Broken xBox 360 Controllers

**Eventorizon** · 16th September 2013, 16:30

Kind of robot related...

I am going to attempt to transpose the insides of one of Spektrums transmitters into a 360 controller so that I can have better access to all the buttons and triggers in a more ergonomic fashion.

I know that is probably impossible so if that fails then I want to add an external connector so that I can hold the 360 Controller but have it wired to the electronics of the transmitter.

If that proves to difficult then I will simply hang the electronics off the bottom in a custom case.

Provided the case is intact and in good condition I don't mind. I will be at the Heavyweight champs if you have any to get rid of. The more the better, may need more than one attempt.

PM me with any questions/offers.

Thanks, Alex

**razerdave** · 16th September 2013, 17:04

I think its doable, but I'm not an xbox user, do you plan to have main drive control on the 4-direction pad, or on the 2 sticks ?

**Eventorizon** · 16th September 2013, 17:23

On the sticks but I may wire the left hand to the two triggers and they are usually used for weapons. Its much more intuitive after years of gaming to steer with right stick and fire the weapon with the right trigger. The D pad will probably be the D/Rs and the left trigger the throttle cut.

**Shakey** · 16th September 2013, 20:55

You can actually bind an xbox 360 controller to something like an arduino with a 2.4 GHz receiver module and run code (can be found on the web) to convert it into the necessary signals for speed controllers or have it switch relays for any off/on type weaponry.

It is also something I plan on doing when I get time. :P

**Eventorizon** · 16th September 2013, 21:13

There have been arguments in the past over the safety of custom systems, for various reasons. The easiest way to avoid this to keep the spectrum tech but put it in a better shell.

I have plans for a machine similar to Alcoholic Stepfather from the US. using a Xbox controller should make it a dream to drive.

**typhoon_driver** · 16th September 2013, 21:26

easiest way would likely be to interface the Xbox controller directly to the spectrum using the trainer plug on the back of it. You might get the size using an older original xbox big controller but the newer smaller ones you will struggle.

**Eventorizon** · 16th September 2013, 21:53

Yeah... I d di just hold my 360 controller next to my DX6i and immediately thought... that ain't going to go in there.
The issue with the interface is that once the stick inputs enter the Xbox's system it becomes non-standard. I would have to decode the output from the controller to allow the Transmitter to read it.
I could use a PS2/3 controller as they have a normal output but they are as unergonomic as a cactus.

**grant_ploughbot** · 16th September 2013, 22:37

There's a couple of ways you can do it. You can hard wire it into the standard TX and bypass the POTs thats are already on the TX with the ones in your Xbox controller. You may need to do a little bit of messing around with end points in the DX6i to get it right though.

The other way, and its the way that we do it is to plug a USB Xbox controller into a laptop and create a program that converts the controllers inputs into something useful. From there, there's 2 ways of getting that into your TX. Creating a fake buddy system or hard wiring to your TX. We've done both methods successfully.
James may have an old controller spare that doesn't work, I'll find out.

**Eventorizon** · 17th September 2013, 09:00

Thanks Grant. Is the software something you had to develop or is it something I could get hold of myself?

I think the key question would be though, are you guys happy using such a system at the champs? Providing the failsafes are set right I cant see an issue if anything went wrong.