Hacking PS2 controllers

Having got the basic arduino servo options sorted (if not finished), I have been rooting about for ready-made compact controllers. I have decided not to overstretch and will use a wired system for now, but may change to wireless later. Anyway, I wondered what's in a PS2 controller...

Here's what the PS2 controller looks like taken apart:

 

Here's what the joystick looks like. The blue things are potentiometers

The other side, showing the press down button (the white bar pushes down on the black switch

Here is the joystick wired up to the arduino controlling the servo












BLISS!

  

Making eyeballs

Here's a prototype eyeball mechanism, built to try out in practise how to make eyballs move in any direction, by using 2 controls - one for up/down and one for left /right.

This is a test to see how it might be done in an automata.

The left right is controlled by a pivoting tube (cut from a ball point pen), and within it is a cable that controls up and down

the round casing limits the degree of left/right movement of the eyes when in an up or down position, and limits up and down, when in a left or right position. This means the casing should be square not circular

Video showing front and back of "head"

Cutting eyeballs

Obviously, why make the eys, when you can cut some off old deodorants. (Keeping old deodorants isn't weird is it?

...and fitting control rods in the back