Global VR replacement for Immersion PCB is......Arduino?

[BadMouth]

I was looking up the immersion pcb on Global VR's site and it seems to have been replaced by a new board:
Part #90633-01  Direct link not working.  Click on "buy need for speed parts" and enter in search bar of next page:http://service.globalvr.com/nfs.asp



Sure looks like an arduino to me.  EDIT: UNO R3 to be more specific.
It doesn't really look like something that could handle that high of a current either. 

Someone needs to dig into this, but I don't have time.
A plug and play arduino solution would be pretty sweet.
$390 for an arduino board and shield is pretty gougy. 

[Howard_Casto]

That's an Arduino UNO with a Robot Power "MegaMoto" Shield on it. 

http://www.robotpower.com/products/MegaMoto_info.html

It'll handle 28v @ 13 amps, which would probably barely be enough. 

The shield retails for 45 bucks and the Uno costs virtually nothing, especially if you get a clone. 

You are paying over 200 dollars for the firmware, which is indeed insane. 

[BadMouth]

I was kind of hoping we'd find the firmware on Global VR's site somewhere for free. 

(sigh, I need to get back to work...actual work...not this)

[BadMouth]

13 Amp should be plenty.  IIRC, I was pulling 6 or 7 tops when messing around with servo amps.

[BadMouth]

It doesn't say anything about drivers.  I wonder if the firmware works with the immersion driver already installed on the machines this is meant to be used with?

[Howard_Casto]

You can make an Arduino show up as anything, so to the pc it probably looks like the same device.  You'll note that there isn't a place to download the firmware anywhere on that site.  They know what they are doing. 

[yotsuya]

They shoulda used a Pi...

[baritonomarchetto]

Another evidence of how arcade oriented arduino can be

[aaronr33]

I really need this....

So I was able to find immersion drivers, but will also need program for the Arduino? 

Has anyone acquired that yet?




Tx

[landesmd]

I'm super interested in this solution as well, just lost my immersion PCB.  Anybody attempted buying the basic parts and giving it a go?  If I can't repair my existing immersion by replacing transistors then I guess I'll give this a shot.

[2huwman]

I'd be willing to buy the basic parts, but wouldn't know where to start with the programming I'm afraid.

That's assuming it would work (in theory) in my Chase HQ 2 cab, which has this Happ motor driver board:

https://na.suzohapp.com/products/driving_controls/50-2000-05

As well as the Happ wheel and motor!

Can anyone confirm that this is the way forward for my setup? Thanks!

[SteelRush]

There is going to be more than buying an Aduino and shield to match the configuration they are selling.

I found a manual on how you would wire the Arduino (Page 20):

http://service.globalvr.com/downloads/rr/040-0264-01A_RR_Dedicated_Install&Service_Manual.pdf

Unless I am missing something, this appears to only interface steering and nothing else.  I never have been able to get my hands on an Immersion PCB, but I thought they handled the I/O for brake/accelerate, buttons, etc.  Page 24 confirms there is a second I/O board used for the rest of the controls.  So add $250 to the price for this additional board needed.

[2huwman]

Good find with the Red Line Rampage Manual! It does look like it only handles steering and FFB. For games that support inputs from more than one device, something cheaper like an APAC could be used for the pedals.

But the main thing is the propriety firmware isn't it? Would it be possible to dump the firmware from an original board, and then reuse it?

[landesmd]

Unless I am missing something, this appears to only interface steering and nothing else.  I never have been able to get my hands on an Immersion PCB, but I thought they handled the I/O for brake/accelerate, buttons, etc.  Page 24 confirms there is a second I/O board used for the rest of the controls.  So add $250 to the price for this additional board needed.

You're not missing anything, on my NFS GT arcade this is the only thing my Immersion boards handle.  The gas/brake/buttons are all handled by another GPIO board.  I was able to replace that particular board with a LED-Wiz+GP from GroovyGameGear.  It works like a champ and can handle turning on/off the lamps as well.  I suppose if there were additional unused portions of the Arduino you could probably use that and have a single solution.

[SteelRush]

I realize you can hack the original harness to a different device, but besides FFB, the appeal of the original immersion PCB was not having to modify the existing wiring.  It is nice having an easy path to de-conversion.

[landesmd]

I actually wired the LED-Wiz+GP to DB-25 and DB-37 male connectors and plug the existing cables into those without any hacking/modification.  My goal is also to leave the original wiring in place.

[DaredevilDave]

Good find with the Red Line Rampage Manual! It does look like it only handles steering and FFB. For games that support inputs from more than one device, something cheaper like an APAC could be used for the pedals.

But the main thing is the propriety firmware isn't it? Would it be possible to dump the firmware from an original board, and then reuse it?

I think the word is steal.

I stopped posting here because of threads like these. Thought I'd stop in and take a look today, but I see this has become a "let's hack brand new games and hardware" forum. To each his/her own but it isn't for me anymore. Flame away, I won't be back to read it.

[Howard_Casto]

Your argument is ridiculous.  When your washing machine breaks down and you need a part, it isn't "stealing" because the shop down the street tries to sell and off the shelf part for $400 for 60 by slapping a sticker on it and you refuse to pay the insane markup. 

If you have a global vr machine, the firmware included with the original hardware is included with your purchase.  Trying to transfer it to a new or updated board isn't stealing, rather it is repairing without getting price gouged. 


Long story short, nice try man, but troll somewhere else. 

[yotsuya]

That was an .... odd post from Dave.

[2huwman]

Good find with the Red Line Rampage Manual! It does look like it only handles steering and FFB. For games that support inputs from more than one device, something cheaper like an APAC could be used for the pedals.

But the main thing is the propriety firmware isn't it? Would it be possible to dump the firmware from an original board, and then reuse it?

I think the word is steal.

I stopped posting here because of threads like these. Thought I'd stop in and take a look today, but I see this has become a "let's hack brand new games and hardware" forum. To each his/her own but it isn't for me anymore. Flame away, I won't be back to read it.

Slander! How dare you, Sir! I'm not planning on stealing anything!

My concern is that Global VR are asking $390 for the kit, $120 for shipping to the UK (seriously, try adding it to your basket and select UK). And with 20% import duty + fees, I could be looking at around $600 for this - which is actual robbery! But if I make an investment like that, I'm going to want to know that I can protect it if the hardware fails - for example, by building my own replacement.

But fear not, I've managed to buy two of the older revision for a much more reasonable price.

(*use or reuse by all other parties (especially, but not limited to, DaredevilDave) is strictly prohibited)

[Mike A]

Did Dave just cropdust us?

[BadMouth]

A post was reported for moderation, but I don't feel that "it would be nice to get the firmware" rises to the level of linking to ROMs or stating where to get them.

Always nice to wake up and see an email of a reported post though.  /sarcasm


One of the goals here has always been an affordable and easy plug and play interface for original controls.  Discussing Global VR moving to an Arduino shows that it is possible. 

The idea of a thread like this is to gather information and create interest, with the hope that someone with the proper skillset comes across it and thinks to themself "cool, I could program that". 

The members here have accomplished some pretty cool things.

[Malenko]

Slander!

Slander is spoken, Libel is written.

I have one of the older Immersion PCBs, who wants to buy it from me?

[2huwman]

Slander!

Slander is spoken, Libel is written.

Well, aren't you a 

Oops - nearly libelled you there!

[Malenko]

Its also not Libel if its true. So, you didnt

[aaronr33]

I got a Arduino working with happ controls, played initial D 6 using ffb steering In a cruisn world cabinet.

I couldn't fork over the cash global VR wants for the Arduino immersion replacement.

I will eventually reverse engineer the immersion Arduino firmware using the immersion ffb driver which is available and the code used for the ffb on the Arduino I used. 

Seperate H bridge was used rather than tophst as the tophst was not available for Arduino board I used.

Also had to switch steering feedback from potiometer to encoder with 3 axis

Arduino can also handle all buttons and analogue inputs ( gas and brake)

[SteelRush]

I got a Arduino working with happ controls, played initial D 6 using ffb steering In a cruisn world cabinet.

I couldn't fork over the cash global VR wants for the Arduino immersion replacement.

I will eventually reverse engineer the immersion Arduino firmware using the immersion ffb driver which is available and the code used for the ffb on the Arduino I used. 

Seperate H bridge was used rather than tophst as the tophst was not available for Arduino board I used.

Also had to switch steering feedback from potiometer to encoder with 3 axis

Arduino can also handle all buttons and analogue inputs ( gas and brake)

Sounds awesome.  You will have a lot of interested folks in this solution.

[aaronr33]

Prototype materiel for Happ ffb HId all in controller has com in.

Time to start programming

[BadMouth]

Woohoo! 

[bandicoot]

  good job go go go

[DudeRegular]

I have two of these boards. Would probably let one go if anybody needs it. Have to hang onto one for that project I will probably never get to...

Would give priority to one of the guys doing the magic coding and reverse engineering.

[Brian74]

I have two of these boards. Would probably let one go if anybody needs it. Have to hang onto one for that project I will probably never get to...

Would give priority to one of the guys doing the magic coding and reverse engineering.

I'm interested if one of the engineering guys dont want it.

[drun]

Prototype materiel for Happ ffb HId all in controller has com in.

Time to start programming

Have you all seen this project https://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/diy-ffb-steering-wheel-mmosffb-in-progress.7769/page-8

I am wondering if it can be tied into the happ controls.   The cost of the immersion board is outrageous. 

[68hc11]

Wow, those DIY rigs are pretty crazy.  The firmware for the Arduino (leonardo) is already there and looks really substantial.  I don't see too many wheels that are 270, it looks like most are 360/900.  I'm still interested in the drop in solution for an arcade wheel (happs)

Did anyone notice that one of the sites has a free download for the Renault truck racing simulator (granted it is a bit old)?

the link is down at the moment?  http://www.gameseed.fr/cms/en/games/truck-racing-by

[Empo]

 
Great things!. I am going to give the Arduino solution a try. I have what i think is a "clone" of Happīs FFB steering panel with 90v motor.

Looking for suitable rotary encoder right now.

[Empo]

Has anyone tried this product out?  http://www.rofelectronics.com/products/usbdayffb.html   (i used google translate)
Seems like i great solution, especially if you have a original SEGA cab.

[BadMouth]

Has anyone tried this product out?  http://www.rofelectronics.com/products/usbdayffb.html   (i used google translate)
Seems like i great solution, especially if you have a original SEGA cab.

First time I've seen it.

"Made in Argentina"

Nuexx my friend, are you involved with this? 

[Howard_Casto]

Is there a price anywhere? 

[Drnick]

https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-764115937-daytona-usb-ffb-interfaz-para-daytona-usa-simuladores-_JM#reco_item_pos=2&reco_backend=machinalis-seller-items&reco_backend_type=low_level&reco_client=vip-seller_items-above&reco_id=06b51b9b-cfd8-4677-9ed6-5cec49849071

By my reckoning 2999 is about 80 dollar US

[Howard_Casto]

That's not terrible.  It's not great, but not terrible either.