David’s Opinions

Here’s an idea…

Now that the iPhone SDK has been released it’s time to start thinking about how the iPhone or iPod Touch could be used to control and fire missiles from the USB Missile Launchers. So I’ve been thinking…

1. Missile Luncher(s) are connected to a Mac running USB Missile Launcher NZ software

2. iPhone/iPod Touch software uses accelerometer to control axis movement of the launcher and touching the screen fires the launcher

How will it work internally?

We’ll I don’t know nearly enough about the SDK yet. The USB Missile Launcher NZ software is AppleScript enabled. So the thought is that if the iPhone application can send through AppleScript events to the Mac running the USB Missile Launcher NZ software then we have a winner!

The hard bit here is that I don’t have an iPhone or iPod touch with which to test and I live outside the US and cannot enrol the iPhone developer program at this point. If anyone wants to try developing this idea I look forward to hearing from you.

- David

DreamCheeky have forums!

Looks like they have been up since mid December and anyone is free to register. Here’s the link http://dreamlink.info/dream/forum

I have completed a version of the Missile Launcher software that works under 10.3.9 and now incorporates support for the RocketBaby DreamCheeky launcher.

It is available for download from the downloads section on the left.

Enjoy.

I’m pleased to announce that the USB Missile Launcher NZ software now supports the DreamCheeky “RocketBaby” launcher. There were a number of people who assisted with getting this release across the line, thank you to Joe (for sending me a launcher) and Phil for his USB support (particularly his use of the USB Protocol Analyser and the requirement for reading the HID Descriptor).

Details of changes in this release.

• Correct issues with Installer Maker packaging not working (something to do with spaces in file names?)
• Have received actual Rockey Baby Launcher for testing, testing completed - up/down/right/left/fire all working - also detected correctly full travel movement responses from launcher
• Correct application launch issues when kext not installed and causes application crash
• Found and fixed a bug in the FindInterfaces USB code, this may have effected some launcher operations
• Adding support for new DreamCheeky Launcher (internal name = RocketBaby)
• Added new kext for RocketBaby support
• Added code to DeviceAdded to read the HID Descriptor (the RocketBaby won’t work properly unless this is done). It is now done for all launchers
• Enhanced application version checking code
• Added message to display window if launcher is actually connected at application start
• Added “Prime Fire” button - works for two models of DreamCheeky launcher. This means that there is now a shorter time to actually fire when you do fire.

Please refer to the download links on the left of this page to get your updated release.

Note: I have had some issues with the PackageMaker under Leopard while trying to get this release produced. As a consequence, the folder that is installed within the Applications folder on your machine has been renamed to have the spaces removed file from name. You may be left with the old folder in the Application directory, this can be removed.

For anyone trying to do their own coding for this launcher, here are the updated control codes:

// Set up Packet - 21 09 00 02 00 00 00 00
//
// 0×01 - down
// 0×02 - up
// 0×04 - left
// 0×08 - right
// 0×10 - fire
// 0×20 - stop
// 0×40 - request status
//
// 1. To fire, Send 0×10
// 2. The motor keeps working now, keep sending 0×40 to ask for status (say, every 100~500ms)
// 3. If 0×00 received, then the missile is not fired.
// 4. If 0×10 received, them missile is fired.
// 5. If the missile is fired, send 0×20 to stop it.
//
// Other launcher Responses - these are returned as bits and thus you need to check like “if (rbBuffer[0] & 0×01)” using Bitwise AND
// 0×01 - all the way down
// 0×02 - all the way up
// 0×04 - all the way left
// 0×08 - all the way right
// 0×10 - fire has completed

Found these on the net today:

Wireless USB Missile Launcher

USB Missile Launcher with Web CAM 

I don’t have these launchers and at this point do not offer support in the Mac version of the Missile Launcher software for them. But boy would I love to get my hands on these!

Seasons Greetings everyone…

Thanks to a group of dedicated testers and in particular one with a USB Protocol Analyser we do have a release of the USB Missile Launcher NZ software that you can use with your Mac. I have not been able to test this release against the RocketBaby launcher as I don’t have one … yet … One of these launchers is in transit to me though it now seems unlikely that it will arrive on my doorstep before Christmas.

The testing team have reported good things at this point with the software, it now controls the launcher and fires… though there may be some things that don’t work so well (like the diagonal commands).

Downloads:

These are at different locations to the normal ones as I am not happy to replace the normal download links at this stage, I don’t what the other supported launchers to break especially while I’m away over the next week or so. Though I’d be surprised if there were any issues. All downloads here a relative to the v1.4.9 build 140 release.

Installer within Disk Image package - this is for everyone

Source code package - if you want to play.

You will need Xcode installed, and probably Xcode 3 as supplied with Leopard. There is more work to do on this release and I hope to do that once I get my hands on the launcher. If anyone has suggestions or even changes the code themselves to make improvements I’d really like to see what you’ve done and get the source updates so that the software can evolve.

Efforts to get the Missile Launcher software working with the new Dream Cheeky Launcher - RocketBaby - have not been successful. 

Unfortunately I do not have one of these launchers and making slight code changes at the USB driver level and sending them offshore for overnight or 1, 2, 3 days turn around is proving to be very frustrating. 

I really need someone to send me one of the launchers! 

The launcher does move, uncontrollably at this stage, the issues are occurring when I’m trying to get feedback from the launcher on its status.

Attempts in this space are causing the software to lock up. I did find a very good USB web site last night and have been doing more reading on the “readPipe”, and I’m now awaiting feedback from off shore. 

Being able to get hold of one of these launchers would significantly speed up development for the enjoyment of all.

What would also possibly help is if anyone else, maybe in the Linux community, has some code that will drive one of the DreamCheeky “RocketBaby” Rocket Launchers. 

usbVendorID: 2689(0xa81) usbProductID: 1793(0×701)

Device Name: Rocket Baby 

Click on the image to take the test yourself. 

Houston we have a new launcher! Our friends at DreamCheeky have released a new launcher! Actually it looks identical to the old launcher. So, how do you know if you’ve got an “old” launcher or one of the “new” ones. Well that’s a challenge while the launcher is still in the box. It turns out that when you connect the launcher to your computer it identifies itself as a “Rocket Baby”.So here’s some information that I have been able to obtain about the launcher:

// USBVendorID  = 2689 (0xa81)

// USBProductID = 1793 (0×701)

// Controls 

// 01  - down

// 02  - up

// 04  - left

// 08  - right

// 10  - fire

// 20  - stop

// 40  - request status

//

// 1. To fire, Send 0×10

// 2. The motor keeps working now, keep sending 0×40 to ask for status (say, every 100~500ms)

// 3. If 0×00 received, then the missile is not fired.

// 4. If 0×10 received, them missile is fired.

// 5. If the missile is fired, send 0×20 to stop it. 

OK, so that’s all good news. The question you want answered is when will the launcher work with the Mac Missile Launcher software? Well, I’ve been trying… It’s difficult to get it working when I don’t actually have one of these launchers (even when I have the details of the launcher control codes). I’m working with some internet citizens at the moment who have offered to help with the testing. No luck yet, I’ll post again when a new version is available. 

This release has been waiting to launch onto your desktops for some time now. Enjoy the new features.

• Altered default preference settings. Resolves issue of laser not working properly on Striker II and stops duplicate commands being sent to Striker II and Original launcher. Existing users can install updated application and manually “zero” settings for launcher types that are defined twice (vendor ID = 4400, and product ID = 514) or reset defaults.
• Distribution now includes a script providing integration with “Sofa Control 2.0″ - you can use your Apple Remote to control the launcher! - http://caseapps.com/sofacontrol.html (thanks to rawketcato for providing this). To use the script you will need to go to the Installed Scripts menu in Sofa Control and import the script that is included with this distribution.
• Fixed a problem controlling the Original launcher (Striker I).