control 4 channels with a 4 channel rx/tx, but if I have an SBUS output on my receiver I can control more. Is that accurate?

Similarly, is IBUS similar to SBUS in that regard? Basically, I'm trying to determine if my 4 channel Sanwa setup can control all the features that Martin's ESP32 system is capable of controlling. It would seem I'd need a receiver with an SBUS output, however, which does not seem to exist with Sanwa. So now I'm looking into the Flysky Noble NB4, which I believe offers IBUS, but not SBUS that I can see.

I definitely want to keep a steering wheel controller for my truck, but want to have full functionality like Martin does in his youtube videos. Any thoughts?

Many thanks!
Tommy

[Wombii]

I really wanted a wheel controller for my truck too, but I ended up learning to "drive stick" because I needed 16 channels.

The transmitter is what determines how many channels are transmitted through the air. The receiver is what determines how many channels are put out through wired connections to servos and other things. With the old standard PWM servo outputs that usually limits the channels, because there is only so much room on the receiver for connectors. With bus protocols like SBUS or iBUS the receiver only needs one physical connection to output multiple channels. You still need a transmitter with 8 channels and an 8 channel receiver that supports SBUS if you want to output 8 SBUS channels over one connection. Often you'll find SBUS receivers with 3 standard servo connectors + an SBUS connector for the whole set of 8 or 16 channels.

The ESP32 soundkit supports a max of 6 separate PWM connections, but more for a bus connection. Plugging in a single bus connection is easier both for the hardware and software parts.
It looks like the standard setup for for the soundkit used 8 channels, but most functions are available with 6 PWM channels. The standard setup is using:

• 2 normal channels for steering and throttle,

• 3 channels with 3 positions (up-neutral-down) for gear, indicators, headlights and engine on/off,

• and a normal channel /potentiometer for horn/bluelight/siren. It seems this one has 4 positions: horn-nothing-bluelight-siren. Skipping separate bluelight/siren controls you should be able to do that one with a 3 pos switch instead, or 2 pos for only horn.

2 of the 3 position channels requires dual rates.
You could probably cut one of the 3 pos channels by enabling auto indicators when turning. If you want to skip light controls entirely and only use engine sound, you might be able to get away with 3 channels (steering, throttle and gear).

I have only barely looked at the Flysky Noble. If it can output 8 channels over iBUS it seems like a good choice. Check that the channels are assigned to switches that makes sense with the info above, and that they have adjustable endpoints.

diyguy also has an open source arduino based pistol grip/wheel controller project that works directly with the soundkit, if you're feeling brave.

Please keep in mind that the above info is strictly theoretical from the documentation and code, and that I haven't tested it. I branched off at version 4, and had to make my own code to read SBUS, simulate an automatic transmission with a separate reverse switch and control sounds directly. I don't use the light features and I don't use any of the standard channel inputs.

[Tommy R]

Thanks so much for all the info! I just found out that the Flysky i6X (10 channel) is only $60US so I think I'm just going to get one for now. Once I'm more familiar with the ESP32 MFU I'll consider looking into getting a wheel controller to work with it.

It looks like this receiver is compatible with the i6X and it appears to have SBUS. It's 8 channel, but I think it may be all I need. Think it's a good choice?

[Wombii]

As far as I can tell, the soundkit now has the power to take iBUS/SBUS in, decode and output servo signal for steering servo and 5th wheel, so that should work fine. I would guess you can use the 5th wheel servo output for diff locker instead.

[Tommy R]

Well, I hate to admit it, but I ordered a stick radio yesterday (Flysky i6X) with a 10 channel receiver. I also ordered the 8 channel rx pictured in my earlier post. My hope is that I will get the ESP32 MFCU working and gain familiarity with it, then when I'm more confident I can look into adapting to a 8-10 channel pistol grip. Not sure if that'll be possible, but I hope it will be.

[jerry56]

You may already know but this one has the 10 ch and IBUS
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D35C6MQ...v_ov_lig_dp_it
And just FYI the with a firmware update the $50 6ch i6 becomes a 10 ch, I've done all three of mine and it seems to work pretty well...

[Tommy R]

Thanks! It looks like mine is coming with the 10 channel version of that receiver:


Ultimately, I'd love to be able to operate the truck with a Flysky Noble 8 channel tx, but I'm not yet sure it'll give me the functionality I'm looking for.

[Tommy R]

Well, in an effort to make it easier to integrate the DIYGuy999 light/sound controller, I decided to pick up this Flysky i6X. I also picked up an additional receiver and between the two of them I hope to have a solution to be able to fully control the MFCU to its full extent. In time I hope to be able to migrate to a pistol grip transmitter of some sort.


So I've been having issues with the Lesu transmission. I believe I've mentioned how I've burned through a micro shifting servo and the replacement servo tends to run hot. It hasn't failed, but I think it's only a matter of time. The reason? Well, the springs are pretty strong so when you're in low or high gear there's a lot of stress on the servo to hold that gear. In middle gear there's no strain because the springs aren't at play.

After a lot of thoughts on how to deal with this I decided to tear it apart to move the shift linkage toward the front. Moving it from the rear to the front means I'll have room to use a full size servo to shift. It'll still be under load, but a full size servo should be able to withstand the load much more easily. So here's some pics of the Lesu 3 speed 4WD transmission cracked open.










So here's the shift linkage now at the front.


Now to get this full size servo set up to shift it. Hope this works like it should! I may instead mount a low profile servo with the servo horn up top. I'll experiment with a few options tomorrow.

[groom3]

how did you get the sift linkage to the front?

[Tommy R]

The trans came with a second shaft for front shifting. When I had it disassembled I swapped them out.

[groom3]

Wondering if you reversed the longer shaft or put it in the same way? I am trying to change mine but having difficulty.

[frizzen]

So with the FS-I6X, i'm assuming you still have a menu for setting 'End Point Adjustments' like the fs-i6?
If so, you can back off the servo throws to a lower percent of travel to keep from having the servo fighting at full power to reach beyond the mechnical stops on the trans.

If it really is the servo fighting too strong of springs, you might also be able to move a locking collar or trim a turn off the coil to reduce preload toward 2nd gear.

[Tommy R]

I'm currently using a Sanwa MT4-S, but yes, it has all the endpoints adjusted properly. But the spring tension is significantly stronger than those in the Tamiya trans. I hoped to remove the springs, but they're necessary for the trans to function. Before I cut or replace the springs I decided to move the linkage so I can use a full size servo. If necessary, I'll look into softer and/or shorter springs. I also looked into just using the Tamiya trans with a front output. That would work out great except for the fact that the output is 1" higher than the front axle's pinion and it's only 1" forward.....so that yields a super steep driveshaft angle.

[Tommy R]

I now have a full size servo controlling the shifter. It's so much stronger than the micro servo I tried and doesn't heat up at all. I think that issue may now be resolved.


I also put this stuff in one rear axle to try out. It looks like it'll work better than the 2.5M weight oil I was using and shouldn't leak out. Now to do the other rear axle. No need to do the front axle, though. I have something different planned for it!


I'm also starting to make some progress with the ESP32 MFCU. I have the steering worked out, but that's all. I still have quite a bit of configuring left to do. Having to also learn a new transmitter just adds to the complexity!

[egronvold]

Looking at the ESP32 myself, just a million other projects to finish first...