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Building your own simulation flight deck (a.k.a. 'cockpit' 'simpit' or just 'pit') is one way to extend the realism of flying Orbiter. Such cockpits have already been built for both personal and educational use. There are several levels of complexity that can be achieved through adding additional controls.
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Building your own simulation cockpit (a.k.a. 'simpit' or just 'pit') is one way to extend the realism of flying Orbiter. Such cockpits have already been built for both personal and educational use. There are several levels of complexity that can be achieved through adding additional controls.
 
* [[Programming game controllers]] - using multiple joysticks and joystick buttons
 
* [[Programming game controllers]] - using multiple joysticks and joystick buttons
 
* [[Generating key presses]] through switches
 
* [[Generating key presses]] through switches
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* Building Display and Control Panels (DCP)
 
* Building Display and Control Panels (DCP)
  
These pages are dedicated to the challenges specific to spacecraft and Orbiter, but also contain links and information of a more general nature that can be used for Orbiter flight decks - including links to those lucky few who have built one. Please note that mention of hardware and software devices does not represent an endorsement of those devices.
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These page are dedicated to the challenges specific to spacecraft and Orbiter, but also contain links and information of a more general nature that can be used for Orbiter pits - including links to those lucky few who have built one. Please note that mention of hardware and software devices does not represent an endorsement of those devices.
  
 
==What makes Orbiter different?==
 
==What makes Orbiter different?==
A couple of things make Orbiter different from other flight simulators that people normally build flight decks for. The biggest is ''focus''. In aircraft flight simulators, you normally fly a single aircraft through the entire scenario. In Orbiter, you can 'focus' your flight between different vehicles, MMUs, and space stations, and you should take this into account. Another difference, alluded to previously, is the large variation in the types of vessels you may wish to control. Engines? Your vessel may not have any; or it may have multiple sets of engines. Landing gear? Maybe not.
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A couple of things make Orbiter different from other flight simulators that people normally build pits for. The biggest is ''focus''. In aircraft flight simulators, you normally fly a single aircraft through the entire scenario. In Orbiter, you can 'focus' your flight between different vehicles, MMUs, and space stations, and you should take this into account. Another difference, alluded to previously, is the large variation in the types of vessels you may wish to control. Engines? Your vessel may not have any; or it may have multiple sets of engines. Landing gear? Maybe not.
  
 
Another difference is autopilots. Aircraft autopilots and their Mode Control Panel (MCP) center around holding course and speed, following routes, etc. In orbiter, trajectories are king. One controlled engine burn, and coast the way to your destination. Then do it again. If you have a vessel controllable in reentry, maintaining an energy profile is the target, and creating switches, knobs, and displays to do that would be significantly different from that of a typical aircraft MCP.
 
Another difference is autopilots. Aircraft autopilots and their Mode Control Panel (MCP) center around holding course and speed, following routes, etc. In orbiter, trajectories are king. One controlled engine burn, and coast the way to your destination. Then do it again. If you have a vessel controllable in reentry, maintaining an energy profile is the target, and creating switches, knobs, and displays to do that would be significantly different from that of a typical aircraft MCP.
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* [[Constructing Panels]]
 
* [[Constructing Panels]]
 
* [[Interfacing to Orbiter]]
 
* [[Interfacing to Orbiter]]
* [[Cockpit Visuals]]
 
  
==Links to Orbiter Flight Decks==
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==Links to Orbiter simpits==
 
*[http://www.putfile.com/ednix/images/62268 ednixon]
 
*[http://www.putfile.com/ednix/images/62268 ednixon]
 
*[http://www.angelfire.com/planet/orbitsim/Home.html Firebird]
 
*[http://www.angelfire.com/planet/orbitsim/Home.html Firebird]
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*[http://www.nassac.faithweb.com/photo.html NASSAC]
 
*[http://www.toddwess.com/shuttle Atlantis Cockpit]
 
*[http://www.toddwess.com/shuttle Atlantis Cockpit]
  
 
==General Flight Sim references==
 
==General Flight Sim references==
[http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=ab092124dbe2567c5d3f50222d5e646f&f=146 Cockpit tutorials from mycockpit.org] - Primarily aviation-based, but ''lots'' of good information.
 
 
===Airliner References===
 
For non-historical spacecraft, modern commercial airliners can provide real-world design ideas for controls of highly computerized vehicles. This can also help where the panels of an Orbiter addon vessel can't be replicated using actual hardware.
 
 
[http://meriweather.com/flightdeck.html Interactive panels from modern airliners]
 
 
[http://www.projectb737ng.com/boeing_757_overhead_dimensions.htm Boeing 757 info]
 
 
[http://www.insitesolutions.com.au/737project/design_enclosure.htm B737 cockpit enclosure]
 
 
[http://www.airliners.net Airliners.net] - Photos
 
 
[http://www.insitesolutions.com.au/737project/design_enclosure.htm G5 glass cockpit]
 
 
[[Category: Articles]]
 
[[Category: Simulator construction]]
 

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