How do I send signal command through a winch?

[maestro]

I have a gimble camera on the end of a winch and I managed to get the video signal to go through the rope, through the winch and onto a video screen.

I'm struggling now though how to send the commands back down the rope to the camera to make it rotate, change zoom, switch night vision mode etc.

I see this video by MrNJersey (who does a ton of SW vids) on how to do basic winch stuff however to send commands he's using microprocessors and component connetions, two things I know almost nothing about.

Do I really need that other stuff to send the control signals or is there a way I can do it with basic data signals?

[Malli]

The only way is using composite (which requires a micro to encode then one to decode) iirc

Anything connected by rope, electrical, etc for some reason doesnt accept direct connections from the main vehicle (and even if it does, the signals dont send or recv). It sucks.

Micros are relatively easy to make if you just need to do composite.

[maestro]

Originally posted by 𝙎𝙉𝙐𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙀𝙕:

The only way is using composite (which requires a micro to encode then one to decode) iirc

Anything connected by rope, electrical, etc for some reason doesnt accept direct connections from the main vehicle (and even if it does, the signals dont send or recv). It sucks.

Micros are relatively easy to make if you just need to do composite.

Ok so looking at this tutorial again, I managed to use the microprocessor and composite to make the night vision turn on and off using the "instrument panel" block as they show you.

Now though I'm not sure how I'm supposed to send a signal to rotate since I need a throttle for that and the instrument panel only allows buttons (ie toggle, push) and the throttle doesn't have any connections for components.

[Unit 744]

Originally posted by MCBMaestro:

Originally posted by 𝙎𝙉𝙐𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙀𝙕:

The only way is using composite (which requires a micro to encode then one to decode) iirc

Anything connected by rope, electrical, etc for some reason doesnt accept direct connections from the main vehicle (and even if it does, the signals dont send or recv). It sucks.

Micros are relatively easy to make if you just need to do composite.

Ok so looking at this tutorial again, I managed to use the microprocessor and composite to make the night vision turn on and off using the "instrument panel" block as they show you.

Now though I'm not sure how I'm supposed to send a signal to rotate since I need a throttle for that and the instrument panel only allows buttons (ie toggle, push) and the throttle doesn't have any connections for components.

It is very similar. Instead of using 'composite write (on/off)' and 'composite read (on/off),' use the 'composite write (number)' and 'composite read (number).' It functions identically, except it handles numbers instead of on/off signals.

If I recall correctly, you can even have numbers and on/off signals in the same channels (e.g., both night vision button and rotation throttle in channel 1) without overwriting the previous. Not 100% sure on that though.

[Malli]

Originally posted by Unit 744:

If I recall correctly, you can even have numbers and on/off signals in the same channels (e.g., both night vision button and rotation throttle in channel 1) without overwriting the previous. Not 100% sure on that though.

Correct, Boolean (On/Off) and Numeric (Number) values are stored seperately, you can have up to 32 of both on the same composite signal.

[Siegfried67]

Originally posted by Unit 744:

If I recall correctly, you can even have numbers and on/off signals in the same channels (e.g., both night vision button and rotation throttle in channel 1) without overwriting the previous. Not 100% sure on that though.

I confirm, even if i dont do it myself to avoid getting confused.

To answer Maestros question, don't use an instrument panel, just get the target rotation from wherever you want, as long as you feed it into the microprocessor sending the composite signal out. You can use a pilot seat (and directly using the composite output if you want to), key pad, push buttons (you'll need more logic to increase/decrease the value when pushed).

[maestro]

So this is where I'm at ATM:

Throttle gives out only data so I send that value to a microprocessor that converts the number into a composite number with Composite Write.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2118373601

Then the mp sends that value to the winch and onto the cable anchor that sends the composite number to another microprocessor that converts the composite number back into a data number with Composite Read so the camera rotation inputs can read the value.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2118374108

Problem is nothing happens when I move the throttle.

Siegfried: I disconnected the intrument panel I'm only trying to get the throttle value to go through the chain of stuff to the camera.

This is where I'm at a little while later:

I got 2 MPs right? One for the vehicle and one on the anchor at the end of the winch rope.

I have 6 values, 3 numbers and 3 on/off. I'm super confused atm how I'm supposed to assign these values to channels and then convert them to composite:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2118405377

This is the MP at the receiving end that should read the composite back to data numbers. This one I feel a bit more confident about.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2118408804

[Siegfried67]

Seems fine, should work if you've set the channel right. Maybe the issue is not with your microcontroller.
Do you still get the videofeed and are you still able to switch the ir mode?

[Siegfried67]

If you're still in game, join the server caller "[EU] Advanced, no workshop" so i can take a look at it in real time

Edit : just tried a quick build, works perfectly.

Trottle lever goes into the MC on the boat. Feeds into a composite write to transform into a composite signal. Goes out the MC to the compostite input on the winch.
Winch is connected via rope node to an electrical cable anchor. Composite signal goes out the composite output node on the cable anchor into the 2nd MC. Transformed into a number via composite read, and out the MC to the gimbal camera.

Dont forget to connect electricity. Worked on the first try.
I can build you the complete MCs if you tell me exactly what data needs to be transfered.

[maestro]

Thanks again for the help Seigfried!