USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Could a generic (logitec or something else common) usb gamepad be used in place of the usb joysticks?

The logitec gamepad i have did not require external drivers to be used on my computer, and i was told any joystic would work if it did not need external drivers.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

my understanding is yes, i have heard stories of people using DDR and guitar hero guitars as robot controllers!!

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

ya my team is seriusly considering a DDR pad for a controller

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

We are successfully using a Logitech Dual Action gamepad without issues.

There are other existing discussions about alternate controllers, I suggest you search for them.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Pretty much. It uses standard HID.. so things that don't use drivers on the computers -should- work fine on the driver station.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Cool, thanks guys.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

my logitech driving force gt shows up as a joy stick on my linux box just fine, but I can't seem to use it as a joystick on the driver station.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

So, by no external drivers, what would that mean? That windows could detect it?

because I have a Philips gamepad that I think my team would like to use, but i'm questioning if it would. Windows could tell it existed and tell what buttons were pressed, but I still wonder if it would work. This is because the same controller had a profiler, and I don't think that it provides a driver, but I could be wrong.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Yes, our team is mostly working with the stock KOP logitec controllers but we have the capability to switch to our xBox 360 wired controller.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

The logitech dual action gamepad works great. We just bought several at a local Gamestop which does carry them normally.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

The older joysticks were horrible. This years joysticks the logitecs are amazing. I encourage using them. Besides the joystick and triggers/buttons i particurely like the throttle at the bottom. It makes The joysticks available for extra functionality other then driving.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Hold on, I thought teams couldn't get the xbox 360 controller working because it needed a driver. If you did get it working, we would love it if you could share the code.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

I think a team should use DDR pads to control their robot. Something like this maybe:

http://www.redoctane.com/Game-Contro...d?leadsource=7

That would be pretty amusing to see somebody jumping around on a mat. I don't know if it will be within restrictions though for the driver station.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

how do i get my xbox 360 control to work????:confused:

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Plug it in to an xbox 360?

Seriously, that controller does not follow the USB HID standard, and is not usable by the 2009 FRC Driver Station.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

we have used an xbox 360 controller for the past 2 years.
2007 we used xbox 360 controller, and a guitar hero controller.
2008 we used an xbox 360 controller and a basic button system for the other.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

What Alan is saying is that the Xbox 360 controller is not compatible with the new driver station. If you plug it in you will find that it doesn't work.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

The Chicklet USB-to-gameport translator has programming that allows it to talk the Xbox 360 controller's language. There are drivers for Windows to do the same thing.

The 2009 FRC Driver Station lacks the necessary driver.

You can use an Xbox 360 controller plugged in to an appropriately-configured Chicklet connected to the analog and digital headers on the side of the Driver Station, and probably get it to work the same way it did last year. I think that's a lot of extra work and wiring, and I think you'd be better off with a standards-compliant HID game controller.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

If anyone can post a tut or a vid of how to do this, our team would appreciate it.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

You'd also have to rig up a boost power supply for the chicklet, as the DS only supplies 5V, but the chicklet wants 7.2-12v and using a battery on the operator console isn't legal this year like it was in the past. I guess you could probably also bypass the regulator on the chicklet. Neither would be trivial to do safetly

Since the chicklet is no longer available, I wonder if it would be legal to use on the operator console in the first place?

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

It dose not work in a 360's it's for my pc..

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Yes they can. We have been using one recently (especially yesterday) and it works AWSOME. It gets some getting used to compared to joystick drive (from what i have seen so far by watching the drive team.. havent been able to test drve this year yet :( )

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

Any xbox 360 controller that works for the PC should also work for the 360...
Unless you have some weird off-brand controller that looks like a 360 controller but really isn't?

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

CH Flightsticks were legal in previous years if they were unmodified from their "off the shelf" condition, despite being unavailable for purchase.

The main rule that keeps Chicklets from being used during competition is <R81>, which prohibits "portable computing devices" on anything but the Ethernet ports, with no exceptions.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

I don't think you can. It does not use default driver. The basic rule of thumb is if you have to install software to get it to work on a PC, it probably wont work with the DS.

Re: USB Gamepads as controllers?
 

We use a better logitech that has a twist stick and buttons organized in to only one side so buttons are more accessible