Control System

[wmatt2014]

We are a first year team and we want to know what everyone is using to control their robots: Joysticks, game controllers, driving wheels, etc

[EricH]

Originally Posted by wmatt2014

We are a first year team and we want to know what everyone is using to control their robots: Joysticks, game controllers, driving wheels, etc

I think most teams use joysticks, with a decent sized minority using steering wheels and a slightly smaller group using game controllers. Some use a button box (box with buttons in the top) for their manipulator.

[Drwurm]

We're doing a wheel for turning and a joystick for throttle. Along with a switchboard for the codriver.

[hipsterjr]

I have been playing with driving a 6 wheel "rocker" with one and two joysticks. I have seen some teams use two sticks for driving tank style machines. Does anyone have any insight or opinions on this driving style?

[Richard McClellan]

Two stick for tank style driving seems like what most people do. I think it's a little easier than Arcade Drive (up is forward, left is turn left, right is turn right, down is backward) just because you have direct control of each side of the robot.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by hipsterjr

I have been playing with driving a 6 wheel "rocker" with one and two joysticks. I have seen some teams use two sticks for driving tank style machines. Does anyone have any insight or opinions on this driving style?

It really depends on the driver. However, if you want to go to the one-stick method, I would suggest splitting the x-axis and the y-axis out into two different joysticks, Halo style. That makes it really easy to drive straight, in large arcs, and tight turns. Two stick tank-style makes it hard to drive straight (both hands must be in the same spot) and so does one stick (hand must be dead centre on the joystick).

[ninjabob333]

Last year we used a combination of joysticks and a button box.
Joysticks to control the robot, and a button box for the arm, i think.

[keen101]

We are planning to use game controllers, along with a button box.

We used game controllers last year, and we loved them. They were nicer to use than joysticks.

[hipsterjr]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

It really depends on the driver. However, if you want to go to the one-stick method, I would suggest splitting the x-axis and the y-axis out into two different joysticks, Halo style. That makes it really easy to drive straight, in large arcs, and tight turns. Two stick tank-style makes it hard to drive straight (both hands must be in the same spot) and so does one stick (hand must be dead centre on the joystick).

Thanks alot. I tried this out the other day and I really liked the way it felt. Only problem now is that I need to dig up a left hand joystick(the KOP controlers for the past few years have all been right handed)

Our panel will constist of two joysticks ("Halo style") and a button box.

[MrForbes]

Usually the joysticks provide much better control if you take the handle off and mount it inside a box, so just the short lever sticks up.

We're planning on using a gutted R/C car controller (2" diameter steering wheel and trigger throttle) for driving and a simple small box with buttons for ball control, both will be on 5 foot long cables. Yesterday's joke was that we'll just put everything in a cardboard box. That probably won't happen though.