Understanding 5V-3.3V logic level shifters

@inq Thanks for the soaring idea, I will add that to my to-do list. If you are not using WiFi for commands, what are you using?

@inq 

... I really don't want to deal with customers that won't read the instructions or are not smart enough to keep their tongue out of a light socket.  I'm old and crotchety that way.   

However I take the view if it needs a manual it is too complicated.

Do real men read instructions 🙂

How would I have guessed that getting the dish washer or the clothes washer to reset I had to hold the button down for a period of time. Why not a simple button with RESET written on it?

The amount of good functional design sacrificed for a trendy look is rife these days and that applies to most web pages.

Posted by: @zander

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@inq Thanks for the soaring idea, I will add that to my to-do list. If you are not using WiFi for commands, what are you using?

But to answer your question - This standard commodity unit sells for about $55.  Has 10 channels and has two-way communications with the plane's receiver and is programmable... to a degree.  Not really in our context of MPU programmable. 

The first four channels are typically used for ailerons, elevator, throttle and rudder.  The other six are totally configurable.  There are two analog dials, 3 two-way switches and 1 three-way switch that can be associated with a channel.  Any of the channels can be "mixed".  For instance like a V-Tail on the Beach Bonanza or elevons - surfaces that work as elevator and ailerons.  

Because of the possible range limitations, I'll consider the WiFi totally secondary.  That the transmitter will send stick and switch settings as normal that are sent on to the ESP8266 and tell it what to do.  Basically using the ESP8266 only as the brains to make servo adjustments based on settings and sensor readings.  I'll mainly layer WiFi to send back pretty pictures via the InqPortal browser ability and have phone/tablet/laptop showing a cockpit of dials and screens of tabular data, historical data for when I crash --- Black Box post mortem. 

In the first version, I'll start out simple... just making the plane stay nice and level.  But I'd set one of the switches to disable the MPU modifying the servos and make it only respond to the sticks.  Likewise as things get more advanced, I'd have a switch that records a series of strokes as I fly the plane in a pattern.  Then could play back the recording and the plane do same series.  Like many of the drones these days you can press a button and the drone will flip.

That's about it for my current thoughts.  Maybe you have some other creative ideas and by all means voice them.

@inq What is this?

This standard commodity unit sells for about $55.  Has 10 channels and has two-way communications with the plane's receiver and is programmable... to a degree

@zander, 

Ah... it went up here to $60 with 10ch receiver bundle.  The 10 ch transmitter w/ 6ch receiver is still $54.  All US.  With you preference of AliExpress... you'll probably can get it for cheaper.  If interested, make sure you're looking at the same thing.

Flysky

FS-i6X is the 10 channel transmitter.

FS-iA10B is the 10 channel receiver.

FS-iA6B is the 6 channel receiver.

I've never even used 6 channels so far, but some day... might have one that uses all the bells and whistles.  

"https://www.amazon.com/DTXMX-Transmitter-Receiver-Controller-Helicopter/dp/B0B3T2R65X/"

@inq 

More information at:

  https://dronebotworkshop.com/radio-control-arduino-car/

@inq I just checked your link, and that is $60 + $20 shipping, USD when converted is about $110. The same unit on amazon.ca is $167 CDN. Another amazon rip off.

@zander, It cost me $55 US... just because you live in Canada, don't complain about your problems with Amazon... buy from someone else.  You asked... I delivered what you asked.  Don't complain to me.  Just buy it from who you like.

Posted by: @will

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@inq 

More information at:

  https://dronebotworkshop.com/radio-control-arduino-car/

Thanks... I didn't even think to look for a video from Bill on RC transmitters.  

@inq I wasn't complaining, just adding info for those following. Sometimes it's actually cheaper to order from amazon US and pay for shipping than to order from amazon Canada.

I got in the 3.3V, 5V logic level boards using those in my prototype.  Thank you all for the help.  Now I'm on to another question about my project at: https://forum.dronebotworkshop.com/electronic-components/help-understanding-combining-serial-communications-over-one-wire/