Making a buttonbox - input wanted

[Maskmagog]

Hello people,
I'm gonna try to build a buttonbox, and would like some help with the layout or otherwise. Better to get feedback now, than when it's too late to change things

This will be the front plate of a slanted box, maybe 45 degrees?



These will be rotary encoders:
Brake = brake bias
FRB = Front AntiRollBar
RARB = Rear AntiRollBar
VOL = FFB volume
TONE = FFB tone

These will be square buttons:
PIT = Pit request
MOT = cycle MOTEC
NAM = cycle names in multiplayer
CAM = change camera view
PLM = Pit limiter
HDL = Headlights
WIP = Wipers

HDL, WIP and PLM might be pull switches, not sure yet. The box might be too light for that.

Top row is 5mm LED. The FLG (flag) LED at least will be RGB LED, to be able to change color.

Thoughts? Anything missing?

[Bealdor]

Looks nice but KERS and DRS should be activated by buttons on the wheel/controller IMO.

[Shepard2603]

Nice project, BUT will this work with the XBone? I assume you want to use something like an Arduino Leonardo board?! Is that compatible with consoles? How do you want to read the data from the game and feed it into the controller to activate your LEDs? The pit LEDs can be triggered by the buttons, but anything else needs to be read from the telemetry.

I really do not want to discourage you, I am just curious, if you figured a way out to actually realize this!

[Maskmagog]

Good point about KERS and DRS, I’ll probably move them to wheel buttons.

About led: I’m using vrHive on a Windows 10 laptop for telemetry, and it can output an easier data stream that will be read by an arduino. It *should* work (I think) Long term goal is to get arduino or Raspberry pi to read UDP directly, and make it standalone, if possible.
For the buttons, my plan is to slaughter an old keyboard and rewire that.
With my normal speed, all of it might be done by 2020...

[Shepard2603]

Very Interesting! So I see a solution with two microcontrollers here. One for sending your inputs to the console, one for receiving telemetry and triggering your displays/LEDs. Is there actually a solution for sending data from the laptop to the microcontroller?

[DozUK]

Good point about KERS and DRS, I’ll probably move them to wheel buttons.

About led: I’m using vrHive on a Windows 10 laptop for telemetry, and it can output an easier data stream that will be read by an arduino. It *should* work (I think) Long term goal is to get arduino or Raspberry pi to read UDP directly, and make it standalone, if possible.
For the buttons, my plan is to slaughter an old keyboard and rewire that.
With my normal speed, all of it might be done by 2020...

I think it's the quickest and the easier way to butcher a keyboard to do this, especially for a console.

One word of (Potential) warning, I'm not 100% but I seem to remember reading on other threads like this that there could be an issue with rotary encoders and consoles. I would check other threads on the same subject to be doubly sure before you invest. Technically there shouldn't be a problem as it's only a mapping but I'm sure I've read something along these lines. Hopefully there won't be and your project will go smoothly

[Maskmagog]

vrHive has a built-in function that sends serial data (telemetry) through com-ports, to for example an arduino. A PCars user, Gary Swallow, made an application called arDASHuino that reads this stream, and sends different data (rpm, gear, lap times etc) to lcd screens. My plan is to adapt arDASHuino, to display lap times on seven-segment displays, and control leds. Will it work? Well it should work. Can I make it work? Unclear

[Maskmagog]

If I get issues with the rotary encoders, it’s possible to use an arduino for that. Trial and error awaits.

[AbeWoz]

i used these for my button box. its encoded as a USB joystick so not sure if it will work for your application.

it also seems to be iffy with rotaries. waiting for my new rotaries to come in so i can test.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

not sure how/if it will work with LEDs tho.

my BBox doesn't have as many buttons, but i use it for: Headlights, Wipers, Pit Stop request, Mute/Unmute Discord voice, Ignition, TC and ABS, Hud Cycle and MoTeC cycle.
On my wheel I have KERS, DRS, Pit Limiter, Engine Start, Brake Bias, ICM controls.

[satco1066]

You need a network extension on the Arduino and then can decode the UDP stream to get the LEDs lit.
I tried it long time ago for PC1 on PC and it was no problem.
On the other side, i don't know if an Arduino button box is recognised by the XBX.