Using COM Port to interface legacy game controller

[Asbjørn]

Is it possible to use the COM Port primitive to interface with a legacy game controller? I want to control some servos using the Phidget servo controller.
As Flowstone doesn't support joysticks, this is the only way to do it I can think of.

[Embedded]

I would just use an Xbox controller or a PS2 controller (from LynxMotion) as these are already fully supported. Another option would be to use the Wii Mote:

Games Controllers.png (123.63 KiB) Viewed 18048 times

[Asbjørn]

Thanks, but I need a one hand 6-axis controller like the 3DConnexion Spacenavigator or the SpaceOrb.
The initial plan was to connect the internal potensiometers to the analog inputs of a Phidget interface board. But when I opened said controllers I found out they used optical sensors, not potensiometers, so that won't work.

[Asbjørn]

Anybody who has experimented with the com port primitive, is it possible to communicate with a device like that? Flowstone crew?

[paul.pacini]

...when I opened said controllers I found out they used optical sensors...

If your controller is optical and not potentiometers, you can still interface with it in FlowStone. Optical motion detection systems use two LEDs with two photodetectors to form a quadrature encoder. This is exactly how an older, “ball” type PC mouse worked.

As you move the shutter-wheel (either a joystick, older mouse, DC motor with feedback, etc.) the photodetectors generate a series of TTL-pulses with a lead/lag signal phase which tells the interface speed, direction, position, etc.

The Phidgets 1047 PhidgetEncoder HighSpeed 4-Input device will read those type encoders and FlowStone will let you process the data based on your inputs.

Or, as mentioned before, with Wii Nunchuck gives you lots of motion detection with lots of capabilities from an inexpensive game controller.