Creative uses for the USB Port

[Zero-Bee]

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?

[CBailey]

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

[efoote868]

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.

[Cyberguy34000]

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!

[Rick-906]

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

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Rick-906

is it allowed?

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).

[JBotAlan]

Originally Posted by Rick-906

is it allowed?

Per <R83>, no.

<R83> All equipment connected to the joystick ports of the Operator Interface must be powered
solely through the power available through the port. External power sources of any type are
not permitted on any equipment connected to the joystick ports. Portable computing
devices can not be connected to joystick input ports on the Operator Interface. Power-passive
devices (e.g. joysticks that draw their power solely through the Operator Interface
joystick port) are permitted. The one exception to this rule is Innovation First Incorporated
USB adapters (IFI Part Number USB-CHICKLET) may be used to connect USB devices to
the joystick ports of the Operator Interface. If used, this USB adapter must be powered with
a 7.2V battery similar to the back-up battery. Teams can not use power from the
competition port or any other source to power the USB adapter. The USB adapter must be
positioned within the OPERATOR CONSOLE so that the indicator lights may be seen during
inspection and operation in a match.

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.

[bobotics319]

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

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by bobotics319

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

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

[Noah Kleinberg]

Originally Posted by FreedomForce

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

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.

[Mike Copioli]

The only thing is that the wii controller and probably the ps3 controller also requires batteries, and I think that this is not allowed.

Originally Posted by Noah Kleinberg

Also remember that you still are limited to 3(?) analog inputs per port.

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

[KevinH]

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...

[intellec7]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

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.

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.

[Ericgehrken]

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

[bear24rw]

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