Arduino USB Rudder Pedals Project

[Stalwart]

Has anyone had success building a joystick or rudder pedals with an Arduino?

   

I'm not an electronics guy at all, but I want a cheap solution to update my home-built pedals with a USB interface.  I have one, single turn, 100K, linear taper potentiometer that connects via a salvaged gameport cable and a gameport to USB converter device.  My goal is to go straight from the pot to a device with a USB port, then a USB cable to the computer's USB.



Nrshida pointed me to an excellent gadget for the project, but it's pricey: http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836A/  ~$60.00

Research led me to "Arduino" boards, which are like electronics project kit boards that are programmable. http://www.arduino.cc/ ~20.00

Then I found a tiny gadget for $8 that might just do the trick:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/digistump/digispark-the-tiny-arduino-enabled-usb-dev-board

[pembquist]

what about hacking a used usb joystick from a thrift store?

[Tac]

or just buying CH pro Pedals. You can get them for just under 100 bucks in some places.

[Stalwart]

I'm also trying to keep the entire project under $30.

Hacking an old joystick for the PCB is a definite option.  I've been watching Craigslist for a giveaway.
It seems silly that I can get what I need and a ton more for $5 that way, but to get a new board is upwards of $60.

I have home built pedals because I was very unhappy with my CH Pedals. 
Matter of fact, the game port cable of my current set came from the CH Pedals I hacked back in 2001.

I'm not saying CH pedals are bad...  They're just not right for me. 
With my home built set, I can control the rudder with just my toes (sock foot) or my feet (shoe foot).
The CH pedals require moving my legs, bending at the knee.  It gave me leg cramps, especially in the thighs.

[Bizman]

I appreciate the handicraft work you've done. If you lived closer I would gladly donate my old twisty stick to you. With an old twisty you could both rebuild your pedals plus make a nice box of buttons for numerous virtual flying purposes the way 68Valu has many times done  

[Stalwart]

  Bizman   
The pedals are based on "Peril's Pedals" with some minor mods.

68 Valu has a good thing going there.  Heck, take that idea and run with it. 
Find enough trash sticks, you could fashion quite a virtual cockpit.

[68valu]

Bizman   
The pedals are based on "Peril's Pedals" with some minor mods.

68 Valu has a good thing going there.  Heck, take that idea and run with it. 
Find enough trash sticks, you could fashion quite a virtual cockpit.

Here is a link to my photobucket collection of the virtual cockpits and switch boxes I have built.

http://s729.beta.photobucket.com/user/68valu/library/simulator%20stuff

I have thought about making rudder pedals in this manner (hacking a joystick), but my saitek pedals are 5 years old and still work like new and fit me really good. It my become a summer project though. The theory of hacking a joystick for this purpose is simple enough, but securing the mini potentiometers to the necessary levers are not a simple project. The travel movement of the pedals have to match the travel of the potentiometers, which may require some type of geared reduction.

Nice work on your pedals

                                                                                                                                       68valu

[Bizman]

The theory of hacking a joystick for this purpose is simple enough, but securing the mini potentiometers to the necessary levers are not a simple project.

This may be a stupid question, but isn't there a large variety of more sturdy pots with identical electric values available at specified stores? I've always thought the most difficult part to find would be the circuit board.

The travel movement of the pedals have to match the travel of the potentiometers, which may require some type of geared reduction.

Can't remember who and where, but IIRC LEGO gear has been succesfully used just for that purpose.



The picture links to a thorough tutorial on them followed with a LEGO gear ratio calculator.

 

[nrshida]

I use those gears in my projects too, fairly cheap off eBay. No lubricant required, quiet and versatile.

Thanks for posting the calculator, useful.

[68valu]

This may be a stupid question, but isn't there a large variety of more sturdy pots with identical electric values available at specified stores? I've always thought the most difficult part to find would be the circuit board.
Can't remember who and where, but IIRC LEGO gear has been succesfully used just for that purpose.



The picture links to a thorough tutorial on them followed with a LEGO gear ratio calculator.

 

With this gear chart posting, a different potentiometer may not be needed, just the right gear combination. Then all the circuitry and gearing should be suitable for making a usable set.
Now I have a project to think about!
Thanks for the link.

                                                                          68valu

[nrshida]

Can't remember who and where, but IIRC LEGO gear has been succesfully used just for that purpose.

Me maybe, the potentiometer is driven by the smaller gear:-

[Bizman]

Thanks, nrshida, and yes, it was you with that hard disk throttle. Nice work, I must say. 

[VonMessa]

Which one of you is going to build me an Arduino controller for my brewery?