This is an older set of hacks, but I’m surprised we haven’t covered them before. The playstation controller is an interesting alternative to normal robotic controls. This PS1 controller to serial interface is based on a Motorola HC68 series micro-controller. This even simpler version only needs some diodes to interface with a parallel port. Probably more interesting is this how-to on using a wireless PS2 controller with a basic stamp II.
14 thoughts on “Playstation Controller Interfacing”
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Excellent! I can use that controller i found on my lawn, one morning.
Now, the only question left is, WTF is up with the analog button?
I’m actually working on interfacing an Atmel AVR with a playstation controller right now. These sites have been very useful:
http://www.webx.dk/robot-crawler/ps-joy.htm
http://pinouts.ru/Game/playstation_9_pinout.shtml
I still haven’t managed to get analogue working nicely though :/
Kupo,
There is code for doing it with an Atmel AVR here
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7088434&highlight=psx+twist#post7088434
The Linux kernel has support for ps(2) gamepads too, in gamecon.c. If you want to use a controller for your Linux-pc, you can use that, but it may be useful to get protocol info from too.
I have been trying this for a while but I’m having some problems with the signals, my controller simply doesn’t respond =(
Basic: Not all games on the PS1 liked the analog buttons, so you had to turn off the analog during those games.
I never liked the ‘soft button’ and preferred my Pelican which had a hard switch.
@ basic.a:
generally the analog button is used to enable or disable the analog sticks (if my memory serves me correctly)
When I originaly reversed and wrote the info on the PSX joysticks I assumed the byte-out I called ID was just an ID. It is in fact a bit feild that defines what info the game pad will be handing back.
Some old PSX games also must have treated it as an ID byte and would not opperate unless same “ID” it was expecting was given back. If you had an analog joystick and the game did not see ID=0x41 the game would think you did not have a controller at all and not work. That is why the game pads had a button to select digital/red-analog/green-analog mode.
I know this may be a little off topic but this hack is kinda hitting where I need to go. I have with me here 4 concept A3 keyboards and have managed to hook one up with power and a parallel cable (These things used to run on BBC micro’s) but I need some help making my computer take the info it outputs to the LPT port and do something with it. If anyone know what i’m on about then get in touch … anyone who has hacked one of these before would be very helpful indeed … Mail me Lexian_phoenix@hotmail.com
Hey there. I want to do that ps2 wireless controller for controlling a robot. Interface is working with a psx controller but not with the ps2 one. Any ideas?
i want to ask a question:
what is the difference between analog red mode & analog green mode??????
is there a wave to hack at the plug so you can plug this into a computer?
Great …
Yours
Ahmed