RC protocol to Joystick for Simulation

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1

Hi,

I built this project so I can use my Flysky FS-i6x to learn flying Quadcopters. I tested it and it works perfectly.

The project is about turning a Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040) into a USB HID joystick that reads an RC receiver’s serial output (iBUS or SBUS) and presents itself to a PC/Mac as a standard game controller — perfect for drone / plane simulators like Liftoff, Uncrashed, ..etc

The firmware auto-detects iBUS vs SBUS at boot from the same GP1 pin, and even re-detects live if you swap receivers without unplugging the Pico. Any receiver speaking either protocol works:

  • FlySky FS-iA6B, FS-iA10B, FS-iA8B, X6B, X8B, etc. (iBUS or SBUS)

  • Radiolink R7FG, R9DS, R12DS (SBUS)

  • FrSky X4R, X8R, R-XSR, X6R (SBUS)

  • Any generic receiver with an iBUS or SBUS port

Link for the project : GitHub - PashMohandes/xBus-to-Joystick: Pi PICO convert IBUS and SBUS signal to Joystick · GitHub

I also uploaded the UF2 so you don’t have to build the code.

4 Likes
2

That is quite cool ! thanks for sharing !

1 Like
3

Hi

For the fs i6x specifically, I think you can directly use the provided usb cable for simulators. Atleast it works on mine

It works fine and all the 10 channels get detected on the pc

4

Technically it works but cable is connected from below and not comfortable. You can’t simply place the Tx on a table and play.

plus you always need to be 1 meter from your PC due to short cable.

With my solution, i sit on the couch and play far away from the screen/TV

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