Using a game controller

Описание: When driving a bait boat, usually we have an RC Radio available to control it. In addition, when we have built in a wifi GPS, or even better, built in an autopilot (Ardupilot, firmware type Rover required) then we can use the Carp Pilot Pro app and control everything using this app as well. Actually, you do not need to use the RC radio at all as Carp Pilot Pro can control everything when the boat has an autopilot. There are examples of anglers who have removed the RC radio for good, while many others still have it available as a backup option but simply do not turn it on.

Carp Pilot Pro has had support for Android compatible game controllers for a while. Using Bluetooth preferably, but USB connection is also OK. And in a recent release the abilities have been extended as demonstrated here.

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR GAME CONTROLLERS TO WORK?
You need a bait boat with a built-in autopilot (ArduPilot only) and the Carp Pilot Pro app connected to this boat over a mavlink connection. If you drive beyond the maximum range of the mavlink connection then the game controller stops working.

WHICH GAME CONTROLLERS WORK?
The video includes a test of 5 different controllers. Not all are great. And one does not even work (the V-PARK). It looks awesome, but as it turns out the physical joystick that has great build quality sadly operates as a DPAD. And then it is a total waste of money.
This does not mean other controllers do not work, only that these are the ones I tested.

WHAT A GAME CONTROLLER CAN BE USED FOR:
As the demo shows, and as instructed in the following guide, the game controller's joystick (one or both) can be used to drive the boat (combination of throttle and steering). While the game controller's buttons can be assigned functions of choice. Functions for buttons include:
changing driving mode,
arming/disarming,
adding a new waypoint where the boat is positioned,
triggering goto (and even goto +) directly to markers 1-4, and
controlling any servo (turning them on or off) that you have in your boat.

IS PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION OR ALL-INCLUSIVE REQUIRED?
No. The abilities works for any owner of the Carp Pilot Pro. With one tiny exception:
The ability to trigger goto + (automatic drive to a marker, feed up and return using a single button click) requires premium. Everything else is non-premium abilities.

NOTE ON VISUAL AND AUDIBLE CONFIRMATION OF SERVO ACTIONS:
When you watch the video you can observe that when triggering a servo (using the RC radio or the game controller) the respective servo button on the screen lights up (turns green) when the servo is turned on, returns to transparent color when the servo is turned off again. The Carp Pilot Pro also speaks out the function name (like "bait tray left") loudly.
Please note that this ability is only available for servo channels 1-8. If you use channels 9 or above, the game controller will still work exactly the same way. But you will not get a visual and audible confirmation that the servo just got turned on/off.

NOTE ON AUTOMATIC LEARNING OF REMOTE CONTROL CHANNEL AND PWM VALUES:
As demonstrated in this video: When setting up a servo button you can have Carp Pilot Pro learn the channel and the minimum/maximum PWM automatically (when you move the corresponding stick or flip a switch). Please note that this is only supported for RC Radio, not for the game controller itself.

NOTE ON IMPORTANCE OF A QUALITY MAVLINK CONNECTION:
Finally, please also note that the use of game controller has a dependency of a decent mavlink connection. And also note that the max obtainable distance will be slightly shorter than the maximum range of the transmission link carrying the mavlink signal. Let me exemplify:

In the video you will observe a real life example of a max range test of mavlink. This particular boat is equipped with a Raymarine Dragonfly Pro, previously tested to 435 m max range. In the video you will notice that Carp Pilot Pro looses mavlink connection after 396 m. Ie: Shorter (around 10 %) than the max wifi range for that Dragonfly.

The point? If you use a game controller, the signaling between the game controller (through the Carp Pilot Pro) is based on mavlink. And with this boat I can forget to use the game controller if my goal is to fish beyond 400 meters. I probably should even avoid the dependency of a game controller only if my intention is to fish beyond 350 m (some security margin is always a good thing).

That said: The driving feel and the abilities of a game controller is fully on par with an RC radio. But you may not get the same reach out over the water body.

Thanks