Roll and pitch palm pivot hand controller

Abstract

A two-axis hand controller including a human interface to simulate feel parameters for use in a vehicle having a pitch axis and a roll axis. A hollow grip having a base end is connected to a swash plate through a rigid connecting member. A universal joint having a center shaft member rigidly affixed to a first support surface and having roll and pitch pivot axis members is attached within the center of the hollow grip so as to provide dual palm pivot points. The swash plate includes an opening positioned so as to accept the shaft member through the opening and into the hollow grip. The swash plate is also flexibly engaged to the first support surface so as to allow for control of the human interface feel parameters. Apparatus for transducing is attached between the swash plate and the base so as to provide electrical signals responsive to movements in the pitch and roll axes without cross-coupling from one axis to the other. Adding an elongated shaft member attached to a bearing mechanism mounted to a second supporting surface provides a third axis in the yaw direction. The swash plate is flexibly attached to the first support surface by at least four linear bearings wherein two of the linear bearings are disposed along the pitch axis and the other two are disposed along the roll axis, wherein each of the linear bearings is further connected to a flexible coupling which is connected to the transducer apparatus comprising a pick-off device.