How the heck do you use an XBOX360 controller with the chicklet??

[eshteyn]

Originally Posted by darkmastercrono

Wouldn't the Xbox 360 controller be a bit more difficult to drive with? Its not like it's a racing game that you are using it for.

Your right, but if your comfortable with the controller enough to a point where you can use it efficiently then my question is WHY NOT?

[darkmastercrono]

I know, it's just that we have a couple of drivers who are much more proficient at the joysticks, which they can use "inituitively." If I were driving, I agree, I probably would use the XBOX controller.

[eshteyn]

Originally Posted by darkmastercrono

I know, it's just that we have a couple of drivers who are much more proficient at the joysticks, which they can use "inituitively." If I were driving, I agree, I probably would use the XBOX controller.

We use 2 joysticks, one controls the left side, one the right, like a bobcat

[DanDon]

Originally Posted by eshteyn

We use 2 joysticks, one controls the left side, one the right, like a bobcat

Just to clarify, we use tank steering to control the robot. We are most comfortable with this setup, because we feel it gives finer control than 1-joystick drive. I also find a 2-joystick drive setup easier to troubleshoot and customize based on bias to one side while driving, etc.

[Barry Craig]

If any of you guys (or girls) have an old XBOX controller, you can mod it to work as a USB controller in 5 minutes. Take a old USB cable, your old XBOX controller, strip all the wires on both cords. Then solder red to red, black to black, white to white, and green to green. Yellow will be left over on the XBOX controller, but that's okay, it's not needed to use the controller. After you've done this, wrap it up in shiny electrical tape and BOOM, you've got yourselves a snazzy new XBOX USB controller. Sure it's not the 360 controller, but you don't have to buy an expensive controller. Best Buy probably has 3rd party ones for $10.

[Mike Copioli]

FYI, from our testing and development data we have developed opinions on what controllers were better than others. While testing and verifying functionality, we concluded that if our team was to use a game-pad our last choice would be the x-box/360 controller. Instead, we recommend the logitech dual action gamepad. The layout and overall stability of the analog axes is far superior to that of the x-box. Not to mention, the Logitech is half the price of the x-box controller.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

[Warren Boudreau]

Originally Posted by Mike Copioli

FYI, from our testing and development data we have developed opinions on what controllers were better than others. While testing and verifying functionality, we concluded that if our team was to use a game-pad our last choice would be the x-box/360 controller. Instead, we recommend the logitech dual action gamepad. The layout and overall stability of the analog axes is far superior to that of the x-box. Not to mention, the Logitech is half the price of the x-box controller.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

Mike,
This is the first input that I have seen from someone who actually has tried a controller instead of the joysticks. My question has always been, "Are the controllers really any better than the joysticks?" .

[Mike Copioli]

QUOTE=Warren Boudreau;553965] My question has always been, "Are the controllers really any better than the joysticks?" .[/quote]

This is a matter of opinion, but i say absolutely and here are the reasons:

1. When a driver uses joysticks, he/she is forced to stay at the O/I. Any movement that the driver makes with their body, in translated into the controls. Gamepads do not have this issue due to the fact that they move with the driver.

2. Most students are used to this form of control (gamepads). They have grown up playing games that use them.

3. This is, in my opinion, the most important reason. In the past, when a robot or a game piece was obstructing the view of the drive team or they need to reposition themselves to get a better view of the game(like to line up the robot with a target) they had two choices.

a. They could wait until the obstruction moves. Or blindly drive the robot until it is clear or guesstimate the position.

b. The driver could try to reposition his/her head or body to get a better view possibly translating there movements into the joysticks.(see reason 1)

When a team uses a gamepad, the solution to this problem is simple:

a. step two feet left

b. step two feet right

c. step back

d. step forward

To me the benifits are paramount.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

[amateurrobotguy]

Anyone missing the obvious here? The XBOX controller is designed to mimic a joystick while maintaining a compact space. Why use a Ford when you could drive a Ferrari?

[ronblanche]

I know they make software drivers that work with Linux that would enable the use of either an X-Box 360 or Wii controller. I believe I saw a couple of examples on the MakeZine website; check the blogs.

[Cody Carey]

So the chicklet does not, and cannot be made to support dual analog sticks by modding a controller, right? I skimmed over all the documentation, and didn't find anything about using both analogs... and this rules out tank drive on a gamepad.

[Paul Copioli]

Cody,
Mode 1 on the Chicklet is Y-Y analog control, which is exactly what you are looking for. It will make the two analog sticks act like two independent joysticks ignoring the x axis of each stick. It also gives you a boat load of choices for digital buttons in this mode.

-Paul

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Cody,
Mode 1 on the Chicklet is Y-Y analog control, which is exactly what you are looking for. It will make the two analog sticks act like two independent joysticks ignoring the x axis of each stick. It also gives you a boat load of choices for digital buttons in this mode.

-Paul

Sweet! I apologize for missing/not understanding that particular bit the first time through...
Thanks for your help

[spsteam1512]

has anyone actually received the chicklet and is it working well with the xbox 360 controller?

[Denman625]

we had the same idea about a wii controller... that would be so fun :-)