Alternate Joystick Controllers

[Windwarrior]

I have read on this site that the joysticks supplied with the KOP are not the best. How are they deficient?

Can anyone give me an alternative suggest? The manufacturer and/or site where they can be purchased?

Thanks in advance.

[Greg Marra]

The joysticks provided in the Kit are rather "bouncy" and don't quickly center themselves when released.

Many teams prefer the feel of the old CH Flightsticks that used to be provided by FIRST, but are regretably no longer in production. There happen to be two on eBay right now. The key is that the replacement joystick must connect via the "Gameport" connector, and not USB, as most joysticks do these days.

Good luck!

[generalbrando]

And if the bouncing doesn't bother you, there's also the matter of both joysticks being right handed. That's not good if you want to use them for tank style driving.

[tribotec_ca88]

Another option to purchasing a new joystick is to enhance the performance of the ones provided in the kit. The joysticks provided by FIRST proportionalize poor handling, but there is a current solution to that... there are several teams that use programming to convert the linear curve of a joystick into an exponential one, which supposedly "smoothens out" the joystick. Works like a charm....

Check out a white paper our team wrote on this:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pa...le&paperid=280

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Windwarrior

I have read on this site that the joysticks supplied with the KOP are not the best. How are they deficient?

Can anyone give me an alternative suggest? The manufacturer and/or site where they can be purchased?

Thanks in advance.

Why not just customize the handles of the Kit of Parts joysticks? Last year, our team made custom HDPE handles for the CH Flightsticks using our lathe. After unscrewing the handle on the stock joysticks, you can take it off. Then fabricate a custom (preferably ambidextrous) handle of your own, and put than onto the stub of the old joystick handle. Viola, a new ambidextrous joystick!

As I documented in one of my earliar posts about joysticks, many of the KOP joysticks problems can be solved mechanically. The right-handed handle issue, and the "touchiness" of them (as in going past center) can be solved by taking off the stock handle, and putting on a newer, shorter handle. The new and custom shorter handles enable the KOP joysticks to become stiffer, not go past center, and now they are ambidextrous!

Custom handles on the CH Flightstick joysticks:






Handle-less KOP Joystick awaiting new handles:

[Windwarrior]

[quote=artdutra04]Why not just customize the handles of the Kit of Parts joysticks? Last year, our team made custom HDPE handles for the CH Flightsticks using our lathe. After unscrewing the handle on the stock joysticks, you can take it off. Then fabricate a custom (preferably ambidextrous) handle of your own, and put than onto the stub of the old joystick handle. Viola, a new ambidextrous joystick!

Thanks so much!!!! Sounds like you guys have really got it together.
Loved the pictures, and how your whole control panel setup is handled. Very impressive.

[lukevanoort]

How about adding a spring loaded contraption like these Saitek sticks have.
Here
Here
Here
Here
Here

[Windwarrior]

One additional question. How does your reconfigured handle make use of the firing button. The pics don't seem to show it.

Thanks again.

WW

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Windwarrior

One additional question. How does your reconfigured handle make use of the firing button. The pics don't seem to show it.

Thanks again.

WW

Sorry about that, those were pictures from the build season when it wasn't 100% completed. Here is one from when we had all the joysticks finished and the arcade buttons installed. Note the button on the lefthand joystick. This was our 'Turbo' button that enabled our robot to have a 40% speed increase.



And yes, those are single player and two player arcade buttons above the OI.