Turning a PS2 Joystick into a DC Motor Controller: A Day in Robotics

Hello, friends!

Today was one of those jam-packed days that felt like a juggling act. I spent a good part of my day moving boxes and organizing the house, which was exhausting in itself. However, amidst all the chaos, I managed to carve out some time for an update on my robotics project. Robotics is my passion, and despite the endless demands of daily life, I’m committed to making consistent progress—even if it’s just one small step at a time.

The Plan: Repurposing a PS2 Joystick

My goal for today was straightforward but challenging: integrate a PS2 joystick into my robotics system as a controller. I began with high hopes, intending to use the joystick’s original components and wiring to connect it directly to my microcontroller. The idea was to minimize modifications and keep the setup as clean as possible.

The First Hurdle: A Faulty Joystick

I started by carefully disassembling the PS2 joystick, eager to examine its internals. My initial inspection revealed that one of the joysticks wasn’t functioning correctly; it only rotated in one direction. This discovery set me back, but I decided to dig deeper and figure out the root cause.

Upon opening the faulty joystick, I realized I didn’t have the necessary replacement parts to fix it. To make matters worse, while attempting to reassemble the joystick, a portion of the board got damaged. This was a frustrating setback, but setbacks are part of the process in any DIY project. Instead of dwelling on the failure, I quickly shifted gears and formulated a new plan.

Pivoting to a New Approach

My revised approach was to salvage the working joystick from the controller. I decided to connect it to a breadboard and manually control its inputs. After some careful soldering, I managed to detach the functional joystick. However, a new problem emerged: the joystick pins weren’t labeled.

To solve this, I referred back to the controller’s PCB and traced the paths to identify the ground, signal, and voltage pins. It was a meticulous process, but perseverance paid off. With the pins identified, I proceeded to experiment with the wiring, adjusting and testing until everything was connected correctly.

Success: Controlling a DC Motor with the PS2 Joystick

Finally, after several hours of trial and error, I successfully used the PS2 joystick to control a DC motor. This milestone, though small, felt incredibly rewarding. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love working on robotics projects—the thrill of overcoming obstacles and seeing your ideas come to life is unmatched. and here's a short video of the whole process on my youtube channel:

Lessons Learned

While today’s progress didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, it was a valuable learning experience. Here are some key takeaways:

Plan for Setbacks: DIY projects often involve unexpected challenges. Having a backup plan can save time and frustration.

Stay Resourceful: When one path doesn’t work, look for alternative solutions. Adapting quickly is crucial in problem-solving.

Celebrate Small Wins: Even incremental progress is worth celebrating. Every step forward brings you closer to your goal.

Looking Ahead

Although I’m not entirely satisfied with the day’s progress, I’m excited about what’s next. Robotics is a journey of constant iteration and improvement, and I’m committed to making better updates in the future. The next step is to refine the joystick’s integration and explore more advanced control mechanisms.

Thank you for following along on this journey! Your support really means a lot to me and I'm thankful for that. I hope this post inspires you to tackle your own projects, no matter how big or small. If you’ve ever worked with PS2 joysticks or similar controllers, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Let’s share ideas and learn together!

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thank you for your support.