The present disclosure relates to a passive haptic device comprising a mechanical member moving with respect to a second mechanical member, one of the mechanical members having a plurality of magnetized zones spaced periodically according to a pitch P1, the other of the mechanical members having a second plurality of magnetized zones spaced periodically according to a pitch P2, a force that varies periodically as a function of the relative position of the mechanical members being created by the magnetic interaction between the mechanical members, the magnetic interaction varying according to a period Pt, wherein all the magnetized zones of at least one of the mechanical members are magnetized in the same sense.

An adaptive joystick preferably includes a rotatable cylinder bar, an outer base ring, an inner ring and an industrial joystick base. An adaptive controller receives an output from the adaptive joystick and outputs a control signal to a valve solenoid to control a hydraulic cylinder. Angle, depth and pressure sensors are preferably used to monitor a position of the hydraulic cylinder. The sensor outputs are fed into the adaptive controller. An inward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm pull rearward of the outer base ring are used to cause a digging motion. An outward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm push forward of the outer base ring are used to cause a dumping motion. A hand movement to the left is associated with swinging the excavator left. A hand movement to the right is associated to swinging the excavator right.

A control input device can include a housing defining an inner volume with a floor, and a shaft having an axis, a manipulating portion, and a sensing end. The control input device can further include a magnet mounted on the sensing end of the shaft such that the magnet is within the inner volume of the housing, and a movement mechanism configured to allow the manipulating portion of the shaft to be moved with respect to the housing such that the movement of the manipulating portion results in corresponding movement of the magnet. The control input device can further include a magnetic sensor at least partially embedded in the floor of the housing and configured to sense the movement of the magnet.

A passive haptic interface includes a first element which is rotatably movable about an axis or translatably movable along an axis, the first movable element rotating or moving opposite a second fixed element. The first movable element has a first plurality of magnetic poles spaced periodically at a pole pitch Ps and in the direction of movement, and the second fixed element has a second plurality of magnetic poles periodically spaced at a pole pitch Pr and in the direction of movement, where Ps and Pr are different numbers. A periodic stress is created by the magnetic interaction between the first movable element and the second fixed element in a period Pt. The pole pitches Ps and Pr are chosen such that Pt is strictly less than the smallest of the pitches Ps and Pr.

A propulsion control arrangement operable to control a speed and possible direction of a marine vessel. A marine propulsion control system controlling a carried by a hull of a marine vessel, wherein the marine propulsion control system is adapted to receive an input command from the propulsion control arrangement.

A joystick having increased control functionality preferably includes an industrial joystick base and a rotary upper handle. The rotary upper handle preferably includes an outer base ring, a rotatable ring, a position sensor and a base portion. The outer base ring extends upward from the base portion. The base portion extends from the industrial joystick base. The rotatable ring is rotatably retained in an inner perimeter of the outer base ring. The position sensor is retained in a sensor cavity formed in an inner perimeter of the outer base ring. The rotatable ring preferably includes a ring portion, a rotatable cylinder bar and a compression spring. A center contact and a peripheral contact are retained in an end of the rotatable cylinder bar and make contact with the position sensor. The motion of the rotatable ring and the rotatable cylinder bar are sent to a ring controller for processing.

A pointing device includes: a substrate; an operation member that is provided tiltably with respect to the substrate, and includes a protrusion protruded from one of an inner wall and an outer wall; and a rotation member that is provided rotatably on the substrate, and includes a hole which the protrusion enters when the rotation member overlaps the operation member; wherein the rotation member rotates in conjunction with the operation member when the protrusion contacts an edge of the hole according to rotation of the operation member, wherein the hole is formed in a range in which the protrusion is movable by tilt of the operation member.

In order to further improve a control device for controlling unmanned and/or manned and/or virtual airborne objects in such a way that the control is easier to use and can be learned intuitively and more quickly even by untrained individuals, the control device has a first control element for controlling a movement about a vertical axis, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of the airborne object, a rotary movement and/or pivoting movement of the first control element about its vertical axis, its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis causing the airborne object to move about its vertical axis, longitudinal axis and transverse axis, and the control device also has a second control element for changing the flying altitude and/or a speed and/or a thrust of the airborne object.

A pointing device includes: a substrate; an operation member that is provided tiltably with respect to the substrate, and includes a protrusion protruded from one of an inner wall and an outer wall; and a rotation member that is provided rotatably on the substrate, and includes a hole which the protrusion enters when the rotation member overlaps the operation member; wherein the rotation member rotates in conjunction with the operation member when the protrusion contacts an edge of the hole according to rotation of the operation member, wherein the hole is formed in a range in which the protrusion is movable by tilt of the operation member.

A controller is capable of controlling an asset or target in physical and/or virtual three-dimensional space using a single hand by generating control inputs in four or more degrees of freedom while also limiting cross-coupling (unintended motions). The controller includes a first control member is configured to be gripped in a user's single, second control member is disposed on or near a top end of the first member movable with at least one degree of freedom independently of the movement of the first control member, and a third control member positioned on the first member for displacement by one or more digits of the user's single hand and coupled with the second member to move in opposition to movement of the second control member.