Reading Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System Data for UAV Usage
Here is the (Python) code I used for getting my Saitek Pro Flight Yoke (http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/yoke.htm) data from the device into something usable. Python has a fantasic pygame library which reads joystick data. This is just a simple script that is short and sweet. This code reads all the motion axis (ie. the yoke, hat and throttles, ) and all of the buttons. Feel free to play around with it. I really dont want to use a RC transmitter for my UAV as I can so so much more with this device. Let me know what you think.
And you don't need the Pro Flight Yoke to use this - any joystick will do :)
USAGE NOTE: to execute type 'python filenameyousavethecodeas.py'
######################## START CODE ##############################
import pygame
joy = []
# Handel the joystick event
def handleJoyEvent(e):
# Check for joystick axis movement
if e.type == pygame.JOYAXISMOTION:
axis = "unknown"
if (e.dict['axis'] >= 0):
axis = 'a' + str(e.dict['axis'])
if (axis != "unknown"):
s = "%s|%f" % (axis, e.dict['value'])
print s
# Check for buttons
if e.type == pygame.JOYBUTTONDOWN:
if(e.dict['button'] >= 0):
print 'b' + str(e.dict['button'])
# wait for joystick input
def joystickControl():
while True:
e = pygame.event.wait()
if (e.type == pygame.JOYAXISMOTION or e.type == pygame.JOYBUTTONDOWN):
handleJoyEvent(e)
# main method
def main():
# initialize pygame
pygame.joystick.init()
pygame.display.init()
if not pygame.joystick.get_count():
print "\nPlease connect a joystick and run again.\n"
quit()
print "\n%d joystick(s) detected." % pygame.joystick.get_count()
for i in range(pygame.joystick.get_count()):
myjoy = pygame.joystick.Joystick(i)
myjoy.init()
joy.append(myjoy)
print "Joystick %d: " % (i) + joy[i].get_name()
print "Depress trigger (button 0) to quit.\n"
# run joystick listener loop
joystickControl()
# allow use as a module or standalone script
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
And you don't need the Pro Flight Yoke to use this - any joystick will do :)
USAGE NOTE: to execute type 'python filenameyousavethecodeas.py'
######################## START CODE ##############################
import pygame
joy = []
# Handel the joystick event
def handleJoyEvent(e):
# Check for joystick axis movement
if e.type == pygame.JOYAXISMOTION:
axis = "unknown"
if (e.dict['axis'] >= 0):
axis = 'a' + str(e.dict['axis'])
if (axis != "unknown"):
s = "%s|%f" % (axis, e.dict['value'])
print s
# Check for buttons
if e.type == pygame.JOYBUTTONDOWN:
if(e.dict['button'] >= 0):
print 'b' + str(e.dict['button'])
# wait for joystick input
def joystickControl():
while True:
e = pygame.event.wait()
if (e.type == pygame.JOYAXISMOTION or e.type == pygame.JOYBUTTONDOWN):
handleJoyEvent(e)
# main method
def main():
# initialize pygame
pygame.joystick.init()
pygame.display.init()
if not pygame.joystick.get_count():
print "\nPlease connect a joystick and run again.\n"
quit()
print "\n%d joystick(s) detected." % pygame.joystick.get_count()
for i in range(pygame.joystick.get_count()):
myjoy = pygame.joystick.Joystick(i)
myjoy.init()
joy.append(myjoy)
print "Joystick %d: " % (i) + joy[i].get_name()
print "Depress trigger (button 0) to quit.\n"
# run joystick listener loop
joystickControl()
# allow use as a module or standalone script
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
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Comment by Matt Fisher on March 31, 2009 at 4:04pm -
Seems like the interface for the site butchers the code - proper indentation is needed. My bad.
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Comment by tycinis on April 1, 2009 at 2:31am -
why do you try this :
http://www.endurance-rc.com/pctx.html
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Comment by Matt Fisher on April 1, 2009 at 5:17am
-
Very cool device - But I will be using a different freq and device to transmit my radio signal. Regardless, bookmarked the link, thanks.
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Comment by Lorentz on April 2, 2009 at 4:19am -
Hi Matt, nice job.
I'd like to do something similar, i.e. replacing the RC with PC + joystick + Xbee
but I'm wondering about the delays introduced by the whole system.
Have you got any figures about the time delays ?
thank you
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Comment by Matt Fisher on April 2, 2009 at 5:21am
-
As for data relay delay, because I have around 80 inputs just from my joystick device I am planning on only sending updates of positions that have changed since their last recognized. That way the whole 3KB/s limit on the XBee is met, well, I hope. I will let you know once I get some more test results with beefier code.
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Comment by Lorentz on April 2, 2009 at 2:11pm
-
ok. thank you in advance.
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Comment by Matt Fisher on April 2, 2009 at 5:09pm
-
What kind of input device are you looking at getting Lorentz?
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Comment by Lorentz on April 3, 2009 at 3:08am
-
I haven't a specific input device in mind yet, any suggestions are welcomed.
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Comment by Matt Fisher on April 3, 2009 at 5:14am
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Well I have to say if your willing to pay for it. The Saitek ProFlight Series has really nice stuff. I have the throttle box and yoke system as mentioned above.
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Comment by Noth666 on April 3, 2009 at 7:22am -
Which XBee are you using for this? I am working on something very similar but using Saitek Hotas joystick and throttle/rudder with XBee 868. Will prolly make my own tranceivers as I am not impressed with the XBees tho.
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