User talk:Sdevine
Hello FG developers and users!
I created this page to try and reach out and let it be known that I would like to contribute to FG. I am a professional 3d modeler, and I am also a pilot. I would like to help with the development of aircraft, cockpit and avionics, and perhaps with procedures if needed. I am attracted to FG and to contributing because of the frustration of not being able to simulate things that I need as a pilot- specific aircraft, specific avionics and how they work, etc. As a 3d modeler, I would enjoy making some aircraft. I have built a model of a Bellanca Super Viking, but it does not have moving parts at this point- just a shell.
I would like to work with someone who has built an aircraft for FG, perhaps I can contribute to an existing model in meaningful ways. I have a specific interest in avionics, and being able to configure an aircraft with any number of available radios and nav-aids so that I can replicate what I need to use in real life. One weak area is GPS's. It is difficult to find a GPS in a simulator that is meaningful. So, avionics folks- is there any way I can help?
SD
- hi & welcome - referring to avionics, if you are interested in modern "glass cockpit" stuff, you will probably want to read up on FlightGear scripting using the built-in Nasal scripting language (which works analogous to JavaScript in your browser), as well as the Canvas FlightGear 2D rendering framework. Both of these can be used to create modern avionics fairly easily, including PFDs, NDs but also standalone GPS units - the following images are screen shots showing instruments and GUI dialogs that were solely created in scripting space using Nasal scripting and Canvas for 2D drawing:
MapStructure-driven PUI/Canvas dialog
The new Canvas Map dialog showing the waypoint/route layers originally developed by Gijs, and now ported to MapStructure by Philosopher
This is an adapted version of the Garmin GPSMap 196 that is currently being developed by F-JJTH. Here, the whole instrument is entirely set up in XML space without using any Nasal, including buttons/event handling, but also the embedded canvas region that serves as the 'screen'. The idea is to allow arbitrary MFDs to be specified in an aircraft-agnostic fashion, including displays like a PFD, NavDisplay or EFB. For details, please see Canvas Glass Cockpit Efforts
F-JJTH's GPSMap196 in the process of being ported to Canvas using Philosopher's MapStructure framework for mapping (LOD/scaling not applied here, but available
GPSMap196 with MapStructure layers (currently exhibiting some scaling/LOD issues due to hard-coded assumptions in some of the layers)
MapStructure WXR (weather) layer created by omega95's using a web service API to fetch live online imagery
IFD FMS-Map FPL
People wanting to get involved in these efforts don't necessarily need to know how to write code though - there are many other ways to help, i.e. by creating 3D models for instruments, or by creating vector graphics using Inkscape. The most recent effort involving a generic framework for glass cockpit avionics is Project Farmin. I'd suggest to get in touch via the Canvas forum:
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The FlightGear forum has a subforum related to: Canvas |
--Hooray (talk) 12:43, 20 February 2015 (EST)