Universal 20 Channel Project Controller From A Ps2 Controller

So you’ve got a really cool project that requires a wireless controller and a ton of different channels. What are you going to do? Are you going to go pick up an expensive RC controller? Nah, you’re going to build your own. This project makes a generic 20 channel controller for your projects by stuffing an SMDuino and an XBee module inside a ps2 controller.  Unfortunately you lose the force feedback since you have to remove the motors to make space for the extra components and batteries. You do end up with a decently ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing controller though.

17 thoughts on “Universal 20 Channel Project Controller From A Ps2 Controller

  1. You don’t “lose” the force feedback. One will simply re-purpose them into an unsuspecting co-worker’s mouse to trigger on right-click.

    I’ll have to remember this mod in the future. I have a few extra RC pistols, but THIS would be the “one radio to rule them all” for sure.

  2. i did one with a chinese made ps2 clone usb game controller. it was a horrible controller, so i spent a couple days bending the circuit boards, and dead bugging in an atmega328p and a cheap ask module. needless to say mine is buggy and hardly ever works. i bet with some software tweaks and a better encoding scheme i could improve it and make it stable, but meh. it sits in my pile of not yet finished projects/salvage junk pile.

      1. …… yea ditto on the piles, and the junkjard, but I only save useful stuff…….. :o

        I actuall got an hp deskjet 690 plotter the other day. I thought when I get my cnc finally finished, I could make a print head for it. Then I could experiment with printing solar panels….

        We’ll see how that goes ;)

  3. I understand there are millions of ps2 controllers out there that can be had cheap. They can be used for a great range of projects. Right now, I am trying to interface one with a TI Launchpad, for an R/C plane.

    If you in the Philadelphia area, you can buy them at FIVE_BELOW ( for $5us). That is way cheaper than ordering just the analog joysticks from sparkfun.

    There are a couple of reverse engineering projects out there for the protocol also:

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/86204752/Decoding-PS2-Wired-and-Wireless-Controller-for-Interfacing-With-PIC-Micro-Controller

    http://store.curiousinventor.com/guides/PS2/

  4. That’s actually a PSone DualShock controller, not a PS2 DualShock2. The main functional difference is that DualShock2s have pressure-sensitive buttons and D-pad (except Start, Select, L3, R3, and the “Analog” mode switch) whereas DualShocks have only digital buttons and D-pad, which could actually make for a nice, more advanced hack.

Leave a Reply

Please be kind and respectful to help make the comments section excellent. (Comment Policy)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.