My FRC robotics team is making a drivable cart for our robot and were using an Leonardo to set motor values based on a potentiometer, but I wondered if there's a way to use the joystick axis data from a USB Logitech controller straight to the arduino and somehow use the Y axis to write the motor values?
I'm not sure, but would it be a reversal of this article's work in inputting joystick values to a PC? Maybe some custom libraries or something? http://www.imaginaryindustries.com/blog/?p=80
Correct me if I'm wrong, but electrical-wise, the controller could be powered from either the Leonardo or an external 5V source (GND too) and the A and B data would go to two digital pins, right?
but I wondered if there's a way to use the joystick axis data from a USB Logitech controller straight to the arduino and somehow use the Y axis to write the motor values?
The Arduino is a slave. The Logitech controller is a slave. Without a master around, the slaves will sit around all day and drink beer.
Adding a USB Host shield into the mix provides a master, but then you need to write the driver for the controller. If you have to ask, I'd say that it is safe to assume that you are not up to the task.
I wondered if there's a way to use the joystick axis data from a USB Logitech controller straight to the arduino and somehow use the Y axis to write the motor values?
You could hack the joystick and just use the pots in the joystick and skip the USB stuff.