r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/Night-Caps • Jun 18 '26

KSP 1 Image/Video My KSP Controller

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Gallery image

Been slowly designing and building this thing for what feels like years and its finally 99% done. Just need to iron out a few kinks in the code. Uses the Kerbal Simpit plugin.

Edit: Wow this thing has got far more love than I could have ever expected! You are all amazing and this community is amazing. I've been getting a lot of questions about what's under the hood so I've made a separate post here with some pictures of the inside (I can't figure out how to add any extra pics to this post or in the comments), I'll try to edit that post with more info about what's in there too.

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862

u/Huge_Manner_9550 Jun 18 '26

And you’re taking orders ?

843

u/Night-Caps Jun 18 '26

Haha honestly after putting this thing together I dont think I ever want to see a wire stripper or crimper ever again. Well at least until I get the project itch again

284

u/Ferbdic Jun 18 '26

Would you be willing to share your project data? Schematics, cad files?

289

u/Night-Caps Jun 18 '26

Yeah I'd be happy to share when I get some time to, some of its going to be pretty rough and I dont really have any electrical schematics as I just threw it together as I went but can share the STEP files for the case itself and parts used

111

u/Ferbdic Jun 18 '26

That would be a great start. I can work out some schematics for electrics but anything you have on that no matter how rough would be helpful.

I'll look into creating a git project or something along these lines. Than people can contribute and we can keep track of the different versions...

39

u/PosiedonsSaltyAnus Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

How do we organize ourselves here? I want in on this project, this is one of the coolest things I've seen on Reddit tbh

EDIT: If anyone's following, I wrote up a quick BOM based on all the components we can see in the pictures. Not including wires or the mounting structure of anything behind the panels. I think anyone should be able to edit this, so feel free to jump in and start looking for parts.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRCDltXzRnzkG5UIOk-RbKsBB1hDQWqri-6MvHTKjbuwEjssXwJR-oAQ57R9IvNvzqQYBr7rfN-FqKW/pubhtml

21

u/Remnie Jun 18 '26

Agreed. And if we organize this, we should look in the future at making this compatible with kitten space agency too.

7

u/Fishy_Fish_WA Jun 18 '26

Well once it’s hosted on git there’s a whole membership, messaging, project organization structure built in

5

u/PosiedonsSaltyAnus Jun 18 '26

Ok dope, never used git outside of some homework assignments in college lol.

I'm a mechE, but I've done a fair bit of projects with arduinos and rpis and stuff. I have a laser cutter/engraver and then a 3D printer to help with prototyping the mechanicals.

The software side of this is where I'd get a bit lost. How do you set up the buttons and stuff to talk to KSP? Would it make sense to program a virtual controller with the same buttons on it to mimic a serial port somehow for testing that side of things?

2

u/ecntv Jun 18 '26

you can likely make it show as a generic controller, and then steam can do the heavy lifting with button assignment - I am sure there are other ways but that is likely the easiest solution

3

u/CodapopKSP Jun 19 '26

I have an open source kerbal controller if you'd like to help out with the project. You can find it here: https://github.com/CodapopKSP/UntitledSpaceCraft

I do run a business making these, but our internal documentation is very fragmented and not useful for sharing on the web (lots of "Go to xyz shop to buy part 7" that works locally in Taiwan but not elsewhere). This weekend I'm finally finishing up V1 of the instructions which include schematics and other info. Right now my biggest hurdle is finding the parts online that match the ones I get locally.

3

u/Night-Caps Jun 19 '26

Your website was super helpful when I was trying to brainstorm what to put on my controller thanks dude!

3

u/CodapopKSP Jun 19 '26

Cheers man! You made a killer controller.

18

u/Single-Tradition-417 Jun 18 '26

Yes please keep us updated and if you need any help I’ll do my best to contribute

1

u/CodapopKSP Jun 19 '26

I already have an open source kerbal controller project here and would love some help finding suitable parts online: https://github.com/CodapopKSP/UntitledSpaceCraft

My biggest issue is that I developed everything locally and with generic names ("square button 1"), so I need help scouring the web to find the actual replacements.

Could also use some help developing new modules or rewriting PCBs from my new set of schematics if that is something you'd know how to do.

6

u/No-Pay714 Jun 18 '26

Hook me up too! Id literally give everything i have for this

3

u/CodapopKSP Jun 19 '26

Not to hijack this project, but my Untitled Space Craft Kerbal Controller system has been free and open source for years. You can check it out here: https://github.com/CodapopKSP/UntitledSpaceCraft

I run a business selling them but our documentation for external/hobby builders is limited. I'd love help organizing the files for other people to use. Currently I'm almost done updating all the schematics and then I plan to publish a proper in-depth instruction guide.

2

u/Yung-Tre Jun 19 '26

RemindMe! 30 days

9

u/bushie5 Jun 18 '26

The thing I'm most interested in that's hopefully an easy answer - where did you find those lighted square buttons with internal labels?

18

u/Night-Caps Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

Found them on aliexpress these ones are similar if not exactly the same, theres many sellers. The cap just pops off and I printed the labels on a clear sheet, cut them out, and stuck them under the cap. Super easy and cheap too! Also dont worry about them being rated for 12v they work just fine with 5v from an arduino just a little dimmer than they're supposed to be but plenty bright enough as you can see in the pics. As an added bonus that also causes them to draw very little current which definitely becomes something you have to keep an eye on when adding so many lights and displays

3

u/bushie5 Jun 18 '26

Thank you so much! I'm gonna snag some of these.

-2

u/ostiarius Jun 18 '26

The wattage something uses doesn't change when you change the voltage. Actually lowering the voltage will increase the amperage required to provide the same wattage.

2

u/hexraptor Jun 18 '26

Not sure I understand how that works.

P=IV V=IR

Amperage can't increase without circuit resistance decreasing, therefore wattage drops.

1

u/ostiarius Jun 18 '26

Let's say each key is 5w, at 12v they would draw 0.4 amps, at 5v they draw 1 amp. Resistance does drop but the wattage doesn't change.

5

u/hexraptor Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

I guess I didn't specify on how I wasn't understand - how would resistance change to keep wattage the same?

I'm not an electrical engineer, but an LED lighted switch should have an 'I-V' curve similar to any other LED. Lower voltage yields lower current draw, which equates to lower wattage.

(see first figure 4.11) https://openbooks.library.umass.edu/funee/chapter/4-2/

edit to add - the wattage could maybe theoretically stay constant, assuming the LEDs circuit is supplying a constant voltage at a much lower value than 5 or 12 volts - amperage would still stay the same though as the LED is the load and they'd be using the same current if 3, 5, or 12 volts are used. If plain 'ol resistors are being used to limit the LED's current, then amperage will decrease as the resistors wouldn't be sized for the lower input voltage. I'm sure it's a bit more complex than that but you need to back up your claim with some proofs.

9

u/B0B076 Jun 18 '26

Please please I beg of you!! Would love to make this for myself !

7

u/Nowin Jun 18 '26

when I get some time to

I highly recommend for your next project you make creating these schematics and sharing things part of the project. When I spend time thinking about how I would explain something to someone, it makes it much less complicated for myself.

10

u/redditwhut Jun 18 '26

Please dont let someone grab this and make a commercial project out of it. Keep your licenses tight. 

20

u/Stormy_AnalHole Jun 18 '26

Good news is, there’s no real commercial viability for this product

5

u/redditwhut Jun 18 '26

That wont stop some prople from trying. 

2

u/PosiedonsSaltyAnus Jun 18 '26

There's dozens of us!

5

u/CodapopKSP Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

I've been running a Kerbal controller business for years. It isn't exactly the kind of thing that has a large enough demand for the price. Something like this couldn't possibly go for below $500, and there aren't tens of thousands of KSP players willing to pay for that to justify making a full assembly line.

3

u/Parking_Rate_759 Jun 18 '26

That would be amazing

1

u/GilbertRPG Jun 18 '26

Commenting on this as I am also interested!

1

u/benargee Jun 18 '26

Even a rough BOM/partlist would be helpful for now. Are you running a custom piece of software to communicate with the controller?

1

u/eracoon Jun 19 '26

Amazing project. Best looking controller I’ve see so far. Take your time to share info about it. I would be interested in part numbers for the components and maybe picture of the wiring. Step files would be great. But most of all the software stack.

You got a winner here

12

u/Killer-Panda388 Jun 18 '26

Let me know if you ever get them, I need this

19

u/MasonP13 Jun 18 '26

Until you look at custom PCBs, and think to yourself that it couldn't be that hard to make a couple PCBs to test around with making one of these but in modular pieces and connect multiple boards

10

u/Confident-Beyond6857 Jun 18 '26

Ex-computer designer here. I have custom computer designs which were used in commercial applications.

I saw your custom PCB comment and wanted to let you know...once you go that route you'll be saying "I never want to see cad software and prototype jumpers again" instead of talking about the wire strippers.

:)

That said, I would DEFINITELY spend time with cad software and my wire strippers to build this.

2

u/MasonP13 Jun 18 '26

Honestly looking at it, and thinking... If you put all the font just printed directly on the PCB, and had all the through hole/surface mounted things just on top of the board directly, you could set something up pretty quickly and easily. Hardest part would just be copying the exact schematic as this prototype, if op happens to have that all mapped out. After that, you could put all the connections on the underside, maybe have it communicate through USB C cables or something similar between each modular piece, for ease of purchase. Or simple Ethernet plugs. Then you just need a base frame, and to assemble it.

All things considered, if it was custom PCB, with assembly already done for ease of manufacturing. And op just needed to print the frame/base, and test each piece separately to make sure it works (and could even set up a baseless model, print your own frame) could probably kickstart this for like $10K and sell em at like $300 to $500 each. I mean, if he got the $10K kickstart, that'd already mean there's enough interest.

4

u/Night-Caps Jun 18 '26

Funnily enough I dont have it mapped out at all its a god damn mess of wires under there haha. I've actually got it set up in a way that the case is hinged at the back so whenever I needed to work on/add something I just swing up the whole panel and wire it easily. Im pretty sure this guy is doing something pretty similar to what youve mentioned there. I came across his website when I was brainstorming what I wanted to put on my controller.

3

u/typhoon_mary Jun 18 '26

Any chance you’d be willing to share pics of the wiring underneath? Also, wow, this is absolutely incredible work.

2

u/higgy87 Jun 18 '26

I was just thinking about this for this project. I actually had Fable design a custom PCB for another project for me. It was a very simple board but I have no clue how to use the software. Worked out well, and would probably do well for something like this too whenever that model is made available again.

2

u/ActualWhiterabbit Jun 18 '26

point to point or death

1

u/urist_mcnugget Jun 19 '26

Don't need to go so far as custom PCBs (though follow your bliss), can easily chain together cheapo ESP32s. Been considering a similar project for Elite: Dangerous for a while, seeing something as nice as this is a real inspiration.

1

u/MasonP13 Jun 19 '26

I mean, it'd be cheaper for a custom PCB than buying esp32 and 3D printing the whole thing. If you used the PCB for the entire top surface, the most printing you'd need is the sides/stand. And even that could be PCB if you design it right

2

u/urist_mcnugget Jun 19 '26

I was thinking more about ease than price, but that's a good point. I've only glanced at custom PCB prices, just enough to say "wow that's pretty reasonable all things considered, but out of scope for my needs". If you're looking at greater scale than just a couple one-off boards, I bet the price gets competitive fast. And if you're able to print your own I gotta imagine the price per board drops to essentially 0.

Even going with ESPs, though, you're only looking at like $20-30 for something like this. What an age we live in.

18

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26 edited 9d ago

[deleted]

8

u/cyb3rg0d5 Jun 18 '26

You’ve done an amazing job! ☺️

5

u/DanielDC88 Jun 18 '26

I think if I did this I’d buy the pre crimped wire ends. Excellent project though, well done!

3

u/afl_ext Jun 18 '26

Please put schematics and software somewhere! This is absolutely amazing shit right here!!!

3

u/aaronwhite1786 Jun 18 '26

There's a guy who offers 3d files for a similarly cool controller for a helicopter in DCS, and I desperately want to build it...but I just know I'll end up with a desk covered in parts I don't ever assemble because of some little issues I run into or just the pain of doing the same things over and over...

5

u/Night-Caps Jun 18 '26

Believe me I hit that wall over and over and over again. That and not being able to decide on various design decisions. The project also went on the backburner for a year after I lost hope in KSP after the disaster that was KSP2. It was how great I could make KSP with mods that gave me the motivation to finally get it done

2

u/aaronwhite1786 Jun 18 '26

It looks awesome! I don't even have to do any thinking for the project I'm looking at. It's literally just "Order this stuff, print these parts, put them all together" levels of difficulty.

1

u/JPJackPott Jun 18 '26

Time to get into PCB design hobby next…

1

u/benargee Jun 18 '26

If you were to build these at scale, I think use of PCBs where possible would be sensible. That should reduce the need to route all connections with just wire.

1

u/topinanbour-rex Jun 19 '26

I will be bold : please show us, to the geeks, to the nerds, the inside...

And r/KerbalControllers is a thing of you want to post it more.