K-42 KSP console

This post is a repost of a blog entry from august 22 2015 on Kerbal Space Program forum (soon to be defunct).

This is my first blog post presenting the K-42 console for KSP by Rescaled Decomposites (tm).

It's an over computerized, low-budget, compact and "portable" simpit that I'm building just for fun and as a way of finding my way back into both basic digital electronics and programming again.

Everything is based on modules with the following characteristics:

• Front panel is 100x150 mm.
• Four mounting holes placed in each corner 5 mm from the edge.
• All components must be placed at least 10 mm from any edge to allow space for mounting.
• Each module is connected via a 4-wire bus containing 5 volt power, common power and signal ground and an I2C. Modules are not assumed to have any pull-up resistors on I2C-lines.

Actual implementation is done using an Arduino Pro Mini in each module responsible for handling all I/O and logic used internally in that module. The main computer is an Arduino Pro Micro acting as a I2C bus master as well as handling the serial communication with Zitronens mod KSP_SerialIO and also emulating a USB keyboard sending keyboard commands to KSP.

The keyboard is not connected to the Arduinos in any way as of now but connects to the PC through a USB hub. It's there for alphanumerical input and stuff not related to KSP, like web-searching, chatting and taking notes while playing. It can also be used for play as most of the key commands for KSP are still intact.