Could use some help with joysticks . . .

[archiver]

Posted by Dan at 1/24/2001 9:51 PM EST


Student on team #112, Gear Grinders, from Buffalo Grove HS and Motorola.



As a team, we have had problems with the joysticks for the past 2 years (since we've existed ). They keep wanting to 're-calibrate' themselves, i.e. the center, and extreme values vary from use to use. To combat this effect we have tried duct tape on the trims and adding buffer regions in software for a 'neutral zone' in the center of the joysticks' axes. Can any other veteran teams give us a hand in telling us a better method for this?

[archiver]

Posted by Mark Garver at 1/24/2001 9:56 PM EST


Student on team #68, Truck Town Terror, from Waterford Kettering/OSMTech Academy and General Motors Truck Group.


In Reply to: Could use some help with joysticks . . .
Posted by Dan on 1/24/2001 9:51 PM EST:



I can speak as a veteran member of the Truck Town Terror (#68) team, there is no good way that we have found. We run into the same problem amost every time we run our robot.

: As a team, we have had problems with the joysticks for the past 2 years (since we've existed ). They keep wanting to 're-calibrate' themselves, i.e. the center, and extreme values vary from use to use. To combat this effect we have tried duct tape on the trims and adding buffer regions in software for a 'neutral zone' in the center of the joysticks' axes. Can any other veteran teams give us a hand in telling us a better method for this?

[archiver]

Posted by Dave Cannell at 1/26/2001 1:28 PM EST


Other from none.


In Reply to: Re: Could use some help with joysticks . . .
Posted by Mark Garver on 1/24/2001 9:56 PM EST:



The joysticks used for R/C model airplanes don't seem to have neutral/drifting problems but I suspect they are LOTS more expensive... People who play lots of computer games should be able to provide some input about their favorite joysticks.

[archiver]

Posted by Mark Garver at 1/24/2001 9:58 PM EST


Student on team #68, Truck Town Terror, from Waterford Kettering/OSMTech Academy and General Motors Truck Group.


In Reply to: Could use some help with joysticks . . .
Posted by Dan on 1/24/2001 9:51 PM EST:



I can speak as a veteran member of the Truck Town Terror (#68) team, there is no good way that we have found. We run into the same problem amost every time we run our robot.

: As a team, we have had problems with the joysticks for the past 2 years (since we've existed ). They keep wanting to 're-calibrate' themselves, i.e. the center, and extreme values vary from use to use. To combat this effect we have tried duct tape on the trims and adding buffer regions in software for a 'neutral zone' in the center of the joysticks' axes. Can any other veteran teams give us a hand in telling us a better method for this?

[archiver]

Posted by Anton Abaya at 1/26/2001 10:36 AM EST


Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NONE AT THE MOMENT! .


In Reply to: Could use some help with joysticks . . .
Posted by Dan on 1/24/2001 9:51 PM EST:



i say ditch those darn crappy joysticks and go get a logitech or a microsoft brand one...

just make sure it isnt USB ;p

-anton

[archiver]

Posted by Nick at 1/28/2001 5:46 PM EST


Student on team #240, Mach V, from Jefferson Monroe High School and Visteon.


In Reply to: Could use some help with joysticks . . .
Posted by Dan on 1/24/2001 9:51 PM EST:



Try replacing the potentiometer with a proper value resistor. It will always give you the same resistance.