A DIY USB gear stick for PC racing games

If you’d like to add a gear stick to your virtual race car, then Oli Norwell has just the project for you.

His USB device extends a joystick with a length of threaded rod through a custom-cut wooden plate, restricting movements to a 1-5/reverse/neutral layout. The shifter is held in different gear positions using magnets, in order to keep it from automatically springing back to center.

– Werbung –

An Arduino Leonardo reads the switch states, and passes along the shift positions as a simulated joystick in HID mode. Possible future improvements include extra buttons, mode selection switches, and even an LCD screen for feedback.

Check it out sim-driving in the video below!