sneak preview: ICS (Integrated Cockpit Systems)

[dnoize]

FSweekend was the launch weekend for our new interface system ICS (Integrated Cockpit Systems).


ICS will be available within a few weeks when the final price settings will be determined.

This is a small preview because i received so many questions about ICS after the fsweekend.

ICS has been designed by CPflight and FLYengravity under close cooperation.
Claudio and Paolo did an excellent job on the electronics and the firmware.


First brainstorm sessions started at last years FSweekend and this years FSweekend it was ready for display.

ICS is a interface system that minimizes the need for interfacing, wiring, configuring, etc.

It will be sold with completely build plug and play systems in various configurations for both the desktop and the pro stand.

All switches, rotaries, encoders, pots, annunciator leds, etc are mounted on a pcb.

ICS is compatible with:
* Project Magenta
* flightdecksoftware
* PMDG 737 (via flightsimlabs driver)

In the PRO version even the lower subpanels are interfaced, enabling the lower subpanel functions when the software provides this.

For example, with project magenta the brightness of the screens can be dimmed software wise with the respective pots on the captains and first officers lower subpanels.

In a later stage this will also be available with Flightdecksoftware.

Project Magenta is allready fully compatible and flightdecksoftware is being finetuned at the moment.

On the FSweekend we had 2 setups running on ICS.

We had our full setup running project magenta and we had a desktop setup running Flightdecksoftware at Barts stand.

some pictures:

A fully interfaced desktop system.
Everything is interfaced here, panels are backlit, only thing missing are captains and first offcers TFT's. Upper eicas is in place.

Retail systems will be fully interfaced with all tft's.





close up of the interface master board. This board daisy chains to our mcp's or the blackbox.






Close up of the center panel pcb and the F/O DU/AFDS pcb.

All rotaries, encoders and switches are on the pcb. The dual concentric knobs for the speed ref and n1 setting are powdercoated metal. The outer is a switch, the inner an encoder.

The square center part is a break out panel with the pcb's for the master caution switches and 2 led pcb's for 2 isolated annunciators on the mip.

On the DU pcb you see the afds switches with dual color leds and the rotary switch for the DU selectors (work in both project magenta and flightdecksoftware)





Top view of the pcb's with the sixpack pcb's that fit our aluminium sixpacks.






Below the PCB's for the lower subpanel. Still as a whole in the break out frame. The led strips can be used for the glare wings and mcp bay flood light. A few ledstrips have allready been taken out from this panel.

Brightness of the floodlight can be adjusted with the pots on the lower subpanel.

Brightnes of the captains panels, first officers panels, glarewing flood, background flood can be adjusted independently of eachother with the pots on the lower subpanels, just as in the real aircraft. All switches, pots, etc in the lower subpanels are functional (depending on the software used)

The small black 2 pin female connectors are for the lightplates. The pcb's mount behind the aluminum backpanels, the lightplates mount on top of the aluminium backpanels. Lightplates have a 2 pin header that sticks into this small 2 pin female connector. So no wiring needs to be done for the internally backlit lightplates. Brightness adjustment is being taken care of by ICS as mentioned above.

This is a 'no wiring' interfacing solution (except for some isolated switches like the nose wheel steering switch)





A close up shot from the front with ICS installed.





ICS will also be available for a fully plug and play overhead early next year.



and last but not least: Our full setup on FSweekend with ICS running:

[fly_ebos]

Looks absolutely awesome Stef!

I'm definitely going down this road, in combination with a single seat trainer

regards
Thomas

[Philb737]

Wow, two thumbs up !!! A bit too late for me, most of my wiring is completed. Maybe for the next sim
A big thank you to Stef and Flyengravity and CPFlight team!!!!

[CrashEd]

Stef, what can I say? You guys have surpassed yourselves once again

Well done FE and CPFlight!!

This is perfect timing for my build as well I'll definitely be going down the ICS route. Awesome!

This is also great news:

ICS will also be available for a fully plug and play overhead early next year.

Very exciting news all round!

[Sean Nixon]

I'll definitely be going down the ICS route.

LOL! Without knowing the price!

BTW, that was tongue in cheek, ICS looks an excellent solution. I'll be watching closely for the formal release myself.

[JWS]

Oh yes .... they did it again (I'm going to hate you guys for this).

Allas, my set up will have to be old fashioned wiring, but for the new starters great material.

Chapeau to FE en CPF.

JWS

[CrashEd]

LOL! Without knowing the price!

BTW, that was tongue in cheek, ICS looks an excellent solution. I'll be watching closely for the formal release myself.

To be honest, I don't really care how much! Me wants some!


(Disclaimer to Stef: That doesn't give you the right to charge the earth for them )

[Joe Cygan]

Stef this is definitely some break through technology. Every time I think I have seen everything you folks come a long and surprise me. Congratulations on your incredible product!

[vybhav]

Wow....really cool. Congrats guys.

I am expecting the delivery of my Flyengravity Pro system delivery on Wednesday, I am not sure how long it would take for me to reach the levels you have displayed in your system.

I guess it is great for guys like me with limited electonics knowledge and also very nice to see you indicate full support for PMDG.

All the best

[phil.]

when and where can we buy this ICS, and is it possible to use this with the FDS Mip ?
Phil.