Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Years of requests finally pays off. We now have USB control imput, which sent a collective nerdgasm across the world today.

But, what do you want to do with it? There's has got to be some crazy cool ideas you thought of at the announcement. Here, we disregard programming skill or other factors; let the ideas flow like water. Anything works.

My first idea was when David announced the ability to target 5 targets with the camera. Before the game was reveiled, I thought it would be sick to be able to create a ball turret that could hit in 5 different places, controlled by the PS2 (or upcoming Xbox 360) Guitar Hero controllers. Wouldn't exactly work for Rack 'n' Roll, thou. =P

Anyone else?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

i think it would be awesome to use an xbox 360 controller to control the robot
their would be so many possibilities and you may only need 1 driver/operator
i like the new part and hope my team will consider using it to add some excitement to the usually boringa controls

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

hook it up to a laptop... and the possibilities are endless.

maybe a video camera too, and then use mini game pieces to control it.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

First thought that came to my mind...

Dance Dance Revolution!

Show off your killer robot and your mad dancing skills all at once! Keep the rhythm in your feet as your robot flies 'round the field, danc'n to da beat!

Break it doooown!

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

NICE! now i feel boring... i was just imagining joysticks and xbox controllers, i like the suggestion of a laptop. is it allowed?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

No, since the laptop is battery powered.

Besides, the Chicklet is a USB host. Laptops are also hosts. Two hosts cannot simply talk to each other (without special hardware and software in between).

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Per <R83>, no.
I'm still not sure what the reasoning is behind this, but there it is. Sorry.

JBot

EDIT: Well, someone beat me to it. Oh well.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

nintendo wii... that would be so much fun!

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Now that would be funny!

If that is the case, is there anything helpful we could use the second driver for? It was probably left in the rules in case someone did want to use old system, but maybe there could be a potential advantage to be gained...

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

USB Chicklet User's Guide on IFIrobotics.com

There is a supported devices list - the XBOX360 controller is one such device.

Here is the thread that discusses this device in more detail.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

A GUITAR HERO CONTROLLER!! come on how cool would that be.

To move the robot you play Smoke on the Water and to operate the arm you play the riff from Crazy Train.

The whammy bar can be the claw grabber.

And to make the robot spontaneously combust you play any Dragonforce solo.

:ahh:

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The second driver can pass tubes to the human player if you find that that helps. Probably because you can only hold one tube on the robot at once, the human player won't really be rushed. The second driver could also help to coach the main driver, or help communicate from your drive team to the other drive teams on your alliance

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

I was talking about that with my sister. lol.

And a couple of years ago we had a bunch of joke ways to control the robot. Like guitar, keyboard, beatboxing, and my favorite, turn tables.

That's right. You scratch records to drive your robot. Haha. So good. :D

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Keep in mind that you are still limited in as to how many buttons are available to you even though you are plugging into usb it is really still limited by gamport capabilities.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

A PS3 controller would be nice! It has USB!

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

I believe the reason is so that one may not offload the RC using, for example, a laptop on the OI side. By receiving sensor info via the dashboard port and sending PWM info and digital output info through the joystick ports, this would be possible.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

How about a simplified computer keyboard?
How about a USB computer mouse?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

What about a computer keyboard and a mouse, and you could use drive your omni drive bot FPS style..

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Thats the best idea ever! We could have mad dance offs and robotics in one!

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The problem with using items such as an Xbox360 controller or a PS3 controller is that while you have a USB interface it is still limited by the amount of data transfer offered by the game port. An USB device will have its functions limited by this lack of transfer power. It will only be possible for a user to define several buttons and joy sticks as specified on the USB Chicklets website.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

exactly what i thought. the remote can be used for the arm and the numbchuck for the well... movement of the robot...

any ideas

but how hard would it be to do a ps3 or a wii controler, bc of the motion sencor

hey, what about vibrate when you come n contact with anouther robot.

now that would be fun

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The only thing is that the wii controller and probably the ps3 controller also requires batteries, and I think that this is not allowed. Also remember that you still are limited to 3(?) analog inputs per port.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The only thing is that the wii controller and probably the ps3 controller also requires batteries, and I think that this is not allowed.This is not the case. The O/I ports have 4 analog and 4 digital. The analog usage is user selectable. There are 4 modes for all of the gamepads including the x-box/360. Mode 1, for example, uses two analog channels for the y axes on the left and right. The other two analog channels are alllocated for digital use. The Chicklet uses the upper nibble of each analog byte which gives you 4 extra digital per analog channel. So the total available digital slots in mode 1, is 12. I think 12 is enough. If it is not, then give some tasks to the other operator.

Thanks, Mike Copioli
CTRE

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Using a Guitar Hero controller is key. 7 buttons, 1 two way switch and of course, an analog input whammy bar.

There's also of course midi keyboards, but you could always get something like the DX1 input system and just build your operator controls with that. I'd love to see a laser keyboard too. Maybe a fragpedal... This was a smart move, opens a lot of possibilities to teams that wouldn't have the time or resources to build controllers themselves. I do hope that there's still plenty of custom controllers too though, PS2/PS3/Xbox controllers aren't the end all be all...

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

With creative control design, it's always been possible to have one driver. FIRST allows two so that they can share the task of controlling the robot, not operating it. Two minds are better.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

/agree, especially given the complexity of this years scoring, keeping track of 5 robots beyond your own and general FoV issues, there's a lot to be lost in trying to have only one person responsible for controlling the robot.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Nobody mentioned the Beatmania controller? Although you'd need a convertor for it...And the PS3 controller doesn't vibrate, only the Wii controller does.;)

When they were talking about the USB adaptor at kickoff they said that "you could use a Game Boy controller with it." What the @#@? were they thinking?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

i like the 3D extreme controller style...eliminates the need for a firing box >.>

Also...You could barely start a Dragonforce Solo anf every robot on the field would explode...

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The PS2 Eye Toy, that'd be great.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Well, you have to give Dave a Break. He can put a rover on Mars, but I'll bet he doesn't have much time for video games. =P

Or, he confused the PSP for the Game Boy (which isn't hard for most old people) . How cool would it be to use the PSP, with real time stats and data on the screen?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

The screen would be much harder to implement but you could always wire the buttons from a gameboy to the OI.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

You cannot use a PSP or a gameboy because all power must be provided by the OI and the PSP and gameboy etc. use battery packs to run which is not allowed.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA. If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.

Sounds a bit strange to me.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

I dont know how much power the screen uses but it might be possible to power it from the OI. The buttons would be wired to the OI without need for external power.

I find this somewhat unfair that thats the only device that can be powered from external source and that if i wanted to create my own or something similiar it couldnt be powered by an external source.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

I want to use my Game Boy! :D

Seriously, the only thing I thought of was my Logitech game controller, which is currently hooked up to my computer and is being used to play LEGO Star Wars 2.
My ideas are so boring.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

ok is the website that we are getting these from "http://www.crosstheroadelectronics.com/USB-Chicklet.htm" or am i some how screwed up. If you would let me know thanks.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

You can buy these on the IFI website here.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Does anyone know if you could use a usb splitter to allow more game controllers?
or would i have to buy more and risk the large rush on ordering?

i wonder when they are just going to make the operator interface just usb?

i know i want to do a combination of ddr pads with Playstation and xbox 360 controllers.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

[quote=Greg Marra;550280]What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA.


This is a very good point. This is exactly what we had envisioned when the Chicklet was developed. There is one concern when the original rule was created(pre-chicklet). I'm sure IFI did not want TEAMS to interface custom devices that could potentially short out and damage the O/I. However, If the chicklet is supplying the power, this should not be an issue. Lets say a team does design a custom USB device, and it does short. The only hardware at risk is the Chicklet. Omar and I had even discussed development of a USB device breakout. Teams could use it to wire in pots and switches. Another option: Teams could take an existing supported controller (OTS) and rip it's guts out, wire in the pots/encoders, switches of thier choice, and use it in competition. Teams have modified joysticks in the past. Why should this be any different? Hopefully this can be clarified. Teams should be able to develope their own USB devices that can connect to the Chicklet.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

No, a "splitter" is considered a HUB. Hubs are not supported. However we will be coming out with a version that does support HUB.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

my personal opinion on game controllers is that they are a bad idea. One of the best drivers our team has seen in its existence doesn't own a gaming system other than his PC. I am co captain of the team and I really wish I could just say no game controllers, but its what the team wants not what I want. The game controller could also create issues because you could have excess functions. Just a thought, have you seen the people that play video games by moving the controller even though it doesn't do anything? Can you say control board to the floor?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

one 3 letter word...

WII

enuf said

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

our team is thinking about the wired 360 controller.... it seems like a much better idea than tryig to fiddle with multipe joysticks and multiple drivers controlling different parts of the robot

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

ok, list of things that sound cool, regardless of FIRST legality or interface (because denial is awesome):

wii-mote
DDR mat
eyetoy
keyboard FPS style
xbox 360
anyone else?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

WII mote is powered sorry to burst your bubble.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

I think either the EyeCandy camera or the microphone from karaoke revolution... if only.... [sigh]

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Couldn't you use a keyboard (or a PC game controller if he's used them)?
I do that all the time. Thats why there's a Wii.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

It would be cool to have a force feedback joystick, then add an accelerometer on your robot and when you run into things it rumbles.. that would be interesting

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

ahh but the wireless wii controller doesn't run on nothing.

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Would a DualShock Controller (the ps2 ones) count as a powered controller? I mean, it has that light in the center and the rumble feature. Also, if you look on the plug that goes into the console, there's a tiny metal contact on the top.

What do you think?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

As long as they draw power only from the OI its ok

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

but that completely defeats the "wireless" idea. My point was that anything corded could casue you to pull your control board off of the shelf, and it would also give you the ability to step outside the driver's box. penalty?

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

haha, heck yes... Dragonforce! i think guitar hero would be a sweet controller but the first thought that came to my mind was DDR mats... just for some random capabilities ya know? that would be saweeeeet :yikes:

Re: Creative uses for the USB Port
 

Yeah the only problem with that is if your drives team can't dance.:confused: