DIY Configurable Quad Stick

This project is a DIY quad stick control system built using an Arduino Leonardo. It uses a sip-and-puff device, an infrared (IR) sensor, and a joystick as input methods. All of these components are connected and controlled using custom code so they work together smoothly. The Arduino processes the signals from each input and allows the quad stick to function as a single, unified control device, creating an intuitive and user-friendly experience.

Arduino Leonardo

USB Micro Adaptor

Hot glue and gun

Solder and solder gun

Silicone tubing

Joystick module

IR sensor

Pneumatic pressure sensor

Jumper cables

Perf board

Pcb pins

Velcro

LED

Boba straw

Print these all out of the same material (PLA or PETG) for best results.

Plug the female end of your wires into the various sensors and components. Refrain from connecting these wires to the Arduino. They should only be connected to the components at this point.

TIP: To avoid later confusion, use a common color for +5V and ground. I recommend red for 5 volts and grey/white for ground.

On the face of the box are specially designed components for the sip and puff and the joystick. The order doesn't matter as long as both are glued into place and have stable, strong connections. Insert a dime-sized glob of hot glue into the chosen compartment, then quickly place each module inside the compartment and press down firmly until the hot glue has cooled.

Take the wires previously installed into the sip and puff and the joystick module, and feed them through the hole on the face of the box

Take a perfboard and attach 2 short male-to-male jumpers. Then, attach your common 5V and common ground to the perfboard. Once done, use solder to bridge the connections.

Connect the common 5v and common ground jumper wires coming off the common board to any 5v and ground pin on the Arduino. After this, follow the wiring instructions guide so you know what wires to plug into where.

Gently add a small amount of hot glue to the back of the Arduino and place it facing up to the hole where the wiring was fed through, while making sure the USB port of the Arduino is accessible through the square hole in the side of the box.

Hot glue the Commons Board above the Arduino in the corner as depicted in the photo

First, download and install the Arduino IDE and the provided arduino sketch. Once the Arduino IDE is installed, load the provided sketch and plug your arduino into your computer and select the arduino in the IDE. Once selected, press the flash/upload button to upload the code to the arduino.

DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER OR UNPLUG THE ARDUINO DURING FLASHING, THIS WILL BRICK THE ARDUINO.

Place the lid onto the box. The lid is designed to be press-fit, so you shouldn't apply any glue. It's also designed to stay attached securely, but be removable if you need to do repairs.

First, use hot glue to attach the joystick adapter to a boba straw. Once cooled, use an exacto knife or scissors to make a small hole in the side of the boba straw. Insert the silicon tubing part of the way, then apply glue around the edges and push it all the way in to seal. For best results, make sure the end going into the boba straw is cut at an angle. Once attached, push the joystick adapter onto the joystick, and connect the tubing to the sip and puff module.

Attach the IR sensor to wherever you feel is good. It is designed to be able to be hot-glued anywhere.

After flashing, the Arduino does not have a configuration yet and will not work out of the box. Visit the configurator website to configure the Arduino to your liking. Ensure that the Arduino IDE is closed to the serial port, which is available for the website to open. Make sure you use a Chromium-based browser that supports WebSerial.

The assembly does not come with a mount; the housing is designed to support any mounting option you wish to explore. We recommend Velcro or double-sided 3M tape on the bottom, but you can print any mount and 3D glue it to any part of the assembly.