Creative uses for the USB Port

[Zero-Bee]

Years of requests finally pays off. We now have USB control imput, which sent a collective nerdgasm across the world today.

But, what do you want to do with it? There's has got to be some crazy cool ideas you thought of at the announcement. Here, we disregard programming skill or other factors; let the ideas flow like water. Anything works.

My first idea was when David announced the ability to target 5 targets with the camera. Before the game was reveiled, I thought it would be sick to be able to create a ball turret that could hit in 5 different places, controlled by the PS2 (or upcoming Xbox 360) Guitar Hero controllers. Wouldn't exactly work for Rack 'n' Roll, thou. =P

Anyone else?

[CBailey]

i think it would be awesome to use an xbox 360 controller to control the robot
their would be so many possibilities and you may only need 1 driver/operator
i like the new part and hope my team will consider using it to add some excitement to the usually boringa controls

[efoote868]

hook it up to a laptop... and the possibilities are endless.

maybe a video camera too, and then use mini game pieces to control it.

[Cyberguy34000]

First thought that came to my mind...

Dance Dance Revolution!

Show off your killer robot and your mad dancing skills all at once! Keep the rhythm in your feet as your robot flies 'round the field, danc'n to da beat!

Break it doooown!

[Rick-906]

NICE! now i feel boring... i was just imagining joysticks and xbox controllers, i like the suggestion of a laptop. is it allowed?

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Rick-906

is it allowed?

No, since the laptop is battery powered.

Besides, the Chicklet is a USB host. Laptops are also hosts. Two hosts cannot simply talk to each other (without special hardware and software in between).

[JBotAlan]

Originally Posted by Rick-906

is it allowed?

Per <R83>, no.

<R83> All equipment connected to the joystick ports of the Operator Interface must be powered
solely through the power available through the port. External power sources of any type are
not permitted on any equipment connected to the joystick ports. Portable computing
devices can not be connected to joystick input ports on the Operator Interface. Power-passive
devices (e.g. joysticks that draw their power solely through the Operator Interface
joystick port) are permitted. The one exception to this rule is Innovation First Incorporated
USB adapters (IFI Part Number USB-CHICKLET) may be used to connect USB devices to
the joystick ports of the Operator Interface. If used, this USB adapter must be powered with
a 7.2V battery similar to the back-up battery. Teams can not use power from the
competition port or any other source to power the USB adapter. The USB adapter must be
positioned within the OPERATOR CONSOLE so that the indicator lights may be seen during
inspection and operation in a match.

I'm still not sure what the reasoning is behind this, but there it is. Sorry.

JBot

EDIT: Well, someone beat me to it. Oh well.

[bobotics319]

nintendo wii... that would be so much fun!

Originally Posted by Cyberguy34000

First thought that came to my mind...

Dance Dance Revolution!

Show off your killer robot and your mad dancing skills all at once! Keep the rhythm in your feet as your robot flies 'round the field, danc'n to da beat!

Break it doooown!

Now that would be funny!

their would be so many possibilities and you may only need 1 driver/operator

If that is the case, is there anything helpful we could use the second driver for? It was probably left in the rules in case someone did want to use old system, but maybe there could be a potential advantage to be gained...

[Travis Hoffman]

USB Chicklet User's Guide on IFIrobotics.com

There is a supported devices list - the XBOX360 controller is one such device.

Here is the thread that discusses this device in more detail.

[NeedMoreEngines]

A GUITAR HERO CONTROLLER!! come on how cool would that be.

To move the robot you play Smoke on the Water and to operate the arm you play the riff from Crazy Train.

The whammy bar can be the claw grabber.

And to make the robot spontaneously combust you play any Dragonforce solo.

[Noah Kleinberg]

Originally Posted by Dianna Bartone

If that is the case, is there anything helpful we could use the second driver for? It was probably left in the rules in case someone did want to use old system, but maybe there could be a potential advantage to be gained...

The second driver can pass tubes to the human player if you find that that helps. Probably because you can only hold one tube on the robot at once, the human player won't really be rushed. The second driver could also help to coach the main driver, or help communicate from your drive team to the other drive teams on your alliance

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by NeedMoreEngines

A GUITAR HERO CONTROLLER!! come on how cool would that be.

To move the robot you play Smoke on the Water and to operate the arm you play the riff from Crazy Train.

The whammy bar can be the claw grabber.

And to make the robot spontaneously combust you play any Dragonforce solo.

I was talking about that with my sister. lol.

And a couple of years ago we had a bunch of joke ways to control the robot. Like guitar, keyboard, beatboxing, and my favorite, turn tables.

That's right. You scratch records to drive your robot. Haha. So good.

[JamesBrown]

Keep in mind that you are still limited in as to how many buttons are available to you even though you are plugging into usb it is really still limited by gamport capabilities.

[Arkorobotics]

A PS3 controller would be nice! It has USB!