Using non joystick controls with Operator Interface (Hacking Various Controllers)

[AIBob]

you cannot really use a ps controller, not because of the rules, but because of the way it is set up..
The controllers for FIRST are analog. PS controllers are digital.... it doesnt match, you will find some problems if you try it.

[ConKbot of Doom]

Hmm, Digital pots anyone?

If a microcontroller is allowed, you may be able to take whatever the controller of your choice and convert it to analog with a microcontroller, and output it to the OI with one of those. Of course that is one more thing to program, but if you can't get it done this year, why not in the off season?

[Josh Hambright]

Originally Posted by AIBob

you cannot really use a ps controller, not because of the rules, but because of the way it is set up..
The controllers for FIRST are analog. PS controllers are digital.... it doesnt match, you will find some problems if you try it.

You cannot immediately write off using the PS controller for the robot, simply because it is digital and the controller has analog inputs. There are digital input on the controller as well, which gives that option if you can figure out how to make it work with those digital inputs. Also there is the option of producing a Digital to Analog converter. The same way that the robot converts the analog signal to digital so that it can process it, you can do the reverse and give it an analog signal from digital.

I'm sure you can find a digital to analog converter online.

Saying that something cannot be done, is always good inspiration for someone to find a way to do it.

[AIBob]

Originally Posted by oneangrydwarf

You cannot immediately write off using the PS controller for the robot, simply because it is digital and the controller has analog inputs. There are digital input on the controller as well, which gives that option if you can figure out how to make it work with those digital inputs. Also there is the option of producing a Digital to Analog converter. The same way that the robot converts the analog signal to digital so that it can process it, you can do the reverse and give it an analog signal from digital.

I'm sure you can find a digital to analog converter online.

Saying that something cannot be done, is always good inspiration for someone to find a way to do it.

I didn't say that it couldnt be done, well atleast didn't mean it in that way, I said you would have problems, I am sorry if you misinterpretted me, but i meant that you would have to search around for one and have some other problems. Please forgive my bad wording.

[iwearshoes]

ok, I want to rig an Xbox controller as the main interface for our robot. I have converted them to USB before and have a USB driver and i was wondering if any of you had wiring diragrams of serial ports so i can figure out how to power it and where all the handshakes are. If so please let me know where i can find them. Thank you. Also is it legal to make an xbox controller the interface?

[AIBob]

I am not sure where you can get a diagram of the serial port, hopefully you will get it, and I am almost certain that you can use an Xbox controller legally.
But USB is digital isnt it... and the serial port is analog.

[pakrat]

Yeah, the digital/analog swith would be enough to steer me towards playstation, but i dunno

[iwearshoes]

I thought Serial cables were both digital and analog.

If you need it the wiring for USB is as follows:

5V / Red

D+ / Green

D - / White

Ground / Black

Lets say we forget about the pressure sensetive buttons (255 levels of sensitivity to be exact) and just wanted to use them as toggels. I know I can get a driver for it, the only thing I need is a way to wire it to a serial port.

Does anyone know of an adapter or crossover that would work?

I thought about PS2 but everyone knows xbox is superior.

Alright, thanks for the help so far.

(P.S. If you want your game system modified [LEDs, Paint Jobs, other crazy stuff, Preformance Xbox mods, etc.] let me know.)

[Billfred]

Search before you post:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...+controlle rs

But since I'm a nice guy, I'll tell you--unless you are up for some serious hacking and programming, you are not going to get an XBox controller to interface with the 2005 FRC OI to much success. It's mainly because the DB15 (gameport) connector used is rather old-school.

Many others have looked for a way to do it. None have done it yet. Don't take this as bashing--take it as a challenge. (And of course, IFI provides some resources to aid you in your effort.) Every good thing in FIRST has happened because someone wanted to do a particular task a better/cheaper/faster/more interesting way. (Hence we have the kitbot this year!)

[iwearshoes]

Sorry about not searching for the post guys...... I just assumed this was kinda random and not many people would talk about it... oh well....


Well, if anyone knows the wiring schematics of the DB15 than let me know.

[Rickertsen2]

Originally Posted by AIBob

I am not sure where you can get a diagram of the serial port, hopefully you will get it, and I am almost certain that you can use an Xbox controller legally.
But USB is digital isnt it... and the serial port is analog.

The serial port on the OI is not analog. Perhaps you are confusing it with the gameports(joystick imputs) on the OI which are Analog. BTW the serial port on the OI is also unidirectional. It can only recieve information from the robot. It can't transmit anything to the robot.

[AIBob]

Originally Posted by Rickertsen2

The serial port on the OI is not analog. Perhaps you are confusing it with the gameports(joystick imputs) on the OI which are Analog. BTW the serial port on the OI is also unidirectional. It can only recieve information from the robot. It can't transmit anything to the robot.

The reason that I would automatically consider the 'Serial Port' as a Joystick by the way they said it, and knowing the serial ports unidirectional. That is why I had said that it is analog, I am sorry for the confusion.

[Rickertsen2]

Originally Posted by AIBob

The reason that I would automatically consider the 'Serial Port' as a Joystick by the way they said it, and knowing the serial ports unidirectional. That is why I had said that it is analog, I am sorry for the confusion.

Its ait. Don't worry about it.

[Rickertsen2]

Originally Posted by iwearshoes

ok, I want to rig an Xbox controller as the main interface for our robot. I have converted them to USB before and have a USB driver and i was wondering if any of you had wiring diragrams of serial ports so i can figure out how to power it and where all the handshakes are. If so please let me know where i can find them. Thank you. Also is it legal to make an xbox controller the interface?

This question comes up at least once every year, and there have been multiple threads about it. No offence, but if you are even asking this question i don't think you should attempt this. You CANNOT directly connect USB stuff to the OI no matter what kind of crazy software you right. This is a hardware restriction and there is no way around it without making a USB to gameport converter. This is not an easy task even for a seasoned hardware developer. USB is an extremely in depth and bulky protocol that is not for the faint of heart. I speak from experience. I have developed USB peripherals in the past. In order to interface with an Xbox controller, you would have to make a device that could act as a USB host. This is far worse than a peripheral. If you absolutely feel you need to to have an Xbox controller then i would rip it apart and see if you can bypass all of the control electronics. I have never opened one up but it probably boils down to mess of switches and potentiometers. If this is the case, you can just hook some wires up to the bottons/axis slap the proper DB15 connector on it and plug it directly into the OI.

BTW yes it is legal