🛫 Home Cockpit System

A custom-built modular home cockpit system for flight simulation, focused on replicating real aircraft controls using PCB design, CAD modeling, and embedded systems.

This project combines hardware engineering + software integration to create a scalable and realistic cockpit environment.

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✈️ Overview

The goal of this project is to design a high-fidelity, modular cockpit system that closely mimics real aircraft panels while remaining flexible for expansion.

Key design principles:

• 🔧 Modularity – Panels can be developed and used independently
• 🧩 Scalability – Easy to expand into a full cockpit
• 🎯 Realism – Accurate switch behavior and layout
• ⚡ Integration – Seamless connection with flight simulators

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🧱 Project Structure

hardware/
├── pcb/          # KiCad design files + Gerbers
└── cad/          # STEP/STL files for panels and components

firmware/         # Microcontroller code (Arduino / ESP32)

software/         # Simulator interface plugins (X-Plane, etc.)

docs/             # Documentation, diagrams, and images

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🔧 Modules

🟢 Overhead External Lights Panel

• Fully functional external lighting control panel
• Supports multiple 3-position and 2-position switches
• Integrated with simulator via custom plugin
• Designed for real-time hardware ↔ simulator synchronization

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🟡 Annunciator (Alert) Panel

• Displays aircraft alerts and system states
• Uses custom illuminated switches
• Modular layout for future expansion

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🔘 Korry Switch Module (v2)

• Custom PCB designed in KiCad
• LED backlighting support
• Reusable module for multiple panels
• Includes CAD models for enclosure and mounting

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⚙️ Technologies Used

🧠 Hardware

• KiCad – PCB design and layout
• Fusion 360 / CAD tools – Mechanical design and panel modeling

💻 Software

• C++ (X-Plane SDK) – Simulator interface plugins
• Arduino / ESP32 – Firmware and hardware control

🔗 Tools

• GitHub – Version control and project management

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🔁 System Architecture

[Physical Switches] → [Microcontroller] → [Serial Communication]
                                  ↓
                            [Plugin / Interface]
                                  ↓
                             [Flight Simulator]
                                  ↑
                          [DataRef Feedback Loop]

• Closed-loop system ensures hardware and simulator stay synchronized
• Supports real-time control and feedback

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🚧 Project Status

Status: 🟢 Active Development

✅ Completed

• Korry Switch PCB (v2)
• Initial CAD panel designs
• Overhead external lights panel (hardware + integration)

🔄 In Progress

• Firmware refinement
• Panel integration and wiring
• Simulator interface improvements

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📸 Media

Hardware Preview

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🚀 Future Plans

• Enhanced backlighting and light diffusion
• Full overhead panel completion
• Additional cockpit modules (FCU, MCDU, etc.)
• Improved simulator integration and feedback systems
• Expansion to a complete cockpit build

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👤 Author

Aryan Mallick Building a full-scale home cockpit system from scratch

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⭐ Notes

This project is continuously evolving with improvements in:

• Hardware design
• Firmware reliability
• Simulator integration

Contributions, suggestions, and feedback are welcome.