FLY-BY-WIRE CONTROL SYSTEM
All hydraulic cylinder motions are controlled by simple microswitch contact.

Monster Robots Inc. worked closely with Doug Schumann, president of P-Q Controls Inc. of Bristol, Connecticut to develop the microswitch operated fly-by-wire simulated proportional electronic control system. This system enables the pilot to have full independent control of 18 hydraulic functions simultaneously. This is essential for smooth lifelike coordinated motions during a show.
Each of the 18 motions has its own devoted P-Q Control Inc. solid state computer brick. These P-Q "Valve Drive Boards" take the pilot's simple "up and down" microswitch commands, converts them to simulated (and totally tunable) proportional pulse width modulated signals which operate the Parker HPI proportional valves.
It's like playing a weird piano keyboard - with the usual set of keys lying below your fingertips AND a second set of keys located above your fingertips!

FIGURE 10a. Pilot's "Finger Control Module"

Five pairs of microswitches were arranged in a comfortable natural angle. Moving any fingertip up (microswitch contact) causes an "up" command to the respective cylinder. Similarly, a fingertip down (microswitch contact) causes a "down" motion. (Note: It was obvious to us in 1989 that trying to hold ones hands flat and all fingers parallel actually continually hurts your wrists! You need to have some tilt in and some tilt up for logical comfort. We wondered why typewriter keyboards weren’t built like that?? Nowadays you can buy such keyboards, but are they big sellers? No - instead people spend years trying to accommodate to unnatural keyboards and then irritatingly sue someone when they finally show serious signs of tunnel carpal syndrome - Duh!)

FIGURE 10b. View of Microswitches

Claw example: closing the right thumb and right index finger together causes the right top claw to go "down" and the bottom right claw to go "up". The claw continues to close together to grip an object as long as the pilot maintains the command.

 

FIGURE 10c. P-Q Controls Inc. Valve Drive Boards

Monster Robots Inc. Electrical Technician, Russell Loud, installs P-Q Control Inc. Valve Drive computer boards in weatherproof enclosure.

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