MacroPadAutopilot

Autopilot-Hackpad

This is my HackPad project for the Hack Club Blueprint YSWS! I have designed this to work with my flight simulator to make autopilot configuration easier and more immersive.

Notes for reviewers

1. As TinkerCAD does not support STEP files, I have provided STL files and the link to my design, so you can export it into different softwares if you wish!
2. My design uses some custom parts not provided by Blueprint - I will buy and source these parts myself! We have confirmed this on Slack!

Features

• 0.91" OLED display to show autopilot configuration
• Rotary encoders to set the Heading, Altitiude and Speed of the plane
• Mechanical keyswitches to toggle settings
• SK6812s indicate status & selected settings
• RP2040 Zero (I will pay for this) as it is small and has way over 10 GPIOs - I use 19
• A HUGE cabin call button that you can spam to make the nice 'ding-dong' sound you hear on a flight!

Screenshots

PCB view:

Schematic view:

Here are the two parts of the case, the top section and the bottom bumper-style part: You can find my Tinkercad design here: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/kMuqWNtUm2q/edit?returnTo=%2Fthings&sharecode=TvnqmuXe9pAtwGBK2sJ9aHeb2CSNASbWhCyXTYQ4DW4

3D visualization of the PCB

3D visualization of the final HackPad - It is my attempt at Fusion360 but you will find the case in the Case folder from Tinkercad

I will assemble it by soldering on all the parts on the top, except the RP2040 Zero which will be upside down, and then snug fit it inside the bottom part of the case. Then, I will put the top part of the case on top and use 4 M3x16mm screws to put it all in place. After that, I might put some sticky rubber spots on the bottom to give it extra grip after it is all in place!

Code for this MacroPad

Here is an example firmware that you can use for testing.

The code is written in CircuitPython

import board
import digitalio
import usb_hid
from adafruit_hid.keyboard import Keyboard
from adafruit_hid.keycode import Keycode
import busio as io
import adafruit_ssd1306
import neopixel

pixel = neopixel.NeoPixel(board.D5, 1, pixel_order=neopixel.GRBW)
oled = adafruit_ssd1306.SSD1306_I2C(128, 32, i2c)
i2c = io.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)
kbd = Keyboard(usb_hid.devices)

speed_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP3)
altitude_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP5)
heading_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP4)
cmd_a_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP29)
cmd_b_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP2)
cabin_call_button = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP6)

def setup_btns(button):
    button.direction = digitalio.Direction.INPUT
    button.pull = digitalio.Pull.UP

Extra Information

There isn't really much else you need to know about this project, but I put this section to share a few small bits of information.

This includes the fact that the MacroPad was designed to fit cockpits of the 737-MAX in MSFS; and also one small side note, you will need some glue and M3x16mm screws to put it together in the case!

Also, when Hack Club comes to printing the case, a baby blue filament would be my preference!