Foot Pedal Adaptive Switch

This project is a foot pedal adaptive switch designed to expand accessibility for individuals with limited upper body mobility, including people with conditions such as cerebral palsy. Traditional controllers often rely heavily on hand and finger movement, but this device offers an alternative input method by allowing users to activate controls using their foot.

The pedal functions as a simple, durable button mechanism housed in a stable enclosure, making it easy to press with minimal effort. Internally, the switch connects to wiring that is fully compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller (XBAC), so these individuals can play games such as Geometry Dash or the Chrome T-Rex game. By translating foot movement into a reliable input signal, this adaptive switch helps create a more inclusive and customizable user experience.

How it works:

1. The foot pedal presses down on the straw.
2. The spring provides resistance and returns the pedal to its original position.
3. When pressed, the ledge on the model activates and presses the button
4. The switch is wired to a 3.5 mm jack or compatible connector for the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

1. Foot pedal housing and base (3D model included)
2. Jumper cable wires
3. Wire stripper
4. Momentary push button switch
5. Hot glue gun
6. 2 thick straws (like a boba straw)
7. Thin straw
8. Soldering iron and solder
9. Heat-shrink tubing
10. Heat gun
11. Spring (3/4" in diameter)
12. Foam board
13. Scissors
14. 3D printer (Bambu recommended)

This project includes an STL file for the design that is ready to print, located below. The STL file provides the 3D model for the switch housing, pedal base, and top.

Download the STL Files:

1. Access the link from Supplies and download the STL file for the adaptive rocker switch. The file includes all components: the base frame, the circular press plate, and the pivot.

Print the Parts

1. Pedal top: Provides the structure for the switch and the mounting points for the pivot and rubber bands.
2. Pedal base: Large circular plate that the user will press.
3. Switch base: Prints as a cylinder that goes in the middle of the base frame. (in the prototype, I used a straw and taped it to the base frame). Use the hot glue to glue it to the middle of the base plate.

1. Insert the momentary push button switch into the center or designated hole in the base, aligning it with where the pedal will press down.
2. Place the button in the hole closest to the inside. Coat the hole with hot glue, then place the button so that the bottom terminals go through the hole in the foot pedal base to secure it.
3. Coat the second hole (the one in front of the button) with hot glue, then place the spring inside it.

1. Get two jumper wires with terminal fasteners and fasten them to the button.
2. Strip the ends, and then strip both ends of two other jumper wires. It doesn't matter whether they are male-male, female-female, or male-female.
3. Slide a heat-shrink tube (0.17" in diameter)
4. Solder the fastened wires (one wire to another).
5. Slide a heat-shrink tube (0.2" in diameter) over both ends of the second jumper wires.
6. Strip the ends of the 3.5 mm jack from both the main wire and the mini wires inside it. Solder each mini wire to each jumper cable.
7. Move the heat-shrink tubes so they cover the soldered parts of the wires.
8. Use the heat gun to shrink the tubes onto the wires.

*Warning: It will take about a minute or two for the heat-shrink tubes to cool down. Be careful when handling the soldering iron and heat shrinking!

1. Align the pedal top so pressing it compresses the spring and activates the button evenly.
2. Hot glue a piece of foam board (after cutting it) onto the pedal base, the side without the holes.
3. Hot glue a boba straw right in front of the foam board.
4. Hot glue another boba straw onto the very edge of the pedal base, on top of the foam board strip.
5. Hot glue the pedal top right below the straw (on the foam board).
6. Cut out and hot glue a small square of foam board (1.4" x 1.4") right above the spring.
7. Trace the diameter of the spring with a pencil, then make an indent in the circle by cutting out the material in the traced area.
8. Cut a thin drinking straw into two pieces, the exact size of the square piece, and hot glue them to the sides of the square.
9. Once everything has dried, test the pedal by pressing it several times to ensure smooth movement, reliable activation, and proper return.

1. Add hot glue to the switch base (this is different than the pedal base). Shown in gray to differentiate. We want to make sure the foot pedal doesn't slip while in use.
2. Slide the heat-shrunk wires into the hole on the switch base.
3. Hot glue the pedal base onto the switch base.

1. The groove is where the wires go to make the switch lie flat on the ground. Add a blob of hot glue to both of the wires together to make them stay secure.
2. After that, you have your finished product!

This is a test video.

1. Test the product to see if it works correctly. Above is an example video. If is does, you're all set!
2. If it doesn't, check your wiring on all slides, starting from the button. Make sure they are all fastened.

Have fun!