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direct interface between a parallax servocontroller anda sidewinder precision — Parallax Forums

direct interface between a parallax servocontroller anda sidewinder precision

gunnslingergunnslinger Posts: 5
edited 2008-02-15 22:10 in General Discussion
what i wish to accomplish is a direct interface between a sidewinder 2 game controller and a parallax servo controller application is real time robotic control.any ideas ? thanks, s.p.

Comments

  • stevenmess2004stevenmess2004 Posts: 1,102
    edited 2008-02-14 01:25
    Does it have a usb plug or a joystick plug? A couple of years I found a website that documented the protocol that a lot of the joysticks used. If it is just a joystick plug it should be fairly easy to hook it up.
  • gunnslingergunnslinger Posts: 5
    edited 2008-02-14 05:37
    The sidewinder is usb. it utilizes both optical and resistive feedback.
  • stevenmess2004stevenmess2004 Posts: 1,102
    edited 2008-02-14 06:40
    Does it have to be a sidewinder or can it be something else? If its something that uses just a normal gameport and variable resistors than you can just use an 4 ADCs.
  • gunnslingergunnslinger Posts: 5
    edited 2008-02-14 09:54
    I really was hoping it could be done with the sidewinder.
  • stevenmess2004stevenmess2004 Posts: 1,102
    edited 2008-02-14 10:50
    From what I can see from a quick search the sidewinder 2 is USB only. Unless you want to pull the joystick apart I don't think that you will get far with it unless you hook it up to a computer. For an easier option and not having to break your joystick can you use a sidewinder 3d pro? the site here has some info www.q1.fcen.uba.ar/materias/iqi/joygus/pc_special.html#mssidewinder3d on them. If you are using a propeller, have a look in the object exchange under human input. There are many objects there for interfacing with various input devices such as mouses, keyboards and gamepads from various consoles.
  • gunnslingergunnslinger Posts: 5
    edited 2008-02-15 15:04
    alas! as usual, i endeavor to do everything on the cheap ! I already HAVE the sidewinder and 2 parallax psc boards !
  • DiablodeMorteDiablodeMorte Posts: 238
    edited 2008-02-15 15:21
    Well, I think what stevenmess2004 is trying to tell you is that even though you have a USB joystick there is simply no easy way to connect any USB device to a microcontroller. You would need to make your micro emulate a USB host and then it would have to have somekind of driver to communicate with the joystick. I picked up a Gameport joystick off Craigslist for $8(Including shipping) that would work fine for your project. You might want to look at craigslist or ebay for a nice gameport joystick.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Current Projects:
    Robot Control Via Skype API - Dev Stage(50% Complete) - Total(25%)
    Robot Localization Via Xbee's - Research Stage
    IR Tracking with Propeller - Research Stage
  • gunnslingergunnslinger Posts: 5
    edited 2008-02-15 16:30
    Thank-you for that information.RFX has a motion control platform that runs off the sidewinder, but they are not giving any information( requested) about the interface.
  • LilDiLilDi Posts: 229
    edited 2008-02-15 16:55
    You could use servos' to move the joysticks mechanically. Stamp controlling the servos'
  • DiablodeMorteDiablodeMorte Posts: 238
    edited 2008-02-15 20:05
    LilDi, I think the idea is for the user to use the joystick to control the servos.Not the other way round

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Current Projects:
    Robot Control Via Skype API - Dev Stage(50% Complete) - Total(25%)
    Robot Localization Via Xbee's - Research Stage
    IR Tracking with Propeller - Research Stage
  • stevenmess2004stevenmess2004 Posts: 1,102
    edited 2008-02-15 22:10
    There are a couple of companies that make USB host chips but I don't know who they are or how much the chips cost or even if they will work with HIDs. There are some people in the propeller forum who might know.
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