From: white@watsci.UWaterloo.ca (Brad White)
Subject: HOTAS Flight Control
Organization: University of Waterloo
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 15:34:28 GMT

	Since my original post there has been much converstion.  I waited to
see if I had permission to paraphrase my source of information.  There
appears to be a misunderstanding about what I originally referred to, so
here goes, I hope this clear it up.
	HOTAS- hands on throttle and stick.  The thrustmaster set is a HOTAS
system.  Now the confusions, there is *another* system, call HOTAS which
works *with* the Thrusmaster set.  This doesnt refer to programming the WCS
with new proms, or new software from Thrustmaster, or using programs like
The Pilots Edge.
	The HOTAS system, works with Thrustmaster equipment and was
developed by Steve Edwards, Terry Carraway and Ralph Robinson. (members of
CompuServe F.S. Forum "skunk works".
	This information is from Falcon 3 - The Official Combat Strategy
Book by Howard Bornstein. (*highly recommended*)

	HOTAS system is based on a controller card that replaces the
joystick card.  This controller is fully userprogrammable and :
             - support for up to 8 analog channels (4 joysticks) and *40*
               buttons
	     - customizable progressive rates for primary (1st 2) joysticks
	     - joystick and button mapping - any analog channel can be
               mapped to any joystick axis; any button mapped to any joystick 
               button or kb key
             - extensive button programming - any button state transition
               (press or release) can be mapped to any function of
               keypresses, delays and/or flag changes
HOTAS controller asks like any standard joystick card but also plugs into
PC's keyboard port.  ***Your joystick, keyboard, throttle, rudder pedals
etc. plug into a breakout box that is connected via ribbon cable to card**
(some mentioned breakout box, and you were right :) )
All, sims will recognize HOTAS controller as a joystick controller, keyboard
will work as normal.
Before running sim, download a special file to HOTAS controller and that
will remap joysticks and buttons.  Once intialized, HOTAS will interpret
joystick, throttle and buttons as defined in file, giving *true* HOTAS
control.
	The definition file is is modified through and interactive program
(sets options and define functions for individual buttons) or by writing a
'program' in pseudo-source language that is compiled for use by HOTAS
controller.  Normal joystick and controller values are linear, hotas allows
value that is returned to software to be altered, giving a non-linear
function allowing progressive rate controls which will decrease joystick
sensitivity around center, increase it at ends.  Give greater degree of
control.
	Analog channels (joystick axis) can be mapped to any other, thus you
can control how joysticks, throttles and rudder pedlas control different
aspects of sim.
	eg. CH Flighstick, Thrustmaster throttle, Maxx rudder pedals
		FlightStick X & Y axes - analog channels 0 and 1
                FlightStick throtte - ignore
                Thrustmaster throttle - analog channel 2 (joystick 2 Yaxis)
                Maxx pedals - analog channel 3 (joystick 2 x axis)
	HOTAS controller keeps track of button positions and reacts when
there is a change. (button pressed or releases).  Any transition of any
button on any joystick (or other controller) can be mapped to any of the
four joystick buttons or to a sequence of keypresses.
	When a button chanes state, HOTAS controller looks for series of
functions to perform - press a key, release key, delay, set a flag.  Cna
perform separate functions for :
Button press
double press
button hold
double hold
	Definitions files for most sims included with HOTAS controller, and
can modify them or create with interactive program.
	There is some incompatibility with current joysticks.  **In order to
be compatible with HOTAS joystick pot must be grounded**.  High quality
joysticks like CH flightstick (has ground lead on pot) can be modified in
under 15 minutes with piece of wire and soldering iron.

		**** for more info contact ****
		R&R Electronics
		4009 Parkwood Street
		Brentwood, MD 20722

This is only as accurate as the data I had available, but as you can see it
looks amazing.  I had only wondered if others had heard or even had one.  I
will write away and see if I can get more info.

Again I am not affiliated with R&R electronics, nor do I know any of above
mentioned personally or otherwise.  I do recommend Bornstein's book however,
for those who want more out of F3.0 and OFT.

Any comments on above?

Brad White
white@watsci.uwaterloo.edu  (Canada)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games