Using A Wiimote to Control 3D CAD, SolidWorks?

by Josh on June 19, 2008 · Comments

Ok folks, so here it is. The beginning of the end of the mouse and 3D desktop controls. The first I saw of this was a craptastic video back in March of some guys fiddling with a glove and a to control SolidWorks.

Little did I know, a cool guy named Brian put up a video in January (below) demonstrating the simple concept with Design Review (ADR.) Now available from and even more simple is the ADR Wiimote add-in that requires no extra programming.

So, what do you think? Will you be using this to control your models next year? Is SolidWorks Labs working on a add-in? I’d like to see all the presenters at SolidWorks World 2009 using a for presentations. Even more I’d like to see some the technology that develops out of this.

What’s a Wiimote?


Wiimote to control and navigate 3D CAD from Brian on Vimeo.

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Tagged as: 3d, autodesk, solidworks, wiimote

  • Really cool! If they could add IR to the mix, then they could have much more natural control, as well as moving toward/away from the screen for zooming. I'm convinced that if Nintendo wrote an official HID driver for the Wii Remote, they'd sell more than they could ever produce.

    I don't think I'll be unplugging my Space Navigator any time soon though.
  • MarkT
    I've played with a Wiimote for simple pointing on my laptop. I think they make a great, affordable alternative to a Gyromouse for presenting, but the process to connect with Bluetooth every time you turn on was a little daunting.

    I think it's a great way to do presentations with SW, but I agree with Ocell, it can't compete with a dedicated 3D control device - except on price. $600 for a navigator vs. $40 for a Wiimote and $30(?) for a bluetooth dongle [if it's not build into your PC, which at this point it might well be] - somebody just starting to get frustrated with a mouse might take the baby steps first.
  • Just a note Mark (hope this isn't too off topic), since Logitech bought 3DConnexion the price of an entry level Space Navigator has dropped a ton. $100 gets you running with a fully commercial license, and $60 for students/individuals. (Same hardware, just different terms of use)
  • I spent a day at Dassault Systemes DEVCON event in paris this week. They consistently demod using the WiiMOte as a means of interacting with 3D data - demoing how the consumer electronics avialable now, should be able to work with 3D design software...

    During an interview, the CEO (and later, the head of R+ D in a chat with me) also hinted that DS are working on some form of hardware device in their labs. so, you might get Catia (more likely 3DVIA) branded hardware - or maybe even SolidWorks..

    Oh and I'm currently plating a 12" Cintiq tablet - love it - with the direct edit tools in SolidWorks, its pretty slick once you change the default assignments for the buttons.. but the first thing I did was duct tape one of the new small SpaceTravellers to the lower left hand side.. and it ROCKS man
  • Josh
    @Ocell, the natural control is what's gonna push this when it happens. Why would anyone not want one.

    @Al, Ha! I can picture a wad of ducttape holding that spacetraveller on. that's awesome. Those Cintiqs are so cool. would make photoshop a cinch. Very cool stuff about Dassault! They could pull off too, especially with their business relationships. Whoever is developing this stuff and gets it out and marketed first could really dominate the next gen of input peripherals. There's some patents from microsoft floating around out there for handheld-IR devices. it's all changing... and quick.

    I'm surprised there's not more Wiimote-type stuff coming out from logitech.
  • Dale Dunn
    I see some comments about DS working on some control hardware. What I'd love to see is for CAD systems to simply support the multi-axis controller interface that Windows already has. This would hopefully eliminate the quirky behaviors from 3DConnxion's drivers, which have to be custom coded for every application. If the application vendors would just support the standard controller interface, they'd bring the user experience under their control and enable cheaper controllers for everyone.
  • Thanks for helping get the word out about Autodesk Design Review and the Wiimote Navigation Add-in.
  • yeah - I wonder what Logitech are up to - I'm off to see them in the next couple of months - to have a poke around their R and D labs, so I'll let you know (if they don't get me with the cursed NDA).. like you said, things are changing quick..

    as you know, I got my macbook earlier this year and just the multitouch is wonderfully productive.. I've been messing with the OSX version of Rhino and the multitouch implementation isn't quite there, but what is, work and works very nicely.. two fingers to rotate the model.. its slick and REALLY intuitive..
  • why has this not taken over the mouse yet, or even became a thought???
    ??
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