Wireless Wii Nunchuck controlled Arduino

Use a completely unmodified wireless Wii Nunchuck as a control system for any Arduino based project. No added radio transmitter/receiver pairs etc.

This instructable does assume some experience with the Arduino microcontroller.

The radio receiver that comes with the wireless 'chuck is connected to an Arduino which then reads data from the 'chuck.

There are descriptions on the net of how to use an Arduino to "read" data from a standard wired Nunchuck. This is a handheld device which is meant to connect via a short cable to a socket in the base of a Wii controller (the rectangular thing), which then sends data via Bluetooth to the Wii (or indeed a PC).

A special adapter has been made by with six contacts on it to enable the experimenter to connect the plug on the end of a Nunchuck to the pins of an Arduino board.

Here is an example of one of these:

http://todbot.com/blog/2008/02/18/wiichuck-wii-nunchuck-adapter-available/

I am going to decribe a more robust connection however.

The software required to "read" a standard chuck (i.e. with a cable) will not work on a wireless chuck. The software for wired 'chucks can be found in several places on the net. The wireless 'chucks are not made by Nintendo and there are several makes out there - all from China.

The wireless chuck has a 3 axis accelerometer, 2 buttons and a proper proportional thumb operated joystick. The price is very low so this could be a great way to create a short range wireless control system for all sorts of Arduino based devices. This is why I am posting this instructable.

Here are two types of wireless chuck that I know will work with this hack. I haven't tried any others yet.

Step 1 What the wires mean

It is easy to use a Nunchuck adapter to connect a wired or wireless chuck to an Arduino. However for a more stable connection I suggest:

Buy a Wii Nunchuck extender cable. This has a Nunchuck socket on one end and a plug on the other. Cut the cable so you now have the socket on one end and some free wires on the other which you can solder to your Arduino.

 

Comments

[ecsaul23]

I am trying to load the code on my arduino uno but there are many errors. I am super new at this and I dont know how to fix them. Some of the errors are due to changes in the wording of the code. Is there a newer version on the code that works better on the Uno?

[demonxkid]

the way a turret i made is programmed it works with both wireless and wired nunchucks i have no changes except for the joystick ranges needed.. 



link---> http://www.instructables.com/id/Wii-chuck-controlled-Air-soft-gun-turret-D/

[MACKattacksnipe]

What Brand is it

[XenonJohn]

The one that works best is the Blue Ocean one (on right of the picture of the two wireless nunchucks).


John

[teche]

you know you can just buy a wii nunchuk on http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.24529 for $6-7 : )

[Mdob]

Shouldn't the wireless chuck work identically to the wired one under the assumption that the wiimote would have to get the same information in the same format as the wired chuck.  If what you say is true then the wireless chuck shouldn't work with the wiimote either?

[XenonJohn]

Logic would suggest what you say is true.

However, and I don't know why, the Arduino code to read the wired chuck and the wireless ones is completely different. Furthermore this only seems to work with a few specific wireless Nunchucks. The wired chuck-arduino hack is much easier to get working than the wireless one - hence all the discussion on the forums before the wireless hack  was worked out.

[Gonras]

That's an exelent question!!
I would like to know that too.
Would be great to get a reply for that :-)

[monkeytoes]

The  Wiichuck  is a good solution for attaching the Wii nunchuck to the the arduino.  Check it out.