Over the years, I've done a lot of training of students that want to learn how to fly RC. Often as a student progresses in their flight training, the instructor spends a lot of time just holding the Trainer switch while talking to the student. This often causes your finger to cramp while holding the switch for such a long period of time. Using only a toggle type of mode had it's own dangers as sometimes you can't grab the joysticks fast enough to recover a student's aircraft.
So I have a suggestion that could implement a 'Smart Trainer' (master / slave) switch mode to solve these issues.
This would work as follows:
- If the instructor holds the spring loaded trainer (master/slave) switch for more than a second, the trainer function works as normal in that the student has control of the aircraft (or assigned student channels) until the instructor lets go of the spring loaded trainer (master/slave) switch.
- If the instructor does a 'short press' (less than a second) of the spring loaded trainer switch, control passes on to the student as expected, but the current master stick positions (as well as the throttle) is remembered. Control passes back to the instructor (master) when:
- the instructor does a 'short press' on the trainer switch OR
- The instructor moves any of his joysticks from the remembered positions, then control will pass back to the instructor's (master) transmitter.
An option could be to ignore changes in the throttle stick, so only changes in the AER channels would cause it to switch control back to the master transmitter. Some instructors like to preset a particular throttle position (such as low throttle, or high throttle, depending on what the student is practicing).
I know there is the 'mix' mode, but mix mode doesn't stop errant students from continuing to control the aircraft. Yes, there are some students that don't listen and continue to try to fly when told not to touch the sticks.
I know that I could program the trainer switch to be a simple toggle, or instead use of the on/off toggle switches to control the trainer function, but as mentioned sometimes you can't grab the sticks fast enough to save a student's aircraft.
Of course, the trainer (master/slave) switch can be assigned to any button/switch (as always).
If you think this is a crazy idea, feel free to file it in the bit bucket!
Thanks again for all of your time providing a very powerful transmitter system.
Rich