A controller having a joystick which can be moved in three dimensions is disclosed. The joystick is connected by a Y (yaw) link which is, in turn, connected to a P (pitch) link, which is, in turn connected to an R (roll) link. The R link is rotatable about a fixed-position mounting base. Alternately, the joystick is connected by an R (roll) link which is, in turn, connected to a P (pitch) link, which is, in turn connected to an Y (yaw) link. The Y link is rotatable about a fixed-position mounting base. In either of these manners, one can rotate a joystick around any of three axes. When used to control a vehicle, rotation around the yaw and roll axes can steer (with one being more fine-tuned steering), and rotation around the pitch axis can control acceleration and deceleration.

An operating member 3 has a shaft portion 31 and a fulcrum portion 32. A first swinging member 4 has a concave fitting portion 42. Inside the fitting portion, engaging surfaces and guide surfaces 45, 46 are included. The engaging surfaces are formed to be engageable with the fulcrum portion. The guide surfaces allow the fulcrum portion to swing with respect to the first swinging member. The second swinging member 5 includes an engaging portion 63 which includes a long hole, and which covers the fulcrum portion while passing the shaft portion through the long hole in a manner that the shaft portion is movable in the longitudinal direction of the long hole, in such a manner that the engaging portion and the fitting portion cooperate to sandwich the fulcrum portion. The engaging portion is coupled with the second swing shaft, and configured to be engageable with the shaft portion.

A multidirectional input device includes a case, and a movable body that is restrained from rotating relative to the case, disposed so as to face the case, and mounted on the case so as to be movable in directions with a predetermined neutral position as a base point. The multidirectional input device further includes a first position detector that outputs a first signal in response to a position of the movable body, and a cam part formed on one of a surface, facing the case, of the movable body, and a surface, facing the movable body, of the case. The multidirectional input device further includes a restraint member having a tip which is in elastic contact with the cam part to urge the movable body to the neutral position, and a second position detector that outputs a second signal in response to a position of the restraint member.

A multidirectional input device of the present disclosure includes a case, a movable body that is mounted on the case so as to be movable in a plurality of directions with a predetermined neutral position as a base point, a first position detector that outputs a first signal in response to a position of the movable body, a second position detector that outputs a second signal when the movable body is located at the neutral position, and a controller that detects a moving direction of the movable body by the first signal. The controller corrects a threshold value for determination for detecting the moving direction in response to the first signal and the second signal.

A user interface device includes a frame, rigid body in rotary engagement with the frame, a plurality of force sensors, which in response to force acting on the frame produces information that represents a first force component in a first direction with respect to the frame, and a second force component in a second direction with respect to the frame; and an angle sensor, which in response to torque applied to the rigid body produces information that represents rotary movement of the rigid body with respect to the frame about an axis extending vertically through the rigid body. The rigid body can be sized and dimensioned to accommodate one or more feet of a user. The user interface device advantageously combines or mixes isometric and isotonic control input or sensors.

A remote controller includes a fixed body equipped with pivots in a first axis and pivots in a second axis, together with an operating lever. The remote controlling further includes a main frame configured to pivot about the axes to transmit pivoting movement of the lever to a pivoting sensor. The main frame is coupled by pivots to the lever. The lever has two pairs of arms to control the pivoting of the main frame and the pivoting of the auxiliary frame. The auxiliary frame is coupled to the lever by an intermediate frame. The intermediate frame is coupled to the auxiliary frame by a swivel. The frames are located under a plane of the axes and the lever is located above the plane of the axes.

Multi-axis pivot assemblies for control sticks and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A multi-axis pivot assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, an input shaft, a first axis output shaft coupled to the input shaft, and a second axis output shaft coupled to the input shaft via a series of linkages and pivoting joints. The first and second axis output shafts rotated about corresponding first and second fixed bearing sets to capture a first axis output and a second axis output. The series of linkages are configured to decouple first axis movement of the input shaft from second axis movement of the input shaft such that the second axis output is substantially independent of the first axis output.