Creative uses for the USB Port

[ZeetherKID77]

Nobody mentioned the Beatmania controller? Although you'd need a convertor for it...And the PS3 controller doesn't vibrate, only the Wii controller does.

When they were talking about the USB adaptor at kickoff they said that "you could use a Game Boy controller with it." What the @#@? were they thinking?

[Zero-Bee]

Originally Posted by ZeetherKID77

When they were talking about the USB adaptor at kickoff they said that "you could use a Game Boy controller with it." What the @#@? were they thinking?

Well, you have to give Dave a Break. He can put a rover on Mars, but I'll bet he doesn't have much time for video games. =P

Or, he confused the PSP for the Game Boy (which isn't hard for most old people) . How cool would it be to use the PSP, with real time stats and data on the screen?

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Zero-Bee

Well, you have to give Dave a Break. He can put a rover on Mars, but I'll bet he doesn't have much time for video games. =P

Or, he confused the PSP for the Game Boy (which isn't hard for most old people) . How cool would it be to use the PSP, with real time stats and data on the screen?

The screen would be much harder to implement but you could always wire the buttons from a gameboy to the OI.

[Davey360]

You cannot use a PSP or a gameboy because all power must be provided by the OI and the PSP and gameboy etc. use battery packs to run which is not allowed.

[Greg Marra]

What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA. If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.

Sounds a bit strange to me.

[Mike Copioli]

[quote=Greg Marra;550280]What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA.

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.

Sounds a bit strange to me.

This is a very good point. This is exactly what we had envisioned when the Chicklet was developed. There is one concern when the original rule was created(pre-chicklet). I'm sure IFI did not want TEAMS to interface custom devices that could potentially short out and damage the O/I. However, If the chicklet is supplying the power, this should not be an issue. Lets say a team does design a custom USB device, and it does short. The only hardware at risk is the Chicklet. Omar and I had even discussed development of a USB device breakout. Teams could use it to wire in pots and switches. Another option: Teams could take an existing supported controller (OTS) and rip it's guts out, wire in the pots/encoders, switches of thier choice, and use it in competition. Teams have modified joysticks in the past. Why should this be any different? Hopefully this can be clarified. Teams should be able to develope their own USB devices that can connect to the Chicklet.

Mike Copioli
CTRE

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Davey360

You cannot use a PSP or a gameboy because all power must be provided by the OI and the PSP and gameboy etc. use battery packs to run which is not allowed.

I dont know how much power the screen uses but it might be possible to power it from the OI. The buttons would be wired to the OI without need for external power.

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.

I find this somewhat unfair that thats the only device that can be powered from external source and that if i wanted to create my own or something similiar it couldnt be powered by an external source.

[raymaniac]

I want to use my Game Boy!

Seriously, the only thing I thought of was my Logitech game controller, which is currently hooked up to my computer and is being used to play LEGO Star Wars 2.
My ideas are so boring.

[JamesByrne]

ok is the website that we are getting these from "http://www.crosstheroadelectronics.com/USB-Chicklet.htm" or am i some how screwed up. If you would let me know thanks.

[Andrewpbhs]

i like the 3D extreme controller style...eliminates the need for a firing box >.>

Also...You could barely start a Dragonforce Solo anf every robot on the field would explode...