Steam Controller returns to charging station like a robot vacuum, thanks to new web app

We reported a few days ago that a new web app lets you "drive" the Steam Controller like a remote-controlled car using the WASD keys on your keyboard. This works by controlling the powerful vibration motors, which not only move the gamepad forward, but also allow it to make surprisingly precise turns.

What might seem like just a fun gimmick turns out to be a potentially useful feature. A developer has now released a web app called Steam Controller Auto-Charge that allows the Steam Controller to automatically connect to the charging puck. When the app is opened, it accesses the computer’s webcam, which must have both the controller and the charging cable in its field of view. The software identifies both components and automatically guides the Steam Controller to the charging puck, which, thanks to its strong magnets, automatically attaches to the gamepad and correctly aligns the metal charging contacts.

The video embedded below shows the software in action. Currently, the software is still quite rudimentary, but the web app demonstrates that it should be possible to automate the charging of the Steam Controller. For example, such an app could automatically move the controller to the charging puck when a keyboard shortcut or a button is pressed directly on the Steam Controller, or when the controller enters standby mode. This would ensure that the gamepad is always fully charged when it’s time to use it.