Repurposing gaming controller for control??

[darrenervine]

Hey, this site looks great, I will be building a Seafox like ROV over the winter to use at the cottage up here in Ontario Canada.

Question regarding control boxes/tethers...
Has anyone ever repurposed or hack a Playstation/XBox controller for controlling their ROV?

I am not a big gamer but I really like the ergonomics and possible precision of the little thumb joysticks...

Just wondering if anyone has attempted...

Thanks for any help
Darren

[DavidF]

Check out the KR2 rov build.

[thegadgetguy]

Playstation is a better bet. If you want Xbox, you are going to have to go through a computer.

[bikerbones1968]

Lots of info for game controllers used for robotics projects all over the net. One example is the PS2 servo motor controller. You can substitue ESC's in place of the servos to control thruster direction and speed.

Here is a file for a PS2 interface board.

http://www.robotshop.com/content/PDF/pl ... erface.pdf

[darrenervine]

Thanks for the responses!
I will definitely look into those suggestions

I have the Sony scph-10010 controller, I'll see if I can use this

Thanks
Darren

[KR2_Diving]

Hey Darren,
Sounds like you have quite the project planned! (remove the gripper and add 2/3 more cameras, and we are pretty much on the same track!)

I am using a Playstation 2 controller connected to an Arduino Uno. (if you are not familiar with the Arduino, it is a small programmable micro controller for hobbyists!) The set up cost be £30. (roughly 45 USD, but probably much cheaper to source the parts in North America.)

I am away on business this week, but next weekend I hope to clean up and comment the code and post it on my ROV topic page.

I was never a big gamer myself, but like you said, the play station controller gives you plenty of options for control. I plan on using vectored thrust, with either 6 or 8 brushless motors with ESCs and Props. I will be able to control all of this with the Playstation controller and the Arduino Uno.

Ryan "KR2_Diving"

HOWEVER, I am probably going to upgrade to the Arduino Mega. I will mount the Mega on the sub itself, and communicate with the UNO on the surface. Keep an eye on my post for progress, and feel free to ask any questions. I am sure someone on here will have had the same question at some point in their build and found a solution that worked for them!

Best of luck!

[darrenervine]

Thanks for the updates on yours...
Someone actually referred to your build with the PS2 controller...I have one apart on my bench right now looking at how to reverse engineer it.

Why did you go with brushless motors rather than modded bilges?
What is your set-up with the motors as I may go that root instead of bilges


Thanks
Darren

[derelicte]

I used a wireless wii classic controller for mine. I've documented it and have the arduino library available in my pool rover build thread.

the wii controllers are nice because they are i2c, which is easy to interface to.

[darrenervine]

So the controller is wireless to where, and how far ?
Is it to a tethered module somewhere?

Still trying to figure out how the above water stuff is set up...
What do you use for a power source for everything, on board and/or at controller?

I am going to build one for the cottage for the end of my dock or in the boat...
Prefer everything off a 12V marine battery so I can plug into cigarette lighter or roach clip to battery terminals...
Can't help imagining carrying a 12V battery to the end of the dock though....seems inconvenient...

Thoughts?
Darren

[derelicte]

it is all detailed in my build thread:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=444

range is more than 30'. where I use our rov I haven't gone out of range.

the only downside seems to be the price now. they are going for $55 on amazon. I didn't pay anywhere near that over a year ago.