Patent ID: 7471216

Claim:
A handheld controller for use by a human operator in controlling a plurality of aspects of a vehicle's operation, the handheld controller comprising: a box portion; handle portions extending from the box portion; a first plurality of devices disposed on a top surface of the box portion, each of the devices in the first plurality of devices being configured to control at least one aspect of the vehicle's operation; and a second plurality of devices disposed on a bottom surface of the box portion, each of the devices in the second plurality of devices being configured to control at least another aspect of the vehicle's operation, at least one of the second plurality of devices each being provided with a shield corresponding uniquely to that device, the shield configured to prevent inadvertent activation of the device; wherein while the human operator grasps the handle portions, the first plurality of devices are manipulated by the human operator's thumbs, the second plurality of devices are manipulated by the human operator's fore fingers, the location of the shield corresponds to a rest position of the operator's fore finger, and the handheld controller provides a control signal to the vehicle in response to manipulation of any of the first and second plurality of devices.