Programming Hardware

[Fullenglish]

Alright....This is my first question on this forum....Hope i put this in the right thread
So, I have this USB missile launcher in my room, and I want to be able to control it, using a program that I have made in Visual Basic (or if you recomend any easier programmer).
I found a python program on the internet which works, and I've been looking at it, but only have a rough idea how it works.
The version of VB i have is Visual Basic 2008 Express edition

Does anyone have any ideas on this?
Thanks

[PGP_Protector]

1) You need to know how to talk to the hardware. Is in a virtual COM Port, is their a SDK to talk to it, ect.
2) Copy the communication protocol from the python program

[Fullenglish]

I don't really know how to talk to hardware, do i need to install extra add-ons for that?

[PGP_Protector]

What is the name / Model number of what you're trying to control?
Every peace of hardware comes with some form of driver.
You need to know either how to talk to the driver, or find a driver SDK for your product.

Example I found these drivers for one type of USB Missile Launcher by Dream Cheeky
Dream Cheeky

[dargueta]

Post the Python code and we might be able to figure it out.

[Fullenglish]

I have the vendorID, ProductID, and all that for the device, is that enough?
The launcher came with a CD, which installed a driver for the device.

And here is a copy of the python code:

#!/usr/bin/env python
#
#  Written by: Scott Weston <scott@weston.id.au>
#
# - Version --------------------------------------------------------------
#
#  $Id: missile.py,v 1.13 2006/07/25 17:01:24 scott Exp $
#
# - License --------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Copyright (c) 2006, Scott Weston
# All rights reserved.
# 
# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
# met:
# 
# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
#   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
#   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
# * The name of the contributors may not be used to endorse or promote
#   products derived from this software without specific prior written
#   permission.
#
# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER
# OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
# EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
# PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
# PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
# NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
# SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
#
# - Change Log -----------------------------------------------------------
#
#  $Log: missile.py,v $
#  Revision 1.13  2006/07/25 17:01:24  scott
#  Bug fix (no default execution, missing usage text)
#  as reported by: Petter Reinholdtsen
#
#  Revision 1.12  2006/07/07 18:23:20  scott
#  comment out the noisey bits and leave it to users to enable if they so fit
#
#  Revision 1.11  2006/07/07 18:19:22  scott
#  fix rcs history
#
#  Revision 1.10  2006/07/07 18:17:48  scott
#  some fixes for better network control
#
#  Revision 1.9  2006/06/07 17:19:15  scott
#  oops, forgot the -n in the usage
#
#  Revision 1.8  2006/06/07 17:17:36  scott
#  added support for a -n network mode
#  allows for control by simple udp packets
#
#  Revision 1.7  2006/05/29 13:27:54  scott
#  added support for multiple missiles
#
#  Revision 1.6  2006/04/17 18:25:02  scott
#  changed warning message for more comedic value
#
#  Revision 1.5  2006/03/17 15:39:21  scott
#  added bsd license
#
#  Revision 1.4  2006/01/26 16:28:09  scott
#  better exception handling
#
#  Revision 1.3  2006/01/26 15:03:01  scott
#  added command line arguments (ready for more)
#  cleaned up display class
#
#  Revision 1.2  2006/01/26 14:27:55  scott
#  added more useful RCS tags
#
#
import usb
import exceptions
import urwid
import urwid.curses_display
import sys
import getopt
import random
import re
import os
from time import sleep, time
from socket import *

class MissileDevice:
  INITA     = (85, 83, 66, 67,  0,  0,  4,  0)
  INITB     = (85, 83, 66, 67,  0, 64,  2,  0)
  CMDFILL   = ( 8,  8,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,
                0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0)
  STOP      = ( 0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0)
  LEFT      = ( 0,  1,  0,  0,  0,  0)
  RIGHT     = ( 0,  0,  1,  0,  0,  0)
  UP        = ( 0,  0,  0,  1,  0,  0)
  DOWN      = ( 0,  0,  0,  0,  1,  0)
  LEFTUP    = ( 0,  1,  0,  1,  0,  0)
  RIGHTUP   = ( 0,  0,  1,  1,  0,  0)
  LEFTDOWN  = ( 0,  1,  0,  0,  1,  0)
  RIGHTDOWN = ( 0,  0,  1,  0,  1,  0)
  FIRE      = ( 0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  1)

  def __init__(self, battery):
    try:
      self.dev=UsbDevice(0x1130, 0x0202, battery)
      self.dev.open()
      self.dev.handle.reset()
    except NoMissilesError, e:
      raise NoMissilesError()

  def move(self, direction):
    self.dev.handle.controlMsg(0x21, 0x09, self.INITA, 0x02, 0x01)
    self.dev.handle.controlMsg(0x21, 0x09, self.INITB, 0x02, 0x01)
    self.dev.handle.controlMsg(0x21, 0x09, direction+self.CMDFILL, 0x02, 0x01)

class NoMissilesError(Exception): pass

class UsbDevice:
  def __init__(self, vendor_id, product_id, skip):
    busses = usb.busses()
    self.handle = None
    count = 0
    for bus in busses:
      devices = bus.devices
      for dev in devices:
        if dev.idVendor==vendor_id and dev.idProduct==product_id:
          if count==skip:
            self.dev = dev
            self.conf = self.dev.configurations[0]
            self.intf = self.conf.interfaces[0][0]
            self.endpoints = []
            for endpoint in self.intf.endpoints:
              self.endpoints.append(endpoint)
            return
          else:
            count=count+1
    raise NoMissilesError()

  def open(self):
    if self.handle:
      self.handle = None
    self.handle = self.dev.open()
    self.handle.detachKernelDriver(0)
    self.handle.detachKernelDriver(1)
    self.handle.setConfiguration(self.conf)
    self.handle.claimInterface(self.intf)
    self.handle.setAltInterface(self.intf)

class MissileDisplay:
  palette = [ ('body', 'black', 'dark cyan', 'standout'),
              ('footer','light gray', 'dark blue'),
              ('header', 'white', 'dark blue', 'underline'),
              ('important','white', 'dark red', 'bold'),
              ('key', 'light cyan', 'black', 'underline'),
              ('title', 'white', 'black',), ]

  BLANK   = urwid.Text("")
  WARNING = urwid.Text([('important',"CAUTION: AIM AWAY FROM FACE")],
                       align='center')
  HEADER  = urwid.AttrWrap(urwid.Text("MISSILE COMMAND!", align='center'),
                           'header')
  FOOTER  = urwid.AttrWrap(urwid.Text("scott@weston.id.au", align='center'),
                           'footer')
  CONTENT = [ BLANK,
              urwid.Text(["Use the following\n"
                          "keys  to move\n\n"
                          "Q   W   E \n"
                          "  \ | /   \n"
                          "A -(S)- D \n"
                          "  / | \   \n"
                          "Z   X   C \n\n"
                          "F to fire all guns once\n"
                          "R for rapid sequentual fire of all missiles\n"
                          "S to Stop\n"
                          "ESC to Exit\n\n",], align='center'),
              WARNING,
              BLANK, ]

  def __init__(self):
    self.listbox = urwid.ListBox(self.CONTENT)
    view = urwid.AttrWrap(self.listbox, 'body')
    self.view = urwid.Frame(view, header=self.HEADER, footer=self.FOOTER)

  def main(self):
    self.ui = urwid.curses_display.Screen()
    self.ui.register_palette(self.palette)
    self.ui.run_wrapper(self.run)

  def run(self):
    md = []
    for missiles in range(10):
      try:
        md.append(MissileDevice(missiles))
      except NoMissilesError, e:
        break
    if missiles==0:
      raise NoMissilesError
    size = self.ui.get_cols_rows()
    while 1:
      canvas = self.view.render(size, focus=1)
      self.ui.draw_screen(size, canvas)
      keys = None
      while not keys:
        keys = self.ui.get_input()
      for k in keys:
        if k == 'window resize':
          size = self.ui.get_cols_rows()
        elif k in ('w', 'up'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.UP)
        elif k in ('x', 'down'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.DOWN)
        elif k in ('a', 'left'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFT)
        elif k in ('d', 'right'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHT)
        elif k in ('f', 'space'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
        elif k in ('s'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.STOP)
        elif k in ('q'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFTUP)
        elif k in ('e'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHTUP)
        elif k in ('z'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFTDOWN)
        elif k in ('c'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHTDOWN)
        elif k in ('r'):
          for n in range(3):
            for m in md:
              m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
              sleep(0.5)
        elif k in ('v'):
          for m in md:
            if  random.random() > 0.8:
              m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
        elif k in ('esc'):
          return
        self.view.keypress(size, k)

class MissileNetwork:

  def main(self):
    host = "localhost"
    port = 20000
    buf  = 1024
    addr = (host,port)

    md = []
    lt = 0
    mc = 0
    af = 0
    lpid = 1

    for missiles in range(10):
      try:
        md.append(MissileDevice(missiles))
      except NoMissilesError, e:
        break
    if missiles==0:
      raise NoMissilesError

    UDPSock = socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM)
    UDPSock.bind(addr)

    while 1:
      cmd,addr = UDPSock.recvfrom(buf)
      cmd = cmd.strip()

      spa = re.split(r':', cmd)
      k = spa[0]
      ppid = spa[1]

      if not k:
        continue
      else:
        if k == "s":
          if ppid != lpid:
            print "Received a STOP for order %s but last order was %s, ignored" % (ppid, lpid)
            continue

        if abs(time()-lt) < 60:
          mc = mc + 1
        else:
          mc = 0
          af = 0
# you can make it noisey here if you wanted to
#         os.system("aplay sounds/firstwarning.wav &")

        if mc > 60 and af == 0:
          k = "v"
# you can make it noisey here if you wanted to
#         os.system("aplay sounds/secondwarning.wav &")

        print "Received via network at %2.2f command %s/%s (move count: %d, %d)" % (time(), k, ppid, mc, af)

        lt = time()
        lpid = ppid

        if k in ('w', 'up'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.UP)
        elif k in ('x', 'down'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.DOWN)
        elif k in ('a', 'left'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFT)
        elif k in ('d', 'right'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHT)
        elif k in ('f', 'space'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
        elif k in ('s', 'S'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.STOP)
        elif k in ('q'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFTUP)
        elif k in ('e'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHTUP)
        elif k in ('z'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.LEFTDOWN)
        elif k in ('c'):
          for m in md:
            m.move(MissileDevice.RIGHTDOWN)
        elif k in ('r'):
          for n in range(3):
            for m in md:
              m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
              sleep(0.5)
        elif k in ('v'):
          for m in md:
            if random.random() > 0.9:
              m.move(MissileDevice.FIRE)
              af = 1
        elif k in ('esc'):
          UDPSock.close()
          return

def usage():
  print "Usage:"
  print "  -h | --help : this help"
  print "  -n | --network: simple network listener mode (Read the source Luke!)"
  print "  -v | --version: version"
  sys.exit(2)

def version():
  print "$Id: missile.py,v 1.13 2006/07/25 17:01:24 scott Exp $"
  sys.exit(0)

def main(argv):
  try:
    opts, args = getopt.getopt(argv, "hvn", ["help", "version", "network"])
  except getopt.GetoptError:
    print "Sorry, bad option."
    usage()

  if opts:
    for o, a in opts:
      if o in ("-h", "--help"):
        usage()
      elif o in ("-v", "--version"):
        version()
      elif o in ("-n", "--network"):
        try:
          MissileNetwork().main()
        except NoMissilesError, e:
          print "No WMDs found."
          return
      else:
        try:
          MissileDisplay().main()
        except NoMissilesError, e:
          print "No WMDs found."
          return
  else:
    try:
      MissileDisplay().main()
    except NoMissilesError, e:
      print "No WMDs found."
      return

if __name__=="__main__":
  main(sys.argv[1:])

[Fullenglish]

From what I can get from the code, it seems that it looks through all USB devices connected directly or in-directly to the computer. Then compares there ProductID, and VendorID against that of the Missile launcher.
I don't really know how to enter this in visual basic code.
Any ideas?

[dargueta]

You're going to need to get a list of the API functions provided by the driver DLL. It should be in developer documentation. Once you've got those, I'll show you how to import them into VB so you can use them.

[Fullenglish]

Where would I find the developer documentation?

[dargueta]

It should've come with the launcher, or they should've given you a link to it on their site.