USB Gamepads as controllers?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Kakashi1261

we have used an xbox 360 controller for the past 2 years.

The Chicklet USB-to-gameport translator has programming that allows it to talk the Xbox 360 controller's language. There are drivers for Windows to do the same thing.

The 2009 FRC Driver Station lacks the necessary driver.

You can use an Xbox 360 controller plugged in to an appropriately-configured Chicklet connected to the analog and digital headers on the side of the Driver Station, and probably get it to work the same way it did last year. I think that's a lot of extra work and wiring, and I think you'd be better off with a standards-compliant HID game controller.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The Chicklet USB-to-gameport translator has programming that allows it to talk the Xbox 360 controller's language. There are drivers for Windows to do the same thing.

The 2009 FRC Driver Station lacks the necessary driver.

You can use an Xbox 360 controller plugged in to an appropriately-configured Chicklet connected to the analog and digital headers on the side of the Driver Station, and probably get it to work the same way it did last year. I think that's a lot of extra work and wiring, and I think you'd be better off with a standards-compliant HID game controller.

If anyone can post a tut or a vid of how to do this, our team would appreciate it.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

You can use an Xbox 360 controller plugged in to an appropriately-configured Chicklet connected to the analog and digital headers on the side of the Driver Station, and probably get it to work the same way it did last year. I think that's a lot of extra work and wiring, and I think you'd be better off with a standards-compliant HID game controller.

You'd also have to rig up a boost power supply for the chicklet, as the DS only supplies 5V, but the chicklet wants 7.2-12v and using a battery on the operator console isn't legal this year like it was in the past. I guess you could probably also bypass the regulator on the chicklet. Neither would be trivial to do safetly

Since the chicklet is no longer available, I wonder if it would be legal to use on the operator console in the first place?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Since the chicklet is no longer available, I wonder if it would be legal to use on the operator console in the first place?

CH Flightsticks were legal in previous years if they were unmodified from their "off the shelf" condition, despite being unavailable for purchase.

The main rule that keeps Chicklets from being used during competition is <R81>, which prohibits "portable computing devices" on anything but the Ethernet ports, with no exceptions.