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Category Archives: controller
RC Controller Becomes XInput Controller
XInput is an API that is used by applications to interface with the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows. The 360 controller became somewhat of a “standard” PC gamepad, and thus many games and applications support the XInput standard.
[James] is working on an entry for a robotics competition, and wanted a controller to use with their PC that was more suited to their build. They took an RC controller, and converted it to work with XInput instead.
The controller in question is the JJRC Q35-01, a trigger-type RC controller available for under $20. The conversion is executed neatly, with the …read more
Posted in classic hacks, controller, radio control, rc, Teensy, Teensy 3.5, xinput
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Replace Legacy CNC PCs With A Gerbil
There are lots of laser cutters and other CNC machines available for a decent price online, but the major hurdle to getting these machines running won’t be the price or the parts. It’s usually the controller PC, which might be running Windows XP or NT if you’re lucky, but some of them are still using IBM XT computers from the ’80s. Even if the hardware in these machines is working, it might be impossible to get the software, and even then it will be dated and lacking features of modern computers. Enter the Super Gerbil.
[Paul] was able to find …read more
Posted in 32-bit, arm, cnc, cnc hacks, controller, g-code, grbl, machine, open source
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Smooth Moves from Cheap Motors
Building an electric motor isn’t hard or technically challenging, but these motors have very little in the way of control. A stepper motor is usually employed in applications that need precision, but adding this feature to a motor adds complexity and therefore cost. There is a small $3 stepper motor available, but the downside to this motor is that it’s not exactly the Cadillac of motors, nor was it intended to be. With some coaxing, though, [T-Kuhn] was able to get a lot out of this small, cheap motor.
To test out the motors, [T-Kuhn] built a small robotic arm. …read more
Posted in arm, cheap, controller, ESP32, inverse kinematics, motor, robot, robots hacks, stepper
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Adding Bluetooth to Original SNES Controllers
There’s a bunch of companies selling wireless Super Nintendo style controllers out there. You can go on Amazon and get any number of modern pads that at least kinda-sorta look like what came with Nintendo’s legendary 1990’s game console. They’ve got all kinds of bells and whistles, Bluetooth, USB-C, analog sticks, etc. But none of them are legitimate SNES controllers, and for some people that’s just not good enough.
[sjm4306] is one of those people. He wanted to add Bluetooth and some other modern niceties to a legitimate first-party SNES controller, so he picked up a broken one off of …read more
Posted in atmega328p, bluetooth, classic hacks, controller, Games, hc-05, i2c, light pipe, nintendo hacks, snes
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Don’t Forget Your Mints When Using This Synthesizer
While synthesizers in the music world are incredibly common, they’re not all keyboard-based instruments as you might be imagining. Especially if you’re trying to get a specific feel or sound from a synthesizer in order to mimic a real instrument, there might be a better style synth that you can use. One of these types is the breath controller, a synthesizer specifically built to mimic the sound of wind instruments using the actual breath from a physical person. Available breath controllers can be pricey, though, so [Andrey] built his own.
To build the synthesizer, [Andrey] used a melodica hose and …read more
Posted in breath, controller, instrument, mega, musical hacks, otamatone, pressure, sensor, shield, snythesizer, synth, wind
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Electric Bike From The Ground Up
Electric vehicles are getting more traction these days, but this trend is rolling towards us in more ways than just passenger vehicles. More and more bikes are being electrified too, since the cost of batteries has come down and people realize that they can get around town easily without having to pay the exorbitant price to own, fuel, and maintain a car. Of course there are turnkey ebikes, but those don’t interest us much around here. This ebike from [Andy] is a master class in how to build your own ebike.
Due to some health issues, [Andy] needed a little …read more
Posted in battery, bike, controller, ebike, electric, lithium, motor, speed, transportation hacks
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Launching Fireworks with Raspberry Pi this Fourth of July
It’s that time of year again in the United States, and the skies will soon be alight with pyrotechnic displays, both professional and amateur. Amazing fireworks are freely available, sometimes legally, sometimes not. For the enthusiasts that put on homebrew displays, though, the choice between watching your handiwork or paying attention to what you’re doing while running the show is a tough one. This Raspberry Pi fireworks show controller aims to fix that problem.
[netmagi] claims his yearly display is a modest affair, but this controller can address 24 channels, which would be a pretty big show in any neighborhood. …read more
Posted in controller, electric match, fireworks, Holiday Hacks, kaboom, mortar, pyrotechnics, shell, squib, timer, wireless
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