Overview

The joystick prototype consists of two joysticks and a button. It can be wired up on a breadboard using the schematics. The joystick can be used for controlling the Mecanum car or steering car.

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Things used in this project

Hardware components

Picture	Name	Quantity	Link
	Joystick	2	One is included in the Starter Kit Component Kit, but you can purchase the second one here
	Tactile Push Button	1	Included in Starter Component Kit Or you can purchase it here
	Jumper Cables (MM)	4	Included in Starter Component Kit Or you can purchase it here
	Breadboard (any size)	2	Included in Starter Component Kit Or you can purchase it here
	Q-Client Builder Base	1	Q-Client

Tools Used

Picture	Name	Quantity	Link
	Small flat-head screwdriver	1	Included in the Starter Component Kit or you can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List

Build Process

The idea

This project is intended to show one how to setup a joystick with their Quantum platform. It’s an easy project that can be utilized to control numerous motor driven projects.

Video

Procedure

Step 1: Assemble the Hardware

To get started, gather all of the parts listed above.

Take your two joysticks and connect a male to female jumper wire to every terminal on them. Like so:

Now, on your bread board place the tactile push button and attach a MM jumper wire to one pin and another MM wire to the pin diagonal to that one, like so:

Finally, follow the schematic and bread board diagrams below to attach the components to the Builder Base:

Step 2: Build the Firmware

Navigate to the Firmware Builder and create a new Firmware file. We named ours Joystick.

Next, click the “+ Add Hardware” button and find the Joystick device via the search bar, select it, name it, and then click “Add Hardware”. We named ours Left.

Now, add another device by clicking the “Add Hardware” button again, and add another Joystick. We named this one “Right”.

Lastly, we will add one more device. Repeat the steps above to add another device, but this time search for a “Button”.

You should now have three devices in your firmware file.

Now you can follow this video to configure each device in the firmware file:

Now you can upload your firmware to the Build Base.

Step 3: Build the Application

Navigate to the Applications page and click the “+ Create New Button”, name your application, and click create.

You will now be directed to the App Builder Canvas.

Using the search bar in the left hand tool-bar search for the Joystick code object and drag it onto the canvas.

We will now name the Joystick code objects by clicking on them and editing their name in the right hand “properties” panel.

Search for a “Button” hardware object, drag it onto the canvas, and name it accordingly.

In order to save the names you must click the “Save Properties” button at the bottom of the properties tab.

Next, search for the “Slider Analog” code object using the search bar and drag four of them onto the canvas.

Search for the “Switch” object and drag three of them onto the screen.

At this point you should name and label all of your interface objects (The Switches and the Analog Sliders), as this will make them easier to identify on the dashboard.

We’ll show you how to do the first one. Select the object you wish to change the name of by clicking on it. The properties panel on the right will pop open. Here you can change the “Object Name” and the “Label”.

For this first object we will change both the Label and the Object Name to “X-Axis Left Joystick”. Remember to hit the “Save Properties” tab for each object that you rename, otherwise your changes will be lost.

Now that each of your interface objects are properly labeled, let’s connect the Hardware objects to them. Connect the objects as follows:

Your application is now complete! Save it and return to the Applications page.

Step 4: Map Your Application

You should now be back on the Apps page.

Find your “Joystick” app and hit the play button.

A list containing all of the devices in your application will expand.

Next click on the “Button” device and the client dropdown menu will appear on the right.

Select the Button driver from the dropdown menu and hit “Done”.

Repeat the same steps for the “Right” and “Left” Joystick devices.

Notice how the status symbols have changed to green checkmarks.

Step 5: Run the Application!

Lastly, hit “Save + Run”

Congratulations! Your Joystick project is now complete! You can now use this as input control for RC cars and other motorized projects!

Schematics

Code

Use the DIY Kit

You can also build this project with one of our DIY kits!

Check out the following project section of the Joystick DIY Kit page to find out how.

Gallery

Resources

App	View file name Joystick App.json
Firmware	View file name Joystick Firmware.json
Schematic
Fritzing	View file name Joystick.fzz