Software Integration for Joystick and Pedal Controlled Motion Platform

Abstract

Motion simulation systems have numerous applications in aerospace training, robotics research, and simulated immersive environments. The real time involvement of human interface components (joysticks, pedals, etc) with 3D simulated environments demands effective software architecture; that is, a compilation able to process low latency signals and provide precise motion modeling. This project introduces software design and software integration of a joystick and a pedal controlled motion simulator. The system receives realtime inputs of human interface devices, processes them using a Pythonbased control algorithm and uses its relevant motion command to act on a drone model in Gazebo simulation environment. The simulator has a stable operating system of Ubuntu 24.02 and Von Studio code as the used development platform. It has a built-in flight control communication and monitoring QGroundControl. The system developed produces designed output signals that are to be used with a mechanically moving platform that is being designed by a different group. The architecture proposed is very modular, can go to scale, and can be operated in real time, so it is appropriate should there be an expansion in the near future of the advanced simulation and training systems.