Research Using Button Board for More Input

[roshanr10]

For some games, it may be beneficial to have more than the limited number of buttons on the gamepad. Some teams overcome this by using a button board. A button board simply maps a bunch of physical buttons as another custom joystick.

Here's some documentation on how to use the controller that we have: MSP430 LaunchPad Operator Interface for FIRST Robotics Competition

In the 2018 preseason, we will try to learn more about button boards and possibly create a general button board for future use.

[TechplexEngineer]

@roshanr10 Do you have any better pics than these from UNH team 195's button board?

[TechplexEngineer]

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

[roshanr10]

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/32-button-no-matrix-controller.html

[roshanr10]

no, I don't think I have any other pictures, but their top panel was just a grid of buttons, of a few different colors, with labels stuck on underneath.

[roshanr10]

@TechplexEngineer I think the DS32 or the TI might be better since we can use them with header pins, so they can be easily swapped. Although it's unlikely, the BU0836X requires rewiring to replace the board.

[TechplexEngineer]

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=180

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=205

[TechplexEngineer]

@roshanr10 I wholeheartedly disagree. I would much rather have a solid electrical connection. It is unlikely that we will need to switch them and much more likely that a wire will come off during a match.

[roshanr10]

@TechplexEngineer I agree, that is probably more likely. should we then order one of these to test or use the TI for now and switch later?

[roshanr10]

Here's an image of a pretty nice button board from 971: https://get.google.com/albumarchive/117769834305511597729/album/AF1QipMXW3bVv6xjktbJpdG_kFQUjxA1ZCbdsZaShMut/AF1QipNvxKXd7_pFEE-lyXj7dUgDS48mqHV4FoKpb8EW

[jaredbotte]

I am planning on hooking up my arcade panel to the board this weekend. The buttons that I have say they are .25A 30VDC. Is this the max it can take or is that what it needs because that seems like a lot for a small switch..

[roshanr10]

I think that’s the max that they can take, usually that’s how I’ve seen switches labeled.

@TechplexEngineer ?

[jaredbotte]

Now that I think about it it has to be because its literally just metal touching that makes the switch work. Its up to the board to get what voltage it wants.

[TechplexEngineer]

Yup it is the max. Some switches though, like the ones with lights built into them usually specify the max voltage for the little light.

[jaredbotte]

If we want to get this on the road, we need to buy a board or something so we can start working on it from a hardware and code standpoint

[ghost]

Button Board

[roshanr10]

@TechplexEngineer @jaredbotte is this something we're still considering as an option?

[TechplexEngineer]

There is nothing on the to buy list.

[roshanr10]

Just wanted to check in if that was something we should add.

I'll close this for the time being, as it seems unlikely with our current schedule.

I'd say these are the ones to use, if we decide to come back to this later: http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/ http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=205