I am totally new to the hardware scene and would appreciate some advice.
So I want to mod a PS3 controller and create my own custom controller using a mouse and Belkin Nostromo Speedpad.
Could the arduino board be used to "emulate" a PS3 controller? I see posts and examples that talk about how you can hook a PS3 controller to the board (wires/wifi/bt) and then use it to control other devices but could one hook up the USB mouse and the USB Speedpad to the arduino and then go from the arduino to the PS3 to "emulate" a PS3 controller?
Here is how I would see the emulation work:
Right Analog Stick->Mouse
Left Analog Stick->Nostromo Thumb Controller (4-way pad)
R1/2/3 Buttons->Mouse Buttons
L1/2/3 Buttons->Nostromo Keys
Triangle,Circle,Square,X->Nostromo Keys
4 Way Pad->Nostromo Keys
It would be awesome if it could be done plug and play style using the existing USB, but if it requires cutting wires and soldering the nostromo that's fine.
I did see an article about a PS2 mod that hooked a mouse into a wired PS2 controller via an arduino and a digital pot which is what sparked this whole idea...
I don't need the nitty/gritty (yet) but just a general idea if it could be done by a novice who is willing to learn.
Well if these can be hooked up to a computer (desktop) you can easily interface with a processing sketch. The data can be sent via Serial, and the arduino can control the buttons with servos, relays or transistors.
Like I said, I'm new to this so please excuse my lack of knowledge...
The mouse, speedpad and PS3 controller can be hooked up to a PC because they all have USB connections.
I'm not sure what you mean by "control the buttons with servos, relays or transistors". I'm extremely green when it comes to this, I have a programming background but have not worked with hardware really at all...when I hear servo I think back to my rc car kit and the little black motor (which we called a servo) that was used to steer it! I don't think that is what you meant, but I guess ya never know...
Anyway, it would be nice if I could get the "signature" of the controller and what happens when a button is pressed and then program the arduino so that it has the same "signature" and can be plugged directly into the PS3 and as far as the PS3 knows it is connected to a PS3 controller.
I guess another option would be to hook the controllers to the arduino and then connect the arduino to the the actual controller somehow...this would essentially make the arduino a translator between the mouse/keyboard and the actual PS3 controller which would then simply relay the commands to the PS3.
Basically when I press a button on the mouse, I want the PS3 to think a button on the PS3 controller was pressed.
but just a general idea if it could be done by a novice who is willing to learn.