I know there have been past polls on this topic, but with this one I’m trying to understand preferences on two levels:
arcade drive vs. split axes vs. tank drive generally
specific controller configurations
**Definitions:
Arcade drive: **using a single joystick for both forward/backward and left/right. The single joystick could be a dedicated stick or one of the analog sticks on a handheld controller.
**Split axes: **separating the control of forward/backward from the control of left/right. There are various configurations with different controllers that accomplish this.
**Tank drive: **Two sticks - left stick controls left wheels forward/backward & right stick controls right wheels forward/backward
If your team has tested different options, you’re an experienced driver, or you just want to elaborate on your response, please comment as well. I’m also interested in specific joystick models… if you think you’ve identified a high performing one, please share.
Our driver uses a split axes drive with xbox controller.
However, there isn’t “best” controller configuration. You need to find what configuration your driver is most convenient with (I recommend to let him try each option you consider more than once, so he can get used to the different methods a little bit before choosing).
It’s important to note that certain control approaches can be better suited to some drivetrains over others. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get the maximum capability out of a swerve drive with tank control. It is also important to take the driver’s preference and experience into consideration. It is not always the case that what works well for one team will work for another, so be careful when choosing a control system.
My vote for tank with two flight sticks is based on our driver for the past two years (who is a senior this year). We used skid-steer both years (10 wheels for Stronghold and 4 wheels for STEAMworks).
Edit: Same in rookie year (2012), but various forms of xBox controller the years in between. The only one I ever drove more than a few seconds was in 2014, when our mecanum drive had the translate functions on a joystick and the rotation on the triggers.
Last year with swerve, We used an Xbox controller, I believe the left stick was strafe (field centric) and the bumpers were turning. We also used then left stick to specify a direction for the robot to face.
Cheesy drive appears to be pretty popular. Understandably. We made the transition to it a few seasons ago from arcade drive, and it has treated us very well.
I use a spit axis xbox controller but it took a few different variations of comfortably and work with the programming team to make it happen. Be nice to your programmers and find something that you’re the best with (should you be the best driver on your team.
When I was driving, I loved the split axes with flight sticks (the Logitech Attack 3). I feel like they give more control since you have more range of motion with more of your arm (rather than just your thumbs).
Having used arcade drive one and two axis, and tank, I say my preference has always been towards a single flightstick controller, with the based held in the palm of my hand. It always one to move side to side, watching the field from any position, and though there are controllers with more precision, I like that it can be controlled with major muscle movements rather than minor muscle (arms as opposed to thumbs). Since stress will lead to loss of minor muscle movements before major muscle movements, drivers can be more consistent even during the finals.
One of the most interesting times I’ve driven was at at FTC super-regionals, when the normal driver could not come. I found the button that had to be held down constantly to intake was really messing with my driving, and because code could not be changed, I had my operator (who didn’t have a controller) reach under my arms and hold the button from the other side. Thus, even though it was not the most optimal driving layout, two drivers using one logitech controller is still may favorite layout I’ve driven with.
Summary results after 113 responses are attached below (see thumbnail). The overall dominance of the Xbox controller is impressive. Approach-wise, over 50% split the directional control axes in some way, around 26% use arcade drive, and around 21% use tank drive.
Couple of things surprise me:
No respondents use split axes with an rc plane sim controller. Considering the superior range of motion vs. an xbox controller (except maybe the Elite model with the long sticks), it seems like it could be a great handheld option.
No respondents use the rc car-type controller, with the trigger and the wheel. Perhaps this is due to the fact that USB corded ones are no longer produced because RC car folks driving sim all use USB receiver dongles with their wireless controllers these days.
Question for teams that use NON-flight joysticks: Which brands/models do you use?
Thanks to all who responded, and if you did not respond yet, please do if you have a moment.
On the RC plane sim controller, that actually doesn’t surprise me.
Between the rarity (I have one, but can’t say I know any other FIRSTers that do) and the non-centering throttle axis that most RC sim controllers have (left stick forward/back), on top of “not enough reachable buttons”, that’s two good reasons for many teams to leave them alone. They’re also somewhat bulky.
I HAVE seen teams using the RC car controller, in the past. But, if they are all going wireless, then there’s why those aren’t being used.
I would also hazard a guess that many people are waiting to respond until AFTER they have some idea what their drive is going to look and act like, and how their driver will want to run it…
This will be my 4th year as driver, and I greatly prefer a split axis type control. I find that using one “airplane” joystick can be very inaccurate and hard to use unless you are used to it. We used that our first year for simplicity. After that, I really didn’t seem to want to change from “airplane” joystick to xbox controller so I experimented more with a tank style with 2 sticks. This was almost absolutely uncontrollable because you have to push both of the sticks the same amount just to move forward. This past year we had a mecanum bot, so I wanted to experiment with field centric drive. This could be a mix between single stick and double stick because you would have strafing on the same axis and rotating. This is also the first year we switched to xbox controller, and I absolutely loved the control I got. This offseason we went back to a tank drive, and decided to use a split control style to mimic video games. This used both of the back triggers for forward and reverse and the stick for turning. I believe these are the best drive controls and I will stick to them as long as I am driver.
TLDR; Xbox controller with split (triggers and stick) is the best.
