Is it possible to connect a PS3 controller to an Arduino with just a JY-MCU?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi guys! My goal to be able to control my robot I just made with my PS3 controller. I bought a JY-MCU bluetooth module in hopes that I could easily connect to my PS3 controller without much trouble. However, when I went looking for tutorials, the only ones I could find used a bluetooth shield and a USB dongle to connect to the Arduino ( I think this has something to do with the PS3 controller needing a special MAC address or something). Is it possible to connect a PS3 controller to an Arduino with just the JY-MCU? I greatly appreciate any help regarding this issue.

2

jaccoob23:
the only ones I could find used a bluetooth shield and a USB dongle to connect to the Arduino

I think that's right.

The JY-MCU is not a bluetooth device, it is simply the backboard to which bluetooth modules can be attached. If your bluetooth is an HC-06, you have no chance as it is a slave. If it is an HC-05 it can be configured as a master but I don't think it is masterful enough to operate with a PS3 controller. Both HC-05 and HC-06 can be controlled by an Android.

3

Thanks for the comment. Would I be able to use a bluetooth shield like this: http://www.robotshop.com/en/bluetooth-shield-arduino-master-slave.html, but still have access to all the pins the Arduino has? (So i can output signal to the motors, etc). Would this shield be enough to work with a PS3 controller? Thanks again, I appreciate it.

4

jaccoob23:
Would this shield be enough to work with a PS3 controller?

Look closely and and you will that the vital bit is visually indistiguishable from what you already have - it is just another HC-05.

All those jumpers are there so you can select which pins you connect Rx and Tx to but you only need two and the rest are available in the normal manner. You could plug a motor shield in on top of that that shield. All you need do is ensure that you don't have any clash of pin usage which, if you use hardware serial pins 0 & 1, is highly unlikely. Alternatively, you might install the motor stuff on the prototyping area provided on this shield.

None of this solves your PS3 problem

5

Okay. I guess I will go and purchase a USB shield and a cheap bluetooth dongle. Once again, thanks for the assistance. As a newcomer to the Arduino world, your advice is invaluable to a person like me.