After seeing a writeup online that demonstrated how to build an “Emergency Party Button”, [spikec] knew that he had to have one of his own. He happened to have a USAF B-8 stick grip from an A-10A aircraft laying around, and figured it would be perfect for controlling the A/V system in his basement.
The control stick was mounted to the top of a cheap cigar humidor, and crammed full of any electronic component he could get his hands on. It contains not one, but two Arduinos. The first is tasked with reading the flight stick’s inputs and the IR control of his various appliances, while another triggers the overhead lighting in his bar along with the X10 controlled Emergency Party System. He contemplated combining all of the functionality into one device, but splitting the tasks in two was easier for this self-declared electronics novice.
The various buttons on the control stick can be used to power all of his A/V appliances on and off, control volume levels, and select which songs stream from his digital jukebox. If the action ever starts to wind down, a quick turn of his “arming” key and the flick of a switch sends his basement into full-on party mode, which includes more lighting and lasers than any one person should be allowed to own.
[spikec] says that his wife’s eyes were rolling like “uncaged gyros” when he unveiled his controller for the first time – a sign of a job well done. Don’t take our word for it though, check out a video of his control stick and Emergency Party System in action after the jump.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2mLSjXG348&w=470]
Party mode: Holy. Crap.
Cool, but what a waste of authentic flightstick hardware.
That thing is begging to be rigged up to a computer and used in a flight sim.
Seriously, I will send you a cheap ass logitech you can use for party mode.
Send me your real A10 flightstick!
Where would one find something like this anyways?
I guess you guys really won’t like the bar taps I made then ;-) These things had been gathering dust since I left the USAF and I think I put them to good use!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62812923@N08/6300539398/in/photostream
Crystal Palace this is Airforce One, set Defence Status to Defcon FUN! Oh yea, and I’m with everyone else on the A-10 stick, use Logitech plastic next time.
Why, what else are you going to do with it?
Put it in an A-10?
Build a sim setup for the geek, oops, I mean man cave.
I guess you guys aren’t going to like what I did with another one of these sticks then:
http://www.flickr(dot)com/photos/62812923@N08/6300539398/
Well the A-10 f**ks you up and beer f**ks you up so I guess your sticking with the theme so I guess that’s ok.
I have a similar stick (Mine is a dequaled part from an f16). The connector is difficult to find, and once you do, the stick is still useless without the encoders underneath. You will have to rig something up, which just wont feel right.
If you want a stick that ‘works’ and is somewhat authentically shaped, you can sometimes find HAPP B-8 clones (Chinese company) for cheap on fleabay. They also make industrial automation stuff that I used for my mechwarrior ‘pit (awesome, solid hardware that belongs in heavy machinery, feels ooh so right.)
@JamethL Where would one find something like this anyways?
Silly question; they’re located in A10 cockpits, right in the center — you can’t miss them!
(removal is probably easy; getting it home might be a bit tougher…)
Which button made the chicks walk in at 3:08?
I thought this idea was dumb until I’d watched the video, this is VERY damned cool. I LOVE it!
Needs more stuff in it though. Seriously. 7″ LCD, a lawn mower attachment, Blue-Light Therapy LEDs, golf ball washer and food processor.
Ah damn, why’d I say that? Now I need to do it.
Let’s make sure nobody can use the TV…
Nerd factor 11, useability factor 0
Wrong-o, there’s a Harmony One that controls everything when the box isn’t in use. Nerd? Just curious…uh, you have how many hours in fighters?
Okay, you have the grip, can I have the rest of the A-10? I promise to fly it gently and bring it home before midnight…