An input device for performing control functions of a machine having a work tool may include a left-hand joystick mounted on a left armrest of an operator's seat, and a right-hand joystick mounted on a right armrest of an operator's seat. Each of the left-hand and right-hand joysticks may include a base portion configured to conform to and least partially cradle an operator's hand, a handle extending from the base portion with a proximal end of the handle being connected to the base portion, and a distal end of the handle supporting a head portion of the joystick. The head portion of the joystick may include a front surface including a configurable face plate. The configurable face plate may include one of a pair of upshift and downshift buttons or a roller configured to perform one of discrete or continuously variable shifting, respectively, of a transmission of the machine. The handle may include a thumb rest area at the distal end of the handle transitioning into the head portion of the joystick.

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 construction machine that frequently changes between a forward and reverse direction of movement includes a system and method for operating the machine such that rotation of the operator seat can change the direction and speed of the machine's movement to minimize disorientation by the operator. The machine can be changed from moving in the forward direction to moving in the reverse direction, without changing the position of a propel lever or joystick that is used to control the direction and speed of the machine's movement. Rotation of the seat can be used to proportionally reduce the speed of the machine as the machine nears a threshold for changing direction. The joystick can be a dual axis lever that can move along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The direction of movement and speed of the machine can depend on a combination of the joystick position and seat position.

A joystick for performing control functions of a machine having a work tool may include a base portion configured to at least partially support an operator's hand, and a handle extending from the base portion. The base portion may be configured for connection to a control interface surface in a machine cabin or on a remote control console or a remote operator's station for the machine. The handle may extend from the base portion with a proximal end of the handle being connected to the base portion, and a distal end of the handle supporting a head portion of the joystick. The head portion of the joystick may include a back surface that is contiguous with a back surface of the handle, and a front surface including a face plate tilted at an angle of 10 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees in a direction toward a position of the operator sitting in an operator's seat of the machine with respect to a plane parallel to the back surface.

A control switch for operating, preferably in single-hand operation, a hoist or crane, having a device for manual actuation, preferably single-finger actuation, with a base element, which is preferably designed as a housing, and a control lever which can be pivoted relative to the base element and which can be pivoted by means of a pivot movement triggered by means of manual actuation, preferably single-finger actuation, from an unpivoted base position into an actuation position that is pivoted in relation to the base position, in order thereby to bring about a predefined movement of the hoist or crane.

A command device for controlling a mechanical energy reduction assembly of an aircraft, movable between an inactive configuration and a maximum mechanical energy reduction configuration, includes a rocker button, movable between a mechanical energy reduction assembly configuration maintaining position, a first position of incremental movement of the mechanical energy reduction assembly to its maximum mechanical energy reduction configuration and a second position of incremental movement of the mechanical energy reduction assembly to its inactive configuration. The command device further includes at least one return element configured to return the rocker button to its maintaining position.

A system for controlling a machine may include a first joystick comprising a first asymmetric grip portion with a first asymmetric faceplate. The first asymmetric faceplate may comprise a first subset of primary controls that include a first plurality of input elements configured to control an operation of an implement mounted to the machine, and a first subset of secondary controls that include a second plurality of input elements configured to control an operation of a display device of the machine. The system may further include a second joystick comprising a second asymmetric grip portion with a second asymmetric faceplate. The second asymmetric faceplate may comprise a second subset of the primary controls that include a third plurality of input elements configured to control an operation of the implement, and a second subset of the secondary controls that include a fourth plurality of input elements configured to control a sound.

An assembly for a work machine comprises an operation lever comprising a first switch and a second switch, the first switch being activated and set for controlling the work machine and the second switch being deactivated at a point of factory shipment, a first port electrically coupled to the second switch of the operation lever, a second port coupled to a power source of the work machine, and a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a request for setting an auxiliary device to the work machine from an input device, the auxiliary device being detachably attached to the work machine after the point of factory shipment; assign the first port to the second switch of the operation lever, to control the auxiliary device; assign the second port to the auxiliary device, to supply power to the auxiliary device; and set configuration information of the auxiliary device based on input information from the input device.

A joystick for operating utility vehicles is provided. The joystick has a handle area, and the handle area has a substance-to-substance connection to a support element. At least three conductor elements are arranged on the support element. At least one conductor element is designed as a heating element, one conductor element is designed as a temperature sensor element, and one conductor element is designed as a touch-sensing element.

An operating unit for a utility vehicle is provided. The operating unit has a grip zone, at least one actuation unit and a control unit. The grip zone includes a plurality of contact-detecting sensor units. The control unit is designed to detect signals from the sensor units and to identify an intended operation on the basis of the signals. An arrangement of the sensor units is formed in such manner that various hand positions are identifiable by means of the control unit. The control unit is designed to release control signals generated by the operating unit and/or the at least one actuation unit depending on the position of the hand.