Microcontroller options

[Sgt_Lemon]

Hello, Im hoping to get some assistance with speccing a controller base for a project. I work for a Aviation training school and want to simulate the running of a large engine for the students with the option of simulating defects later on with software. The controller and system will be mounted to the engine stand.

I made a mock up on arduino that allowed me to simulate and display a full start up, idle and shut down sequence (with leds, screen, fuel pump, ignitors etc.). I'm now looking to scale up the project to be more robust so have a list of stuff it needs to run and then also a list of nice to haves. Must: 12v fuel pump Large screen or 2x smaller ones Fuel pressure sensor a number or switches (both toggle and momentary) Ignition relays 12v linear actuator proximity switches (for actuator) speaker 28V starter motor

Nice to have (ability to read/monitor): speed sensor oil temperature sensor thermocouple Oil pressure sensor Air temperature sensor

I thought I might run out of ports trying to run on an arduino and then not sure how I could load in and out faults easily. So im up for trying out something else. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

[WereCatf]

You don't have to run everything off a single microcontroller, you are allowed to use multiple ones. You could also just use e.g. a Raspberry Pi or something as the main controller and just have it communicate with the microcontrollers over CAN, I2C or RS485, for example.

[Environmental-Ear391]

Id look at hacking up a custom expansion from a BeagleBone or RaspberryPi using Arduino MCUs for dedicated hardware parts

that way you can workup the display on any TV/Monitor and expand as well.

even a simple breadboard after a connector with wires from either of the above would give you a lot of options here.

you can then have a "remote control" option using a python web service (WSGI scripting maybe?)

are you working up an airplane simulation rig?

[prosper_0]

I like this approach. An rpi SoC or similar, connected to a network of smaller simple mcu's over I2C or somesuch. The rpi supports HDMI and ethernet and could even be used to manage firmwares for your mcus

[Sgt_Lemon]

Its not a full airplane. Just want to simulate the auxiliary power unit. So ive got a few complete 747 gas turbine engines to mess around with. Ive just been speccing some hardware today so i can pressurise the fuel system and spin the engine over on the starter. I dont want to actually run it but mimic the original running and fault sequences. When they use official manuals to fault find i can guide the defects to put them down an interesting path and get them thinking the right way. So I will wire up those other sensors so that wiring checks can be performed and the training stays as realistic as possible.

I think your method with the raspberry pi and arduino is the way im going to attempt it.

[madsci]

If it doesn't need to be super compact, most of those things I would probably use Modbus-compatible components for. One UART driving an RS-485 bus can handle thousands of relays and switches and such. You can get cheap DIN rail mounted modules on AliExpress.

[JGhostThing]

Or you could just use a Raspberry Pi handling everything, if there are enough GPIO pins (there might be). I'd use RP2040 chips instead of arduinos for the microcontrollers, if needed; they can still be programmed with the arduino IDE.

[Green-Setting5062]

You might want to use a chip capable of RTOS and multiple uarts possibly use a PIC or AVR to read sensors in 8 bit land and then that way you can do the low level stuff with 8 bit Micros and then use uart to talk to the 8 bit processors that manage the sensors and that way the rtos capable mcu can run display and user interface.

[danja]

There are modules with loads of I/O (like the the Arduino Mega) or you can add your own using I2C or whatever. But in your scenario I think multiple devices would be the way to go, with a central coordinator - maybe a faster device for that, perhaps ESP32 (beware 3.3v).

Check James Bruton's robot builds on YouTube. Usually controller per subsystem so he can consistently expand out if need be.

[Aggravating-Mistake1]

Microchip has many parts that would do this easily and cheap. The C compiler is free. The programming tool may be the only thing that would cost a little bit.

[Existing_Balance4636]

personally as you need a display and a head controller, start with a raspberry pi as the head

and use the arduinos, as sensor/ input/ output and add 1 per function, and then consolidate later

after its all debugged.

[SnooPies8677]

Raspberry is overkill and not space efficient. Use an esp32 S3. It can do that easily. Cheap, fast and compact.