Published November 6, 2021 © GPL3+

Arduino UNO Game Controller

A DIY game controller using Arduino Uno

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour4,524

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Tactile Switch, Top Actuated

Resistor 220 ohm

Story

full video

Story

I saw some videos about game controllers and I wanted to make one. But I didn't know that I couldn't make them with Arduino UNO until I programmed it. The libraries used (keyboard.h) in those projects allow the 32u4 and SAMD based boards (Leonardo, Esplora, Zero, Due, and MKR Family) to appear as a native Mouse and/or Keyboard to a connected computer, so an Uno(ATmega328p) won't work directly. Hmm, but I know another way to do it that's what I am sharing here.

Making it possible

When I didn't know c++ I used to program Arduino using python. While using python the Arduino always transmits and receives data. So I can utilize that to make our USB Gamecontroller. For this project, we also need to install pyfirmata and keyboard(just open a command prompt and type "pipinstallpyfirmatakeyboard"). Before that, we also need to upload a sketch called standard frimata from Arduino ide to establish serial communication between the PC and the Arduino.

Circuit Diagram

just wire it up

ENCLOSURE

I first placed everything on a breadboard and then used cardboard to cover it and added a little flavor to it and placed the Arduino to the back of the cardboard.

1 / 3

Final Part

Just connect it to your computer and run the given python code then take a game and start playing voila!!!

SuperTuxKart

If you need further more explanation about the code and other kinds of stuff then try watching this video

full video

Final Output

Final output

Code

Python code for the controller

''' Game controller
python for serial communication
what to do
when pressing a pushbutton send w/a/s/d to the computer'''

"""https://github.com/boppreh/keyboard"""
import pyfirmata
import keyboard
import time

board = pyfirmata.Arduino('/dev/ttyUSB0')   #Find the port from arduino ide

it = pyfirmata.util.Iterator(board)
it.start()

w_pin=board.get_pin('d:6:i')
a_pin=board.get_pin('d:11:i')
s_pin=board.get_pin('d:13:i')
d_pin=board.get_pin('d:8:i')


while True:
    w=w_pin.read()        
    if w==1:           
        keyboard.press("w")
    elif w==0:
        keyboard.release("w")
           
    a=a_pin.read()
    if a==1:
        keyboard.press("a")
    elif a==0:
        keyboard.release("a")
       
    s=s_pin.read()
    if s==1:
        keyboard.press("s")
    elif s==0:
        keyboard.release("s")
       
    d=d_pin.read()
    if d is True:
        keyboard.press("d")
    elif d is False:
        keyboard.release("d")

Credits

VinVout-io

10 projects • 5 followers

Electronics enthusiast. part-time Youtuber

Arduino UNO Game Controller

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

Story

Making it possible

Circuit Diagram

ENCLOSURE

Final Part

Final Output

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Python code for the controller

Credits

VinVout-io

Comments

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Arduino UNO Game Controller

Arduino UNO Game Controller

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Story

Story

Making it possible

Circuit Diagram

ENCLOSURE

Final Part

Final Output

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Python code for the controller

Credits

VinVout-io

Comments

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