DCS custom export.lua and Simtools settings

Hi all

Thought I'd share my export.lua, which I'm quite pleased with. I have added some functions that make especially heliopter flying more realistic and rich in feedback. I have a background in general aviation, mainly sailplanes. Therefore I really enjoy what Value1 and Dirty have done with the roll rate function, which is far more realistic than holding a steady tilt when banking / climbing. The AOA function is also great but I encountered serious problems with helicopters.

When flying slowly or hovering, the AOA shifts abruptly between positive and negative values. For example, climbing / descending at slow speeds gives a value of anything between -90° and +90° AOA. Again, flying backwards outputs values from -90° to -180° and +90° to +180°. Flying backwards and transitioning from descent to climbing results in -180° to +180° jerk. Highly annoying and distracting.

The export.lua I attached here outputs no AOA values at low airspeeds, but outputs pitch/bank rate values. While speed increases, the AOA values gradually increase and angle rates decrease. Works great on helos, and pulling high AOA manoeuvres in a MIG29 feel awesome.

I am flying in VR, in which this setup works great! Let me know what you guys think. You might want to dial up yaw, pitch an roll for helos and down for jets. Try an aileron roll in the F-15 and you know what I mean. 😉

Below is the code and pics of the settings are in the next post.

Mikko

Code: (copy and replace your export.lua code, don't forget to backup the original)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Experimental Export plugin for SimTools V2.35 (created by Value1, modified by Dirty)
-- Version 0.05

-- Added AOA speed & attitude sensitivity for choppers by Mikko
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Myfunction =
{
Start=function(self)
    package.path = package.path..";.LuaSocket?.lua"
    package.cpath = package.cpath..";.LuaSocket?.dll"
    socket = require("socket")

    my_init = socket.protect(function()
        -- export telemetry to SimTools
        host1 = host1 or "127.0.0.1"
        port1 = port1 or 41230
        c = socket.udp ( )
        c:settimeout ( 0 )
        c:setpeername ( host1, port1 )
    end)
    my_init()
end,


AfterNextFrame=function(self)
    --Euler Angles
    local mySelf = LoGetSelfData()
        local Yaw =     mySelf.Heading
        local Pitch =     mySelf.Pitch
        local Bank =     mySelf.Bank
    local accel = LoGetAccelerationUnits()
    local omega = LoGetAngularVelocity()
 
    --Air Data
    local IAS = LoGetIndicatedAirSpeed()
    local AOA = LoGetAngleOfAttack();

    --Weight On Wheels
    local LeftGear = LoGetAircraftDrawArgumentValue(6)
    local NoseGear = LoGetAircraftDrawArgumentValue(1)
    local RightGear = LoGetAircraftDrawArgumentValue(4)
 
    local OnGround = 0        --OnGround status is determined by the compression of ANY gear strut
    if (LeftGear > 0 or NoseGear > 0 or RightGear > 0)
        then
            OnGround = 1
        else
            OnGround = 0
    end


--change exported values when on ground
    if (OnGround == 1) then
        accel.x = accel.x * 2.00
        accel.y = accel.y * 3.00
        accel.z = accel.z * 2.00
        omega.x = omega.x * 1.00
        omega.y = omega.y * 1.00
        omega.z = omega.z * 1.00
    end
 
 

-- AOA AND PITCH FIX (For smooth chopper hover and natural pitch behaviour)

    --Pitch/AoA speed sensitivity
    local maxFXspd = 60.00
    local midFXspd = 30.00
    local minFXspd = 10.00
    local AOAspeedCoeff = math.min ( IAS - minFXspd , midFXspd ) / midFXspd

    if AOAspeedCoeff < 0
    then AOA = 0
else
AOA = AOA * AOAspeedCoeff

end

    local PitchCoeff = math.min ( IAS , maxFXspd ) / maxFXspd
    
        if IAS > minFXspd
        then Pitch = Pitch * PitchCoeff
end
 
    --Reverse flight & extreme AOA angle cancellation
    local AOApeak = 45
    local AOAfade = 80
 
    if AOA < -AOAfade then AOA = 0
    elseif AOA < -AOApeak then AOA=AOA+(2*AOApeak)
    elseif AOA < 0 then AOA = -AOA

    elseif AOA < AOApeak then AOA = AOA
    elseif AOA < AOAfade then AOA = 80 - AOA
    else AOA = 0
end    

    --send data via UDP
    my_send = socket.protect(function()
        if c then
            socket.try(c:send(string.format("%.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f; %.4f;n", omega.x, omega.y, omega.z, accel.x, accel.y, accel.z, OnGround, IAS, AOA)))

            end
    end)
    my_send()

end,


Stop=function(self)
    my_close = socket.protect(function()
        if c then
            c:close()
        end
    end)
    my_close()
end
}


-- =============
-- Overload
-- =============

-- Works once just before mission start.
do
    local PrevLuaExportStart=LuaExportStart
    LuaExportStart=function()
        Myfunction:Start()
        if PrevLuaExportStart then
            PrevLuaExportStart()
        end

    end
end

-- Works just after every simulation frame.
do
    local PrevLuaExportAfterNextFrame=LuaExportAfterNextFrame
    LuaExportAfterNextFrame=function()
        Myfunction:AfterNextFrame()
        if PrevLuaExportAfterNextFrame then
            PrevLuaExportAfterNextFrame()
        end
    end
end

-- Works once just after mission stop.
do
    local PrevLuaExportStop=LuaExportStop
    LuaExportStop=function()
        Myfunction:Stop()
        if PrevLuaExportStop then
            PrevLuaExportStop()
        end
    end
end