Creative uses for the USB Port

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Zero-Bee

Well, you have to give Dave a Break. He can put a rover on Mars, but I'll bet he doesn't have much time for video games. =P

Or, he confused the PSP for the Game Boy (which isn't hard for most old people) . How cool would it be to use the PSP, with real time stats and data on the screen?

The screen would be much harder to implement but you could always wire the buttons from a gameboy to the OI.

[Davey360]

You cannot use a PSP or a gameboy because all power must be provided by the OI and the PSP and gameboy etc. use battery packs to run which is not allowed.

[Greg Marra]

What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA. If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.

Sounds a bit strange to me.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Davey360

You cannot use a PSP or a gameboy because all power must be provided by the OI and the PSP and gameboy etc. use battery packs to run which is not allowed.

I dont know how much power the screen uses but it might be possible to power it from the OI. The buttons would be wired to the OI without need for external power.

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

I find this somewhat unfair that thats the only device that can be powered from external source and that if i wanted to create my own or something similiar it couldnt be powered by an external source.

[raymaniac]

I want to use my Game Boy!

Seriously, the only thing I thought of was my Logitech game controller, which is currently hooked up to my computer and is being used to play LEGO Star Wars 2.
My ideas are so boring.

[JamesByrne]

ok is the website that we are getting these from "http://www.crosstheroadelectronics.com/USB-Chicklet.htm" or am i some how screwed up. If you would let me know thanks.

[DanDon]

You can buy these on the IFI website here.

[BlackShadowFox]

Does anyone know if you could use a usb splitter to allow more game controllers?
or would i have to buy more and risk the large rush on ordering?

i wonder when they are just going to make the operator interface just usb?

i know i want to do a combination of ddr pads with Playstation and xbox 360 controllers.

[Mike Copioli]

[quote=Greg Marra;550280]What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA.

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.

Sounds a bit strange to me.

This is a very good point. This is exactly what we had envisioned when the Chicklet was developed. There is one concern when the original rule was created(pre-chicklet). I'm sure IFI did not want TEAMS to interface custom devices that could potentially short out and damage the O/I. However, If the chicklet is supplying the power, this should not be an issue. Lets say a team does design a custom USB device, and it does short. The only hardware at risk is the Chicklet. Omar and I had even discussed development of a USB device breakout. Teams could use it to wire in pots and switches. Another option: Teams could take an existing supported controller (OTS) and rip it's guts out, wire in the pots/encoders, switches of thier choice, and use it in competition. Teams have modified joysticks in the past. Why should this be any different? Hopefully this can be clarified. Teams should be able to develope their own USB devices that can connect to the Chicklet.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

[Mike Copioli]

Originally Posted by BlackShadowFox

Does anyone know if you could use a usb splitter to allow more game controllers?.

No, a "splitter" is considered a HUB. Hubs are not supported. However we will be coming out with a version that does support HUB.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

[cgredalertcc]

my personal opinion on game controllers is that they are a bad idea. One of the best drivers our team has seen in its existence doesn't own a gaming system other than his PC. I am co captain of the team and I really wish I could just say no game controllers, but its what the team wants not what I want. The game controller could also create issues because you could have excess functions. Just a thought, have you seen the people that play video games by moving the controller even though it doesn't do anything? Can you say control board to the floor?

[xMarkThePiratex]

one 3 letter word...

WII

enuf said

[Trample-Bot]

our team is thinking about the wired 360 controller.... it seems like a much better idea than tryig to fiddle with multipe joysticks and multiple drivers controlling different parts of the robot

[underwood]

ok, list of things that sound cool, regardless of FIRST legality or interface (because denial is awesome):

wii-mote
DDR mat
eyetoy
keyboard FPS style
xbox 360
anyone else?

[cgredalertcc]

WII mote is powered sorry to burst your bubble.