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adafruit / circuitpython

CircuitPython - a Python implementation for teaching coding with microcontrollers
https://circuitpython.org
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circuitpython for the steam controller #2531

Closed 2bndy5 closed 4 years ago

2bndy5 commented 4 years ago

Would it be feasible/possible to port CircuitPython to the steam controller's main processor (the LPC11U37F)?

The real advantage is a wireless remote control that can be programmed to use the nRF51822 (via UART and SWDIO/SWDCLK) to communicate with other Bluetooth modules (or hopefully Nordic proprietary protocols like Enhanced Shockburst used by the nRF24L01). In addition to the obvious monotone speakers/buzzers (may be doubling for haptic feedback), analog joystick/triggers, and various buttons, there's an Invensense MPU6500 accelerometer/gyroscope (via I2C), one white LED behind the steam button, and 2 circular trackpads (TM040040 via 1 SPI bus). All this hardware info and much more can be obtained from the OpenSteamController project. I know Valve stopped making them, but they're so easily hackable...

dglaude commented 4 years ago

I would love that, beep me for testing if ever it exist and I don't notice it... but this seems unlikely.

ladyada commented 4 years ago

128K Flash / 12KB SRAM makes it not a great target - our current 'minimal' configuration is samd21 with 256K / 32K and its a tight fit :)

only option that makes sense to us is you could program that chip to send BLE data that could be picked up by one of our BLE circuitpy boards.

2bndy5 commented 4 years ago

Thank you. @ladyada your experience is invaluable. The memory issue was my main concern. I guess I'll try Arduino IDE support instead. The mentioned OpenSteamController project has not started to reprogram the nrf51822 (via SWDIO/SWDCLK) yet, but they have written c++ firmware that can read most of the inputs (except the mpu6500) from the LPC11U37F.

For those that landed here from Google: This idea is dead, please check out the OpenSteamController project

ladyada commented 4 years ago

yep agreed, there's arduino drivers for all those chips - so ya just need to find a way to program the chip (DFU? SWD?) and find someone with an LPC11 BSP. good luck, and let us know if you find anything, we'll blog it up!

2bndy5 commented 4 years ago

Afraid of going a little off topic here, but I think they're using DFU as the process to reprogram the LPC11U37F is strikingly similar to updating CircuitPython (hold right trigger when plugging in USB and a small HDD is enumerated that contains firmware.bin). The one concern that's been lurking in my mind is no hard reset button, but valve most likely left usual testing pads exposed, so maybe there's a solution that involves soldiering.