lol

Yes.

However, I don't mean to burst everyone's fun bubble... but I thought I remember rules not allowing us to use these types of input devices? I know there are some rules on what we can and can't use, they may change this year, but it's never a bad idea to check and see what was allowed in the past :yikes:

After a little searching, I found this rule, which states that we aren't technically allowed to modify the "The Operator Interface, Robot Controller, Servos, Speed Controllers, Relay Modules, Radio Modems, Batteries, Battery Charger, Power Supply, 9-pin cables, Maxi-style breaker panel, ATC breaker panel, circuit breakers, fuses, and joysticks". Also, this rule addresses custom control boxes. Without it, I don't think we'd be allowed to use any input devices except for the provided joysticks (uck).

The joystick ports each have a pin for +5VDC, fused at 1.25A, through F2. They state that "+5V Aux is to be used for potentiometers in Joysticks and custom I/O boxes" in the IFI OI Reference Guide, but that's not the official rulebook. I'm not sure how a FIRST representative or knowledgable volunteer inspector would react to a system that generates control signals. I'm thinking specifically of making an intermediary box to operate on actual driver input, and then output processed data to the OI. Anyone know of a precedent for this kind of thing?

In the past, the layman's translation of the FIRST ruling on things like this is that anything with a "brain" on the OI side is illegal...so, if you could find a way to interface one of these controllers(somehow) only putting wires between the original controller and the OI, then it would be legal based on how I've seen the rules interpreted in the past...

From what I remember, there was a topic about customizing robot controllers from about 5 months ago. The thing is that you would have to bust open the PS2/XBox/GCN/DDR controller and re-wire it so that it would work with the OI port. Plus, many controllers need power, and I don't think that the current OI allows for that, but hey, what do I know....

Well, team 5 used an old "Mad Cat" steering wheel, and FIRST allowed that.

Although, it MIGHT be different...but everything requires power really.

I remember Kingman (60) using a similar steering wheel on their 2002 robot. I specifically remember them saying that they had to take out all of it's 'guts' however, and do their own wiring for it :yikes:

A PS2 controller with the system would be awesome. What you could do is split the pins so that way you have each button contolling something. You could control the hole bot out of a single controller. Be great for practicing, just get the animation/ programming guys to make a "video game" version of it.

FIRST + PS2 controller = FIRST the video game, that would be awesome

Re: Sweet looking robot joystick.....
 

That magazine looks awesome. I know I just signed up for a free copy!

I like larger joysticks for robot control, though, I have trouble with delicate manuevers with those tiny sticks (lord knows my GTA3 game suffers accordingly)