Joystick and keyboard input on the same board?

Projects General Guidance
1

Basically, as my first project, I am looking at making a keypad with a 2 axis thumb stick for additional input for space sims.

Would an Leonardo do the trick here or am I over-reaching here? I am aiming for something akin to the razer nostromo line, but with a thumb stick on place of the d-pad.

For arguments sake, lets assume I am doing 28 buttons (25 in a 5x5 grid, 2 modifiers and a final button as the depression of the thumb stick) as well as the 2 axis stick.

2

Well let me say from the start that I don't know for sure. However it would seem to me that making the Arduino act as two different USB devices at the same time is asking a bit much. Certainly the librarys I have seen don't offer that choice.

Human nature being what it is, if I am not correct some one is bound to jump in to prove me wrong.

3

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.

Can you tell us your electronics, programming, Arduino, hardware experience?

Thanks.. Tom.. :slight_smile:

4

I have a USB to PS2 adapter which allows me to have a keyboard and a mouse on the same USB port so this should be possible.

Mark

5

TomGeorge:
Hi,
Welcome to the forum.

Can you tell us your electronics, programming, Arduino, hardware experience?

Thanks.. Tom.. :slight_smile:

Hi Tom :slight_smile:

All my skills for the above areas are average at best, with the exception being arduino, thats none.
I understand this would be seen as an advanced project at best, but I was never one do do things by half.s

Grumpy_Mike:
However it would seem to me that making the Arduino act as two different USB devices at the same time is asking a bit much. Certainly the librarys I have seen don't offer that choice.

Thats the impression I got from looking at few github projects.

Another way to look at the project is: I want to build a joystick with 25 buttons and no hats.

6

want to build a joystick with 25 buttons and no hats.

That sounds reasonable.

7

Doograwr:
Basically, as my first project, I am looking at making a keypad with a 2 axis thumb stick for additional input for space sims.

Would an Leonardo do the trick here or am I over-reaching here? I am aiming for something akin to the razer nostromo line, but with a thumb stick on place of the d-pad.

For arguments sake, lets assume I am doing 28 buttons (25 in a 5x5 grid, 2 modifiers and a final button as the depression of the thumb stick) as well as the 2 axis stick.

I know it can be done on a Teensy 2 which has the same chip as the Leonardo that came out later.

Both have extra analog pins. You can run turnpots/sliders on the same controller, they show as more axes.

You will need to learn to write non-blocking code to make it run smooth. Don't miss that, the lesson is gold.