Joysticks have been around for more than 100 years. The first confirmed use of joysticks was in 1908 by a French aviation pioneer Louis Bleriot in the Bleriot VIII experimental aircraft. In 1944, German scientists used a 2-axis design to control the Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs as well as unpowered Fritz-X missiles. Nasa has been using joysticks since the 1950s. The technology continues to advance. In the search for more reliable joysticks, the hall effect joysticks were born. These use a contactless sensor which is less prone to wear and tear. Today, this technology is used in most industrial joysticks all over the world.
In this post, our focus will not be on the history of joysticks. Instead, the focus will be on the various types of hall effect joysticks and how they are used. Let’s get started.
Industrial Joysticks
Agricultural machinery, cranes, oil rigs, forklifts, excavators, military equipment, and other heavy-duty equipment, machines, and systems all employ industrial joysticks to operate, steer, and position them. Industrial joysticks come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from small precision joysticks like the thumb joystick and finger joystick to fully customized hand grips. Different actuator alternatives, mounting methods, and controller characteristics such as the number of axes, spring return, friction hold, and protocol support are available for each kind. Industrial joysticks are more durable and can tolerate more intense conditions.
Thumb Joysticks
Thumb controllers are low-profile joysticks with a number of mounting and actuator options for easy integration. The 462 series from Ultra MSI and the TS1 series from Ruffy Controls are both excellent joysticks for applications including cursor control, target acquisition, security cameras, robotics, and automated surgical equipment.
Finger Joysticks
Finger joysticks are typically used to control movement and speed in low-profile units such as wheelchairs, medical instruments, robotic operations, and other applications that require precision and compact size. There are many fingertip hall effect joysticks you can choose from. Make sure the device you select is compatible with your system.
Hand Grip Joysticks
Heavy-duty applications such as mobile cranes, forklift vehicles, construction machinery, robotic devices, and agricultural equipment all use handgrip joysticks. These joysticks are highly versatile in multiple applications thanks to their sophisticated wear-free hall effect sensors and control mechanisms. In addition, some come with a redundant sensor that provides an extra safety level in extreme environments.
There is a joystick out there to match your needs. The key to finding the right one is first to be clear with your needs and then focus on products from reputable manufacturers.
Hall Effect Controllers