Cutting edge...
 

I'm wondering if any team has succesfuly implemented a force feedback joystick?
If no what problem have you guys encountered?
I'm also wondering if this is legal...

Thanx!

Eugene
Team #920

I think the only outputs from the OI available are LED drivers that cant source enough for the force feedback motors in a joystick. Most of the FIRST responses state you can't use any type of AUX power source so I don't think it would work

From the box of the force feedback Sidewinder
"Feedback forces are only enabled with games using Microsoft Force Feedback technology and are comptible with the Microsoft DirectX API version 5.0 or later. "
Should be an interesting hack, if it were a 15 pin plug instead of USB. DOn't know if they make a 15 pin, mine is USB.

I have a 15 pin version but it requires AC power for the force motors which isn't available at the comps

:rolleyes:

perhaps you could source power from a laptop running dashboard? Not to run commands through, just to draw power for the motors from the battery in the laptop. I would guess FIRST would disallow it, since it is in a way an aux power source.

Probably not worth it, but it would be fun....

-Andy A.

I am a little confused on the usefulness of a force feedback joystick in FIRST. Sure, they are neat when you are playing a computer game on a screen but when you are using that joystick to control a real robot it loses it's usefulness.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when you are dealing with reality you would have to have some type of sensors on the robot to tell the joystick when to feedback. Unless you are just looking to get better driving response out of the joysticks which can be done in programming.
I think a force feedback joystick in FIRST has much more technical merit than usefulness. And it would probably be DQ'ed.

Force feedback would be a great way to give current information back to the driver in a shoving match. If you could monitor it well enough, increase the force on the driver with probability that the breaker will blow. Or have him aim a shooter with it. The FF "wants" the joystick pointed a certain way, which it communicates to the driver by guiding his hand in that general direction.

I'm also sure that it could be very useful in other situations where you wanted to give the driver feedback, but didn't want his eyes leaving the field.

Haptic feedback is a very useful tool in controlling robots - especially in noisy and confusing environments like a FIRST competition.

Possiblities are endless...
 

So has this ever been accomplished before? This was the original question.....


Eugene

Re: Possiblities are endless...
 

No, because I believe it is quite illegal. Robots aren't supposed to send telemetry back, so I can't see this being allowed.

I don't know how useful it would be anyway, but it'd be pretty cool if it were allowed...

A little rumble when a limit swich(s) is depress, for knowlege when you have contact with the goal....