Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

Our team has been talking about using game controllers or joy sticks.
We were wondering the number of teams that use either and why.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

My advice: Let your drivers choose. Both have pros and cons that end up being negligible in my opinion to driver comfort.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

This. It's all varied from drive to driver. Let the driver pick something that (s)he finds intuitive, and let them get practice.
Personal opinion? I picked a gamepad (After some persuasion) and loved the change. I got our programmers to set up the controls to the robot to match that of Borderlands 2 :D Forward/Backwards/Strafe on the left stick, rotate on the right, shoot is right trigger, load is x, and a few other tweaks.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

Definitely leave it up to the drivers, because only their opinion matters, really. Plus, there are lots of other things you can use. I know that 16's driver (not sure if still on the team, but this was just a couple years ago at most) used a steering wheel, just because that's what he liked to use with their swerve drive.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

Agreeing on this. I personally like the joysticks for their better drivetrain control (farther pull distance) although I do know some teams who prefer game pads. Driver style/ comfortablity plays a big part.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

We switched to a PS2 style controller a couple of years ago when our last joystick died. Not many students have much joystick experience but the gamepad is second nature to them.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

Having been at Hub City, I can confirm that they do still use a steering wheel.

Re: Joy Stick vs. Game Controller
 

4183 and other successful Arizona teams like 842 have modified an RC car pistol grip controller for the driver and used a gamepad or custom control box for the operator.