Last year our team considered using a PS3 or XBox controller to control the robot. Because we were new to LabView and we already had an XBox controller, we used it. The same decision has come up this year. I and several others on the team prefer Playstation controllers, so I was wondering if anyone has successfully used a PS3 controller in LabView. If you have, are there any tricks to making it work? Also, are the gyro/accelerometer sensors usable? And one last question: is vibration feedback an option? We realize it would need to be tethered via USB cable to the classmate, but other than that would such a setup be feasible?
I did a quick search to see if anyone had tried this, but didn’t find anything. Please let me know if this has already been discussed.
The Playstation 3 Controller is not supported under Windows without installing drivers so it will not work with the Driver Station app.
Having said that there is a very similar controller that will. A Logitech Dual Action gamepad will run you about $20, is very similar to a PS3 controller and will definitely work with the Driver Station (we used one the past two years as our “operator” controller).
The Dual Action does not have the gyro/accelerometer feature, the buttons are not pressure sensitive like a Ps3 controller and there is no force feedback.
Two years ago we tried using the wired 360 controllers and didn’t like them due to there being a large deadband about the analog sticks center.
Our drive team has been practicing with the F310s this year, they’ve been approachable for the students and seem to be well received. They certainly seem to have an easier time controlling tank drive on this type controller as opposed to two joysticks.
As for PS3 Controllers I do not know if they sell plug and play PS3 controllers so I don’t know if it would work. But for an Xbox 360 controller you can definitely do that (if you bought the PC Version). You wouldn’t even need special code just open joystick USB 1-4.
My team had also used a PS3 controller this year using the motioninjoy program. However if you plan to use this program make sure you aso install the local portion with it or you with only be able to used it with an internet connection