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Windows CE R/C Transmitter

Posted by michael on from the where's-the-autopilot? dept.

Si24601 writes "Futaba has released details of a new radio transmitter, the 14MZ, that incorporates a 640x240 colour touch screen, runs Window CE and uses a Compact Flash card. As someone in the midst of building a semi-autonomous model yacht, this screams to be used for telemetry feedback. Fly RC Magazine has a review of the 14MZ."

6 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Windows-based? by geomon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why do I need a GUI on a device that requires that I dedicate my full attention to something *else*.

    If I am watching the screen, my aircraft is headed for the lake.

    Not everything electronic in the world needs a display.

    --
    "Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
    1. Re:Windows-based? by Locutus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That would be fine and good but the article said that all INPUT is handled by WinCE and the 2nd processor handles the radio bits. Because of this, WinCE is not used for just fine tuning the controls but for all of the pilot input.

      We've all heard the old saying, "garbage in, garbage out" but we also know that with Windows, input can be valid and you still get garbage out. This would wreck a very expensive airplane.

      I'll pass. IMO, that kind of GUI belongs on the PC with data downloaded from the xmitter for manipulation on the PC. Like it was mentioned before, an R/C airplane pilot needs to be looking up, not down. When looking down too much, bad things either already happened or are going to happen.

      LoB

      --
      "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
  2. Hunh? by Sheepdot · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As someone in the midst of building a semi-autonomous model yacht, this screams to be used for telemetry feedback.

    As someone who has read that sentence six times and still has no idea what it is you're exactly trying to do, I wish you the best of luck with the Windows CE installation.

  3. Crashing... by Erioll · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now you won't only be crashing because of wind, visibility, or crashing into another plane (didn't happen to me personally, but happened at the club I belong to, and I was there), but now your RADIO can crash too!!

    I can't see this as a good thing. I'll stick with my older Futaba radio. It does what I need, and has never shown me a blue screen of death.

    Erioll
    Flying Model Airplanes for 9 years

    1. Re:Crashing... by geomon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'll stick with my older Futaba radio. It does what I need, and has never shown me a blue screen of death.

      And your batteries will probably last 3X longer as well because you aren't driving a GUI with all the WinCE overhead.

      --
      "Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
  4. Airtronics RD8000 by uid100 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I fly with an RD8000 http://www.airtronics.net/RD8000.htm/ which can be bought for less than $300 including a _complete_ flight pack.

    My RD8000 can do just about any imaginable mix for aircraft and helicopter use you can think of. If you really need a step up from there the Airtronics Stylus, JR 10X, Futaba 9Z are great, then there is the Multiplex truly high end.

    I see the 14MZ as a flashy, marketing exersize so Futaba can claim to be an industry leader again. Most people flying R/C recognize Futaba as a good sport radio but JR is what all the top national pilots fly (unless they are sponsored). I would argue that there are features that even Hitec and Airtronics offer above Futaba, features that Futaba still does not incorporate.

    Such as, you say: My Airtronics can transmit to _any_ brand 72mhz receiver, positive or negative shift, PCM or PPM. Hitec has an option to _easily_ change the frequency you are going to transmit on.

    Bottom line, there is a lot more to radios than a fancy color screen. If you want that, add a USB uplink to your radio and have it programmable via a PC, liek the high end JR equipment.

    WinCE interface is a gimick - IMO

    --
    ...yup...