Designing a new high end radio

[Poriay]

Hi my name is Brian, I am an Industrial Design student whoose current project is to design a high end radio for rc airplanes. The company I have chosen is Airtronics. What I am looking to do is design a radio that can compete against the Futaba 14mz and the JR10x, and retail for around $1000 or less. What I amtrying to do is get Airtronics back into the market. What I am hoping for is any suggestions reagrding the current shortcomings of radios and possible fixes for these, this can be in the ergonomics functionality, modularity, and interface interaction. Any suggestions that you feel that would make the ultimate radio for the enthusiast. Of particular interest is what are the reasons that make an enthuisiasts choose one radio vs. another . Any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks,

Brian

[ShortBus]

2.4 Ghz

[3dubya]

Must be updateable very easily over internet, you can't expect to cover all fuction bases first up. Don't mind buying a new radio hardware every 5-10 years but digital functions should not be old hat within a year of release if rival finds a better way.

Have the MZ flight sticks as switches options and add logic parameters on all switch options inc sticks, awesome thing to make IMAC easy.

[Matchless]

I would'nt buy an Airtronics because no one sells them or accessories (servos, rcvrs) for them locally(I'm talking original OEM stuff, not Hitec, etc). So don't forget distribution and service of the product. I know its not a 'design' feature of the tranny itself, but at the end of the day distribution and service of a product is often more important than the 'features' of the product itself.

[50%plane]

Thanks for coming to FG to ask this question, Brian! I agree with SB here, 2.4Ghz is the way to go. I would love to see a radio that's as easy to program as my 9C and the 9303. JR has a 16 channel radio in the works, so to top that, you'll probably have to go with 17 or more channels.(I don't see the need though) The color screen on the 14MX adds plenty of luxury to it. One thing that I would like to see on my 9C is the ability to program different amounts of expo into different aspects of the throw. I would like to be able to assign the switches according to the function that I want.(like on my 9C) Also a nice big screen is always nice. Also, Airtronics should get away from the plastic look. The metalic look is nicer, IMO.

I generally fly Futaba because that's what I've always flown. Futaba has always been good to me and if I need customer service, I don't get the "You're the first person to have this problem" line. Futaba's servo designation's are easy to understand.(as are Hitec and JR's) Airtronics should really work on that.

I hope this was helpful to you!
50%

[Breakstuff5050]

Mechanical throttle trim like the 10X is a must! Easy programing like the 9303 or 10X. Also, it would be nice to beable to check my e-mail, watch and record HD video at the field, but that might be over doing it just a little . It's pretty cool you doing this, good luck, I can't imagine the work it'll take.

[TheTank]

-assignable switches/dials are a must
-built in mixes for frequently used funtions-flaperons, multiple elevator servos, perhaps some other pre-programmed mixes... just need to put in the mix % values
-Synthesized Module
-10 Channels with 10+ Channel RX (unless you are targeting warbirds and scale competitors, I dont even see a need for 10 channels... unless you have the ability to gang all the servos togethor, so that if you have 4 elevator servos, each one is plugged into its own seperate channel and the ability to assign those channels to that function are there.
-3+ Flightmodes - I dont use them but alot of guys prefer them
-compatibility with high band/low band RXs
-manual throttle trim, digital trims for everything else with progamability when it comes to step-size increments on trim (large steps vs. small steps).

[shannah]

copy the 14mz. Make sure you include a PC interface via usb.

[XJet]

It would be kinda nice if it were fully synthesized (or SS) and if the receiver automatically identified itself to the transmitter so that it could verify the correct model memory was selected.

The ability to dump/edit model memories on a PC would also be great, as well as having a built-in Hitec servo programmer (one less thing to forget to throw in the box).

A proper flight-log capability would also be great: time, date, duration and model-name/num stored for each flight. This could then be downloaded onto a PC so we could see just how many hours that engine/servos/whatever has *really* done.

Let's not forget a frame-error counter in the receiver to tell us exactly how many times we were hit during each flight -- even if those hits were too small to actually notice from the ground -- they could be the start of a condition that may become progressively worse (such as a frayed ignition ground wire etc).


I have lots more -- but isn't this kind of information worth money? :-)

[Reza]

Brian,

I used to fly Stylus for quite sometime and know Bobby and most of the staff at Airtronics. Stylus is a great radio and easy to use but first thing needs to be done is those advanced feature cards and memory card become built in. Increase the channel to 10 from 8 at least. Digital trims on everything but throttle. I know it is digital inside but it needs to be digital on trim lever as well. I have been using 10X for sometime and I can tell you that these two radios are very similar in functionality. Stylus has advantages in some cases such as complete switch assignability. PM me if you needed further help. What school are you at? Caltech, USC,..?

Reza

[Diablo2006]

Use spread spektrum technology. Its surely the future, undoubtably. Easy interface. Large/expandalbe model memory. Obviously, balanced at the neckstrap point at full aerial extension if not slightly towards the pilot.

[Lowkey3D]

Lets add ergonomics to the list, Make it thin and light so its easy to hold and allow access to switch easy.. Maybe add a second strap point so that its supported from the neck and
the belt area..