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

[phrontist]

Originally Posted by CJO

Basically, see the rules, but unless they have major onboard processors, they are ok. Also, wearable controls are kosher too.

Yeah, he is right. You can have some microcontroller-based fun control-wise, but you aren't allowed to use "a computer." The line is kind of fuzzy...

[CJO]

For instance, I think that it would be OK to use a couple of IC's to hook up an XBox controller to the 15 pin serial (and I think you could too, use an IC to split the signal/ convert the packets into analog values), but attaching a pocket PC is definatly not cool.

(ok, so maybe it is cool, but only if it runs linux -- www.handhelds.org)

[Chronic]

We are a rookie team so we're still learning about the game play and we are wondering if we are allowed to use a playstation controller instead of the joysticks provided.

Any help you can give would be appriciated

Thank you for your time

[Dara_Ter]

Well for one thing you would have to get a cord that transfer the joystick connector with the playstation controller and I am sure that there would be compatability issues. Now you could do this with a PC game controller but there would be trouble matching up the default code with this type of controller. In either case I do not think that the rules allow for that kind of thing.

[663.keith]

its allowed according to the rules (many teams have done it) it is just fairly difficult to accomplish. A playstation controller does not have a db15 end to it, so it couldn't be simply attached to the operator interface. pretty much the only way to do it would be to rewire the entire game pad.

[Katie Reynolds]

Chronic,

Check out this thread; it may be of some use to you:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=28898

[Eria4044]

Originally Posted by Dara_Ter

Well for one thing you would have to get a cord that transfer the joystick connector with the playstation controller and I am sure that there would be compatability issues. Now you could do this with a PC game controller but there would be trouble matching up the default code with this type of controller. In either case I do not think that the rules allow for that kind of thing.

Oh no...the console wars have begun anew.

[physics_guy47]

I was looking at something like this as an option for our robot. There are a lot of controllers out there for the PC that are set up like a Playstation 2 controller. Like was mentioned before, the difficulty would be modifying the code to make it mesh with the controller.

[Eria4044]

Originally Posted by physics_guy47

I was looking at something like this as an option for our robot. There are a lot of controllers out there for the PC that are set up like a Playstation 2 controller. Like was mentioned before, the difficulty would be modifying the code to make it mesh with the controller.

I was just kidding. Reading through I thought that it would be a better idea to use a PC controller similar to a PS2 controller, if using a PS2 controller meant rewiring it and writing code and stuff.

[Hershey]

Cool! I never would have thought of that! Last year, we were going to try a controller that goes with videogames for the computer that deal with cars. That didn't work so well. As long as you have the time and your driver likes the idea, I would recomend it. Last year, my team decided that we would try to design our controll system on the preferences of our driver. We were a rookie team, so we didn't get that time.

[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?