New Joysticks...Good or Bad Choice by FIRST?

[Aignam]

I know that the joysticks are supplied by InnovationFIRST (http://www.innovationfirst.com/), but I was unable to locate the joysticks (AVB Topshot Analog Joystick) on the website.

[Greg Ross]

Originally Posted by Aignam

I know that the joysticks are supplied by InnovationFIRST (http://www.innovationfirst.com/), but I was unable to locate the joysticks (AVB Topshot Analog Joystick) on the website.

Has anyone checked out http://www.avbusa.com? I haven't had a chance to see the joysticks yet this year, so I don't know if any of the sticks pictured on their site match what we received.

[Random Dude]

Originally Posted by gwross

Has anyone checked out http://www.avbusa.com? I haven't had a chance to see the joysticks yet this year, so I don't know if any of the sticks pictured on their site match what we received.

Looks like this is it: http://www.avbusa.com/avb2003/gc1000fr.htm

[mDuo13]

I like the look of the new joystick, and it feels really cool in my right hand. It does not, however, work at all in the left hand, and considering how our primary driver is left-handed, that could prove to be a little bit more than a minor annoyance. >=/

I definitely agree with the idea of having a joystick with more buttons. After all, more buttons means more functions that the driver can handle by him/herself, instead of relying on a secondary driver to flip switches on request. And that means that the secondary driver can do more stuff, too. *grin*

But yeah, only getting a pair of right-handed joysticks seems to be a rather laughable lack of foresight... Didn't they think about that beforehand?

[team222badbrad]

Here is what they look like:

[Specialagentjim]

Originally Posted by mDuo13

I definitely agree with the idea of having a joystick with more buttons. After all, more buttons means more functions that the driver can handle by him/herself, instead of relying on a secondary driver to flip switches on request. And that means that the secondary driver can do more stuff, too. *grin*

Yeah! Are they trying to make my photographer give up his/her job and actually be forced to do something?? I hope not..

[MV_Hirsch]

I'm on a rookie team...1458. Do we have to use the akward 2 right handed joysticks by FIRST or are we able to use our own? Thanks,

Derek Hirsch
Team 1458

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by MV_Hirsch

I'm on a rookie team...1458. Do we have to use the akward 2 right handed joysticks by FIRST or are we able to use our own? Thanks,

Derek Hirsch
Team 1458

You can use your own. Dont forget to follow the rules in tha manual about replament and stuff, if any.

[Sidney San Martín]

I seem to remember hearing somewhere (no, I don't remember where) that FIRST was trying to discourage the use of a two-stick drive system this year ( ). They probably chose two right-handed sticks to say, "OK, this joystick is for driving, and this one is for something else. Not driving."
I'm not sure about this and they're not forbidding the "old" way (yet), but you never know.

[Adam Shapiro]

Originally Posted by Sidtech

I seem to remember hearing somewhere (no, I don't remember where) that FIRST was trying to discourage the use of a two-stick drive system this year

I highly doubt FIRST would ever try to eliminate two-stick drive seeing as most drivers (myself included) much prefer it. It gives a large measure of control over the bot, I feel that the two right joysicks were probably just an oversight...

[Jedi Padawan]

I love the new joysticks for the right hand but I do miss the control of having a left hand joystick (for those of us driving tank like drive it makes it a hassle to program on one joystick) not to mention the fact that they don't auto center (which is a great advantage), But as usuall I am confident teams will be inventive/creative/"inspired" to invent/create a way to get around this... The only real problem that I can see with them is that they are both right handed (does this mean that the operator gets one and the driver gets one... maybe one for driving one for the arms???...) This will be fun it gives at least all the teams a new toy to play with.

[Phish32786]

My only beef with them would have to them liek everyone else is saying Right hand only, and also one thing i would of really like to see is twisting of the joystick (tight turning maybe with out forward thrust?) I think that would be really cool.

Mike Calkins
Team 1188
Network/System Administrator

[Astronouth7303]

Why not use last year's sticks for the left?

[Adam Shapiro]

Originally Posted by Astronouth7303

Why not use last year's sticks for the left?

Actually, We're considering using the old model for both drive sticks (unless we find something better).

[sygterm]

Originally Posted by Jeremy_Mc

Fun stuff for us programmers to play with!