SIXAXIS, Linux, robot... we're in.

Yeah, Wiimotes aren't the only motion-sensing game controllers that can be hacked for fruitless new uses. Take the new SIXAXIS Linux integration project, which, so far as we can tell, is an incredibly effective means for maneuvering small, custom robots in need of a good 3D controller for manipulating, um, a small flat plane. We have a feeling this won't be the last we've heard of this little project. Video after the break.

[Via QJ]

[Karl @ Apr 29th 2007 7:53PM]

oh God that's cool.

Why not ally with these guys (http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/05/remote-controlled-humans/) and create Sixaxis-controlled people?

[kingofwale @ Apr 29th 2007 7:56PM]

wow, I didn't know sixaxis controller are capable of detecting that varity of motion. (I thought it's just six motions) hmm.. so, why can't we port Wii games on there? ;)

[Kichigai Mentat @ Apr 30th 2007 10:36AM]

Because most of the big Wii games are first party? Besides, you'd look pretty goofy swinging around a SIXAXIS in Wii PS3 Bowling, or Wii PS3 Tennis, or God forbid Wii PS3 Golf.

[Paul @ Apr 29th 2007 8:05PM]

some people claim its fake, just a bunch of magnets.

[SR_G@m3r @ Apr 29th 2007 8:12PM]

This goes out to all the Wii fanboys out there, your not the only one with a revolutionary controller. Ours works just as good! =P

[LongshotX @ Apr 29th 2007 9:34PM]

How is the wiimote or sixaxis revolutionary? You make it seem like the technology has never been used. Like this is some sort of technological breakthrough.

[humpty @ Apr 29th 2007 8:24PM]

YouTube is awesomes..

[Tom @ Apr 29th 2007 9:20PM]

That is fantastic. So pointless, but so awesome at the same time. I think we need a word for things like this.

[ryan @ Apr 29th 2007 9:40PM]

if I'm not mistaken, its called a "hobby"

[Dave @ Apr 29th 2007 10:03PM]

How about Poisome!!!

And yeah, I think this is cool as hell... totally Poisome!!!

[SR_G@m3r @ Apr 30th 2007 12:09AM]

The only reason why I say its "revolutionary" is because its one of the first times its used within a video game system that is popular. I know its been around a long time, but this is the first time we have seen it in major gaming consoles.

[wii-tarded @ Apr 29th 2007 9:41PM]

totally useless but at the same time totally sweet

[ryan @ Apr 29th 2007 9:45PM]

that's one of the coolest projects i've seen in a long time. how can you say this is useless?
when they invented the electric motor people at the time thought it was very interesting, but useless...

[ryan @ Apr 29th 2007 9:47PM]

>>> That is fantastic. So pointless, but so awesome at the same time. I think we need a word for things like this.

lets call it a "mot" in honor of Tom

[Damien1247 @ Apr 29th 2007 9:49PM]

Does anyone have a link to this guy's website, or know where I could find more info on the concept? I searched the original article but I found that site to be a little cluttered. And the comments full of... well Ill keep that thought to myself.

On a random note, I wonder how hard it would be to implement this into controlling a full size robot (FRC) anyone know if using that type of control is proccessor intensive or what?

And forgive my stupidity, why is it a six-axis controller? I know the x,y,z axes but what are the other 3? Are they rotation axes? Again, sorry for the foolishness of this question.

[Lee Gibson @ Apr 29th 2007 10:41PM]

A six axis (or six degree of freedom) device can translate in the X, Y, and Z directions, and rotate about the X, Y, and Z axes.

The model above is a Stewart Platform, and it's one of the coolest mechanisms on the planet.

Frankly, I didn't ever think the sixaxis controller was worth a damn until seeing that video. That's extremely impressive.

[Kichigai Mentat @ Apr 30th 2007 10:36AM]

Huh. I always thought the SIXAXIS only tracked tilt, so the left stick was two axis, right stick was two more axis, then the tilt sensors were the final two, for a total of six. But if SIXAXIS measures in X, Y, and Z, then I guess I'm just a dum dum with bad information.

[Eric V @ Apr 29th 2007 11:16PM]

I'm impressed by the speed and accuracy of the movements. Great job!

[ryan @ Apr 29th 2007 11:24PM]

hey if you're thinking of new words,..

when choosing a slice of bread people always go past the first piece and choose the one behind it, regardles of weather it has a crust or not...

i think we need a word for that

[Eric V @ Apr 30th 2007 1:07AM]

I witnessed my roommate do just that with a loaf of bread tonight. I believe the word "bypasser" would suffice. People also do the same thing with milk. :)

[tehpyro @ Apr 29th 2007 11:27PM]

I say kudos to buddy who did this. I'm a nintendo fan myself... (Note I didn't use FANBOY) and I can definately say I like the work on this. Now All we need is benheck to make a super WiixAxis360 controller! And we're in business! One Controller to rule them all!!

[Kichigai Mentat @ Apr 30th 2007 10:36AM]

A better joke would have been a play on the fact the Wii was originally known as the Revolution, but meh.

[ryan @ Apr 30th 2007 1:00AM]

how does the platform rotate? the servos can only give it up down motion the way it's setup....

[ark_v2 @ Apr 30th 2007 1:17AM]

Hey! it's real time! finally!

[ryan @ Apr 30th 2007 2:13AM]

you mean they open a new carton before using the one that's already open? dispicable!

[Matt @ Apr 30th 2007 2:13AM]

When the Wii-Remote-Controlled robots do battle with the SixAxis-Controlled robots, who will win? Surely it will be epic.

[McFly @ Apr 30th 2007 2:21AM]

we also need a new word for people who posts comments that have nothing to do with the topic of the article

[Kichigai Mentat @ Apr 30th 2007 10:37AM]

You mean Off-Topic? *knock knock knock* McFly? Hello!

[ryan @ Apr 30th 2007 2:54AM]

ooohh you mean like you just did?
how about a tosser?

[KC @ Apr 30th 2007 4:19AM]

Wow. I thought the tilt controller was pretty basic until this. This just shows that game developers have a long way to go to harness even 50% of the technology that the PS3 has.

[Andy @ Apr 30th 2007 9:48AM]

As to the bread skipper, you always leave a "front slice" that gets dried up, you don't toss it every time, its the same one the whole time.

As to this device, its mighty cool. I wish they had instructions on how to build your own, I would definitely do it. And the Sixaxis really is that sensitive and responsive, I cant wait until developers take full advantage of it...

[Andy @ Apr 30th 2007 9:50AM]

I just noticed someone else referenced the device:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_platform

[jerrt @ Apr 30th 2007 9:59AM]

you know, i could see people hacking these into remote controlled planes and helicopters. i could definitely see the advantage of a sixaxis controlled helicopter controller.

[Justarius @ Apr 30th 2007 10:51AM]

Very cool. I see a lot of people surprised (and even doubting) the sixaxis can pull this off. Just go play Flow. That game is so responsive to the controls it's fantastic. You barely have to breath on the controller to make your organism slither and slide around the screen, going so far as to speed up your movements by getting the tail to twitch ever so slightly. A lot of people try that game and get frustrated because they use huge movements when all it requires is the slightest twitch. It can be incredibly smooth and accurate when you calm down and get into the groove of the game. Hence the above videos don't surprise me in terms of the sixaxis. I've been saying since day 1 that controller is great, just way underutilized by developers. Leave it to the unpaid Linux community to prove the concept. ;-) I think Sony is giving financially motivated game developers too much credit when they designed a console that requires thinking outside the box.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 30th 2007 11:05AM]

"how does the platform rotate? the servos can only give it up down motion the way it's setup...."

If you look at the position of the rods, they are not perpendicular to the table. Since the rods are angled, pushing up on one and down on the corresponding will result in rotational movement.