[SOLVED] Cannot get PS3 controller to work

[Dr B.]

No problems building the Crazyflie. The video instructions were the most helpful. It self-tests just fine on start-up.

I had been trying for over a week to get the client software loaded (now successfully). The radio dongle is able to communicate with the Crazyflie, but the PS3 controller is unable to work or to be configured. I am running Windows XP on a serveral year old Toshiba notebook.

Initially the PS3 was popped-up as new hardware, but after a few attempts to plug it in, that no longer happened. I thought that meant that the PS3 controller drivers were somehow loaded, but it still did not function, nor was it able to be configured on the client. I was unable to locate the PS3 controller on Hardware profiles of Device Manager, but by sequentially plugging it in and unplugging it, it became apparent that it was in a "Human Interface" folder (not in the Game Controllers folder) in Device Manager.

It is now listed by Device Manager as working and the driver has not been flagged as inappropriate, or needing to be updated. I had even gone so far as to download PS3 joystick drivers suggested by two vintage 2006/8 websites. The more elaborate of which, Amir64 apparently used successfully, but it did not load and configure itself on its green and white web page for me (it just froze). Even worse, it seemed to have caused problems with the overall computer's functioning, so I eventually had to uninstall it and perform a system Restore, which fortunately worked.

It still won't configure and I cannot locate the C:\User\your_user\AppData\Roaming\cfclient file(?) / folder(?) by any combination of searches to delete. In addition on your instruction page "Steps to get the controller working", you mention a "Flight Data" tab, which I do not seem to have on my client.

Please advise. I can't wait to get the Crazyflie into the air.

[Dr B.]

By the way, the driver that I had the major problems with was the one downloaded (twice) from MotionJoy. I also tried drivers from
http://dl.qj.net/SIXAXIS-driver-for PC-PlayStation-3/pg/12/fid/11679/catid/518. It gave me a momentary pop-up black and white DOS window, which wasn't visible long enough to read. I had no idea if it successfully loaded the driver or not. At any rate it did not seem to cause problems with the computer overall, the way the MotionJoy driver/installer did.

[Dr B.]

Sorry for the typo. The address for the other driver was:
http://dl.qj.net/SIXAXIS-driver-for-PC- ... /catid/518

[Dr B.]

I finally found the cfclient folder. Its path is C:\Program Files\Crazyflie client\cfclient (not the path listed in your "Please note". It contains a file called "configs". When I dragged configs into the Recycle Bin, the client failed to load. It gave a black and white DOS screen, which disappeared in a few seconds, but no client GUI screen. The client did load when I put this folder back where it came from. I still cannot use the PS3 controller, nor configure it.

[tobias]

Have you tried pushing the middle PS button when running the cfclient? I also have a PC with WinXP and it displays it like the picture.

[Dr B.]

Tobias:

Many thanks for your reply. I have tried pushing the PS button for varying amounts of time on several occasions. It doesn't bring up any new screens. That is why I thought that the PS3 controller and/or driver were not properly installed, and tried to download the PS3 drivers from those two sources. But on Device manager, it does not have an yellow exclamation point next to it and is buried in a Human Interface folder and is noted to be working properly.

[Dr B.]

Tobias:

I get a screen like the one you show only when I access the Device Manager, but I have to go through the Start button to get to it. I assume that "Spelenheter" is the Device Manager. Am I correct?

[tobias]

Sorry for my Swedish WinXP. It might be called something similar to "game controllers" under the device manager. I installed it such a long time ago and can't really remember how but I'm almost certain it is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fotFIDi7BHU

[Dr B.]

Tobias:

Thank you. I already tried loading the drivers from that same video's link. It was the second one that I tried. The first was from MotionJoy, which caused problems with my system, so I had to eventually restore the system. The second driver download was from the website listed in your recommendation. When I ran the .exe installer, I got the black and white DOS screen, but for a very brief time (not long enough to actually read what it said). The PS3 game controller is not in the Game Controllers folder in Device Manager, it is in a "Human Interface" folder and from what it says, seems to be running properly and doe not need a driver upgrade. The client recognizes that I have a PS3 plugged in, but I cant use it or configure it. Any advice?

[tobias]

If you enter the properties for the PS3 controller in the picture I sent above do you get this screen and can you see the input from the controller? The predefined PS3 configurations works well for me so you should not have to create new ones. I sometimes have to push the "PS" button for the values to appear in the flight data->target values.