XCVario XCStick User manual

XCStick User Manual
Manual edition 1.11
[email protected]
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Table of Content
1. Description..............................................................................................................................................................3
2. Features....................................................................................................................................................................4
3. Overvie .................................................................................................................................................................5
4. XCSoar Keys...........................................................................................................................................................6
5. LK8000 Keys...........................................................................................................................................................7
6. Installation...............................................................................................................................................................9
6.1. Electrical connections....................................................................................................................................10
7. SW Update.............................................................................................................................................................11
8. DC Po er..............................................................................................................................................................12
9. Technical specifications.........................................................................................................................................12
10. Maintenance........................................................................................................................................................13
11. Warranty Policy...................................................................................................................................................13
12. Permit..................................................................................................................................................................14
13. Limitation of Liability.........................................................................................................................................15
14. CE Declaration of Conformity............................................................................................................................16
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1. Description
The XCStick is an ergonomic Arduino SW based ith USB connection and emulates an USB keyboard.
It features a ired USB connection for a stable and latency free connection, has a lo po er consumption, and
mostly orks by plug and play ith optimized default key bindings. T o soft are loads, one for XCSoar and one
for LK8000 are available.
The system hich is manufactured in large numbers is not expensive, comes readily built up and tested, is an
excellent add-on for XCSoar, LK8000 or ith custom key bindings also for other navis that support USB
keyboards, and keeps being extensible by open source soft are and can easily adapted to other systems.
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2. Features
•Beech ood or Black Walnut ood remote stick
•1 meter dual t isted pairs PTFE 28 a g ire
•Silicone keypad ith silkscreen printed buttons
•Works ith XCSoar, LK8000 (4 custom programmable key bindings)
•Open Source Arduino programmable (https://github.com/iltis42/XCStick/)
•OTA upgradable
•USB 2.0 Type male Usb Jack ith scre Terminal Plug
•Almost no latency
•Fit's for almost any stick sizes
•19.3mm (DG, LAK, Schempp-Hirth)
•20mm (LS, Stemme, Apis, EB29)
•24mm (Schleicher, Pipistrel Taurus, Alisport Silent, EB28, JS3)
•25.4mm (JS1)
•Other diameters ask
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3. Overview
The follo ing overvie sho s the embedding of the XCStick in the cockpit environment.
The standard case is the connection ith XCTouchNav or similar gadget featuring an USB interface. Any of the
USB ports types 2.0 or 3.0 are possible. Recommended is to use one of a USB 2.0 e.g. as provided on rear side of
the XCTouchNav connector field.
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4. XCSoar Keys
The follo ing table sho s the keys that are sent. The JOY_.. keys are originated from the 5 joy-stick ay s itch
in the middle left.
The uppermost button opens the Quick Menu to access almost any function that is needed in flight. The red
triangle toggles bet een Alternates and Flarm-Radar screens, as long a GPS signal and Flarm signal is available.
The return key ill exit from the any menu that is entered. The Joystick zooms the map, s itches bet een the
configured screens and provides the enter key. The S2F s itch might be connected to the sticks S2F connector on
the PCB and ill then sent 'S' or 'V' to the navi.
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F1: Quick Menu
F6 ↦ F4: Alternates Flarm-Radar↦
ESC: Return, Cancel or Back
UP/DOWN: Zoom in/out
LEFT/RIGHT: S itch Screen
PRESS: ENTER
PTT

. LK8000 Keys
The follo ing table sho s the keys that are sent. The JOY_.. keys are originated from the 5 joy-stick ay s itch
in the middle left.
The uppermost button shifts the bottom info fields of LK8000. The red triangle toggles bet een Cruise, APT
(airport), COMN (task) and TRF (traffic) screens. The return key ill exit from the any menu that is entered. The
Joystick zooms the map (Up/Do n), circles through the different vie s (Left/Right) and provides the enter key.
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F1: Bottom Info Next
A: Cruise, APT, COMN, TRF screens
ESC: Return, Cancel or Back
UP/DOWN: Zoom in/out
LEFT/RIGHT: S itch Vie s
PRESS: ENTER
PTT

The settings for keyboard 'Device model', see also manual here: LK8000 keyboard setup, is to be set to
"XCREMOTE" instead of "KeyBoard 1" as sho n belo for the correct bindings to a remote stick.
As sho n in the button table on last page, all four key's (except PTT) support longpress, a press longer than 600
milliseconds, that can be mapped to a custom menu. The first entries in the table belo may be customized.
Button numbers are as indicated belo . The "Enter" function, means the press on the 5 ay joy-stick button is
assigned to button number 4.
As an example this setting sho s the LK8000 custom menu ith individual functions that can be reached per
longpress to the corresponding button above.
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3
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6. Installation
The XCStick can be installed instead of the previous grip onto the naked tube of the stick
in the cockpit. On the bottom there is an inbus scre to fasten to lock the XCStick to the
metal tube. The allen key to turn this scre is part of the delivery.
On Android devices, beside application specific setup, configure the physical keyboard to use the on-screen
keyboard as ell, other ise hen the stick is plugged, the stick is the only input device and you can't enter any
test in your application.
To do so on XCTouchNav go into Settings -> Languages & Input -> Physical Keyboard and check there "Use on-
screen keyboard", as sho n belo .
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6.1. Electrical connections
The electrical connections is to be done by the USB-A connector to any USB 2.0 or 3.0 interface. For
XCTouchNav models e recommend to use the serial ttyS3, ttyS7 or ttyS9 USB 2.0 sockets.
In order to be able to get the cable through small holes, in some models to lay the cable there is a 6 mm hole in the
tube to be passed, the cable comes ith an open end. This end can be fit after mounting ith the scre terminal
USB Type A as contained by default.
The shield S is not used. The other cables are to be connected to the pins as sho n belo .
Red goes to +, White to D-, Green to D+ and to Black -
It is also possible to solder an USB-A male connector from a cut USB cable ith the four colors matching to the
XCStick cable after laying the cable.
For other devices, Type B might be applicable, see the corresponding pinout in the Table belo .
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7. SW Update
The device is capable for soft are update Over The Air (OTA). The default installation is XCSoar, in case
LK8000 is ished, the soft are load is to be changed by soft are update.
To update the SW press the topmost (menu) button on the keypad ith the tree horizontal lines and connect the
stick to any USB-A port providing po er. Then, after po er is connected for at least 3 seconds, release
the button hen po er is already connected. The XCStick ill no enter the OTA soft are update
mode.
Then use your mobile, tablet or PC to connect to the WIFI net ork "XCStick20". There is no pass ord required.
Note there ill be no internet connection once you are connected ith the XCStick for update, in case of
corresponding arnings and pop-ups on your device just ignore.
When connected to the XCStick's WIFI, then launch e.g. google chrome eb bro ser and enter URL
http://10 10 10 1 to open the OTA SW update ebpage.
There you can select the ne soft are .bin ( here German language [Datei auswählen], engl. [File select] ) file,
you might got from github or your o n Arduino binary export, and press [Update], and after a couple of seconds
all is done. The soft are update is fine and you can po er cycle your XCStick ith the ne soft are hen the
update page looks like this:
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8. DC Power
The po er supply is 5V DC and comes via the USB connector.
9. Technical specifications
Operating System ESP32-S2 Arduino
Wireless Interfaces WiFi 2.4 GHz
USB Interface 1x USB 2.0 male plug
Po er consumption ~8 mA @ 5V DC equal 0.04 W
Dimensions 150x40x40 mm
Weight ~120g
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10. Maintenance
The device does not require any maintenance. The ooden surface is sealed by clear varnish. Storage shall not be
done in a humid environment. Ensure that relative humidity ill not exceed 100% in order to avoid condensation.
11. Warranty Policy
For the XCStick, the manufacturer provides a guarantee of t o years from the date of purchase ith regard to the
effort and material costs of the repair. Within this period, components that fail under normal operating conditions
ill be repaired or replaced free of charge, provided the device as sent to the manufacturer free of charge.
The arranty does not cover damage resulting from misuse, abuse, accidents, unauthorized modifications or
repairs, proven incorrect or faulty iring, over-voltage or fire.
According to the German Civil Code, the return can be made ithin 14 days of the date of purchase. In this case,
the device and its accessories must be returned by the buyer to the address from hich it as delivered. The buyer
bears the costs for this.
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12. Permit
For each instrument, if the equipment is part of the minimum equipment list or requires approval, it may only be
installed if the supplier or manufacturer provides a document on the proper check for compliance ith the
respective specification of the individual piece of equipment, area of EASA this is usually the EASA Form One.
For all other equipment, as ell as for standard parts, a corresponding examination and documentation of the
same is not required (e.g. device, final approach computer, flight data recording devices, navigation computer,
additional antennas, batteries, cameras, additional pressure probes, mosquito cleaning systems, etc.). This is
regulated in detail by EASA in AMC 21.A.303(c) 2, ith the follo ing ording:
----
AMC 21.A.303(c) Standard Parts
1. In this context a part is considered as a ‘standard part’ here it is designated as such by the design
approval holder responsible for the product, part or appliance, in hich the part is intended to be used. In
order to be considered a ‘standard part’, all design, manufacturing, inspection data and marking
requirements necessary to demonstrate conformity of that part should be in the public domain and
published or established as part of officially recognized Standards, or
2. For sailplanes and po ered sailplanes, here it is a non-required instrument and/or equipment certified
under the provision of CS 22.1301(b), if that instrument or equipment, hen installed, functioning,
functioning improperly or not functioning at all, does not in itself, or by its effect upon the sailplane and its
operation, constitute a safety hazard.
‘Required’ in the term ‘non-required’ as used above means required by the applicable certification specifications
(CS 22.1303, 22.1305 and 22.1307) or required by the relevant operating regulations and the applicable Rules of
the Air or as required by Air Traffic Management (e.g. a transponder in certain controlled airspace).
Examples of equipment hich can be considered as standard parts are, variometers, bank/slip indicators ball type,
total energy probes, final glide calculators, navigation computers, data logger / barograph / turnpoint camera,
bug- ipers and anti-collision systems. Equipment hich must be approved in accordance to the certification
specifications shall comply ith the applicable ETSO or equivalent and is not considered a standard part (e.g.
oxygen equipment). The XCStick is considered as a part of a navigation computer and therefore runs as non
required equipment. The aircraft can be operated even ithout a functioning remote control.
This means that no EASA Form One is required for the XCStick.
Note:
After installation, the equipment list of the aircraft must be adjusted. In case a relevant change in center of gravity
due to the additional mass of 0.1 kg is expected, a eighing must be carried out and the change has to be
approved.
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13. Limitation of Liability
With the purchase of the device, the customer agrees that no liability for any direct or indirect damage, claims for
damages or consequential damages of any kind and on any legal basis arising from the use of the device.
This device is a purely extention for cross-country flight tactical navis, it is not part of the required equipment for
gliders, and in case of a defect, controlling navigating the aircraft is still possible mechanically. The device
therefore does not require any FAA or EASA approval.
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14. CE Declaration of Conformity
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
XCVario, o ner Dipl. Ing (FH) Eckhard Völlm, Panoramastr. 86/1, D-71665 Vaihingen/Enz,
explains that in the normal configuration the device hard are meets the requirements of the CE.
The EMC compatibility corresponds to EN 301 489-3:2002-08 for a Class 3 SRD device (equipment type I).
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