I would like to make a gamepad that retains all the functionality of a normal console controller (PS4, Xbox), but with a special modification: I want to replace the right analog stick with a trackball. The goal is to use this controller on Windows PC for shooting games.
I found a tutorial that uses an Arduino Pro Micro to make a traditional gamepad, but I have no idea how to integrate the trackball or what hardware is needed.
I therefore ask for your opinions and advice on the feasibility and implementation of this idea, taking advantage of the Arduino ecosystem.
An analog joystick is usually two potentiometers (or two Hall effect sensors) to sense a force vector. A trackball uses encoders (optical chopper) for sensing movement. You would need to translate two changing resistances (or Hall feedback) to two pulse trains.
Thank you for the response.
It seems feasible, right?
As mentioned in my presentation, I have no knowledge of electronics and I am trying to understand, as a novice, if it is possible for me to realize this idea.
Do you have more detailed advice on how to proceed? Thank you.
Hold a joystick to the left... you will get a constant "left" reading. Self-centering will give readings of "no changes."
Move a trackball to the left... after the initial "left" movement you will get "not moving" ... but to continue left you need to continue moving the trackball. No movement of the trackball will give readings of "no changes."
Find the document of the physical form of the joystick and trackball to see if they are physically compatible.
After the physical part is established, code needs to accept pulses that once were voltage levels.
For the task that the trackball will perform, which is controlling the point of view in a First Person Shooter game, the behavior you described is exactly what I want, so it is not a problem. Regarding the physical form of the joystick and trackball, I will consider that later. For now, I want to identify the necessary components and the feasibility.
Look for "(your joystick) datasheet" and "(your trackball) datasheet". That should give you a drawing of the device and electrical requirements. Find trackball and joystick projects to learn the form of the output and the output was used.
This sounds like a fun project! To integrate the trackball, you can use a PS/2 or USB trackball module with your Arduino Pro Micro. The module will output X and Y data, which can be mapped to the right analog stick using the Joystick library. Just be sure to adjust the sensitivity to make the controls feel smooth in the game.
Also, make sure to choose a high-resolution trackball to avoid lag. Once everything is wired up, you should be able to simulate the right analog stick's functionality.
Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you need help along the way!