Keyboard or joystick- tank control

Gooka

Hey Everyone,

I've build three robots before, but I'm new to the forum!

I'm busy working on a tank like robot with a BS2 module that consists essentially of the processor, two 360 servos, a few sensors, a battery pack and a 180 servo that controls the turret! It is all contained in a foam model tank body that is very light and quite strong!

I wanna control it through the COM port (i'm getting a Bluetooth module soon) using the keyboard or a joystick. So far I can control the forward, back, left, right movement of the actual bot with the WASD keys, but I can't add extra features or it starts having problems. I also don't know how to use my joystick to control it!!!

Any help is much appreciated!

Spiral_72

Is the joystick the analog type which plugs into a game port? (sound card?)

Or is this a USB joystick?

in the old days you could read a port for the X1, Y1 and buttons. I don't know if that still applies now..... actually I'm sure it does apply in some fashion.

My best idea is Google the programming language and look for a library function or routine to use to read the joystick position. After that, it the same ol' send data just like you are doing now.

MINI-IZED

Do you have a Playstation (PS1 or PS2) controller handy? Check out this site. Also check out this site, scroll down to the the "PS2 Controlled Boe-Bot" check out his newly updated code. You could use one of the joysticks to steer and the other could control the turret!

Gooka

Thatnks guys that helps a lot! I forgot to mention it but a playstation controller was one of my other ideas, I've got a whole lot handy! Thanks for the links too!