can I programmatically control an xbox 360 console from a PC using a USB cable?

[bgarceau]

I have an application that may require LabVIEW, some software normally associated with LabVIEW or both...

I would like to be able to programmatically control an Xbox 360, via a PC, and through the use of a USB cable connecting both. I have setup a separate Xbox 360 console as a "dedicated server" for my gaming clan. I would like to be able to have the PC issue scripted commands according to a schedule, that will cause the console to power up, start the specific game (disk in the machine already), and then proceed through a number of Xbox 360 controller button actuations to cause the game to essentially be ready to play.

If possible, I would like to find software that I could install on my PC (currently run with a Windows XP SP2 OS, but I have access to many versions of Windows and also Linux and soon, Solaris Unix).

I have tried using various Infrared devices that connect to and are controlled by my PC, but none so far have allowed the infrared signals to work once the game is launched (apparently, only controller signals generated through a USB cable or through RF from a wireless Xbox 360 remote work once the game is launched - and that probably because the IR signals are meant to control the console as a media device).

I would appreciate any direction that you 'all could offer. Thanks in advance!

[Nick_D]

Hey Bgarceau,

It sounds really interesting your application you're trying to develope. A good starting point would be the driver developement wizard to get the USB detected.

Afterwards, the communication is high device dependant.

Regards,

Nick D

[Britoa]

very interesting project, but the major problem is that you have two USB hosts.  The xbox is looking for a gamepad and the PC is looking for, well, just about anything that is a device.  Your first problem is that you need to get them to communicate through a middle-man, something that shows up like an xbox-control-device on the PC and a standard xbox gamepad on the xbox.  If you are just trying to avoid needing to go to the other room to turn on the xbox, this project may be more trouble than it is worth, but don't let me squash your project (I am not trying to, honest)

Once you get the hardware interface done, a simple scheduling interface could be made pretty easilly, polling the time once every minute (or 5 or whatever) to see if it is the right time to start, then run through a set of timed commands to go through bootup (it takes x long to boot before the next button, x long to let the menu catch up, etc.)

Another option, depending on how much you treasure xbox controllers and such is to use the innards of one controller, with a small interface chip to send commands directly.  This would require some soldering, and a bit more understanding of the insides of the controller.  it may not work well with the analog buttons, but I can't be sure really.

Good luck!

[RobCole]

Interesting idea.

It would be possible to cut into a controller and replace the buttons with digital output controlled relays. Then a good DAQ card could do all the work for you.

Alternatively, you could get one of the Lego Robotics kits and build a LabVIEW controlled system to physically press the buttons. (I kind of like this idea as it's so Rube Goldberg).

[bgarceau]

Thanks for your replies everyone, and thanks to NI for this great forum!

The last solution appears to be pretty close to what I'd like to do. If I understand you Robert, I would attach a DAQ to my PC via USB and would control that device via software, then the DAQ connects to a digital output controlled relay (looks multiple wires, and screw-on connections) and then there would be separate wires connecting 'channels' (my term) from the relay to individual button wires inside of the gaming controller? The signals coming from the controller following this would therefore appear as normal.

If this is correct, could you suggest any specific devices for this? I see that NI makes several USB DAQ's includng the USB-6501, 6008, and 6009. I also have seen many digital output controlled relays available from different vendors. I could use some assistance with the finer points for choosing the correct ones to purchase.

In case it makes any difference although the controller has analog functions my requirements are for only the digital buttons only as I would simply be proceeding through the Console's menu (left, right, up, down, enter/select, etc.), launching the game, and then within the game continuing to choose among the game's menu items, ultimately according to a script. So, I don't see any need to be able to actuate either of the 'sticks' which are analog in nature.

Thanks!

[RobCole]

Well, I'll have to let someone else deal with those questions. I've never worked with any of the USB DAQ devices. I've worked mostly with PXI, cFP and cRIO devices. And all of our relays are rail mount (inside the equipment we build).

I guess that I'd have to do a bit of research to figure out what would work best...

But basically, you have the idea for how I thought it might work.

Message Edited by Robert Cole on 08-03-2007 01:20 PM

[unclebump]

Maybe you could use a USB bridge cable between the devices.

http://www.usbgear.com/link/usb_cable_setup.html

[bgarceau]

I looked at unclebump's suggesting of the USB-USB cable and it appears that it is mainly for file transfer. I saw no drivers or software that might allow me to emulate the xbox 360 controllers so it looks to me like this would not work for my purposes. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I have placed a query with NI technical support to see if a USB-6501 DAQ in conjunction with a relay (hopefully a NI device) will work for my application. I would really like to puchase the necessary hardware and prove this solution out.

I'll post any info I receive from the support query.

[unclebump]

Maybe these could be placed inline with the controller to reverse engineer the code

http://www.getcatalyst.com/datasheets.html  Look at the USB analyzer.

http://www.totalphase.com/products/beagle/usb12/

http://www.protocoltools.com/usb/index.htm

Maybe you could get one sent as a demo for a week.

[bgarceau]

It turns out that after my discussions with the NI tech (Elizabeth) I will only need a relay. I have attached a picture of the controller's circuit board and used a blue arrow to point to the button contacts for the "A" button. I have also shown (wrong colors I know) shown "wires" that I intend to solder to each contact. The plan is to bring one wire pair for each button that I need to actuate back to the relay. The relay is then programmable from the PC through the use of provided API subroutines.

This should work!

Message Edited by bgarceau on 08-10-2007 04:14 PM