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Old 07-20-2019, 08:14 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
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Quote:
Originally Posted by georgegassaway
My first R/C gliders, and first R/C Boost Gliders were rudder-only. Having a 2nd channel for elevator too is ideal, but I'd never say rudder only "sucks".

Some of my early models models used Ace's Pulse Commander single channel R/C gear, with a magnetic actuator. "wacka-wacka".

http://www.airplanesandrockets.com/...trol-system.htm

Video of the system in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNGeLjbi6ns

Pic found on the internet:


In the 1990's, I did a twin boosted glider project where both gliders had rudder only steering (using one servo). People with no R/C flying experience, but with R/C car "driving" experience, were able to steer them pretty well (One of the hardest things to get used to with R/C is the apparent "coming towards you" reversal of control. R/C car experience solves that issue).

I have an extra Guillows' foam shuttle orbiter, which makes for a nice piggybacked B/G on suitable rockets. Sometime I may finally get around to adding rudder-only R/C to it if I can spare the ultra-light R/C gear to do it with.
George, you've just invented a new name for it--"galloping ghost" seems to have been the most common term for pulse-proportional control, with "bang-bang" and "kicking duck" also having been used--and now we have "wacka-wacka," too! :-) Watching the video of the Ace R/C rudder system in action, it sounds like the rainbirds of our backyard sprinkler system in Miami--plus, every time he moved the transmitter's control stick to make a "turn," the 'preferentially cycling' rudder (which spent more time of each cycle closer to the selected side's electromagnet) sounded like each of our rainbirds did when it reached the limit of the spray arc and then cycled back to the other end of the arc. Also:

I've never had an Ace R/C single-channel system, but it is featured in several "How-To" R/C glider books (even ones published in the 1970s - 90s) that I have, and it isn't covered as a "relic example of pulse-proportional control," but as an old but still-current system which is ideal--and popular, too--for Class A (small, hand-launched, 60" [1.5 m] wingspan or less) R/C model sailplanes, and:

If it isn't still in production, a modern version (using the same transmitter and receiver schematics, but employing today's much smaller electronic components and electro-mechanical parts [the permanent magnet and electromagnets]) could be made by a small electronics firm, and it could also be offered as a kit. Such a modernized Ace R/C single-channel R/C system could also use smaller airborne and transmitter battery systems. As well as being useful for Class A gliders (including the new discus- launch type ones) and for converting Free-Flight gliders (such as the West Wings semi-scale Slingsby Swallow F/F or R/C model sailplane kit; it's designed to be built as either, and works well in rudder-only mode: http://www.samsmodels.com/slingsby-swallow ), such a single-channel R/C system would be great for boost-gliders and rocket gliders, even quite mall ones. As well:

I know of the Guillow's foam shuttle orbiter, and that would make an interesting project. (If Estes would bring back their foam shuttle orbiter--adding a swept-back fin to the rear-ejecting motor pod, opposite the shuttle vertical stabilizer, would give stable ascents--it would be an [optional] ideal single-channel R/C boost-glider.) Regarding the "coming toward you" steering issue:

That would actually be easier to acclimate to with a single-channel, rudder-only model (because there is only *one* set of stimuli to "mentally juggle"; with a rudder/elevator model, the novice has to keep straight the facts that: "The rudder direction reverses--but elevator direction ^doesn't^--when the model is flying toward you"). Plus:

One tip is to point the transmitter's antenna in the same direction the model is flying, and to turn one's body as the model turns (in the same direction for one's body *and* for the model; in other words, if the model is turned to the left, rotate one's body to the left, and by the same [angular] amount that the model turns). If the model is turned 180 degrees to fly back toward the pilot, the pilot can look at the model over his or her shoulder (or as far as s/he can), then slowly turn back around to face the oncoming model; going through that kinesthetic exercise gives the pilot a mental and physical picture of their respective orientations, and helps him or her keep straight which direction the rudder is turned in such situations. Before long, it becomes second nature to "switch orientations--and mental/physical pictures--back and forth."
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