Enabling operator controls for machine operation

Abstract

A plurality of operator controls can, in an operation mode, operate a machine, and, in a validation mode, be disabled to operate the machine and selectable to provide inputs for a candidate key. A computing device can initialize the validation mode, including initializing the candidate key and, according to a number base, and a maximum storage length, of a stored key, an input multiplier; receive a plurality of inputs to the operator controls in the validation mode; determine respective numeric values of the inputs; add the candidate key to a product of the multiplier and the numeric value of a first input to update the candidate key; for each of one or more second inputs to the operator controls after the first input to the operator controls, determine whether the candidate key matches a stored key; and upon determining that the candidate key matches the stored key, output an authorization.