Patent ID: 8796961

Claim:
A complex joystick control system, comprising: a complex joystick comprising at least three joystick segments and at least four joystick joints, said at least three joystick segments comprising a plurality of joystick segment lengths having a relative ratio of lengths between themselves, said at least four joystick joints permitting movement of an end of said complex joystick in each of x, y, and z directions with respect to a first fixed position, at least four electronic joystick angle sensors carried by said at least three joystick segments and said at least four joystick joints which produce control signals based on respective relative angular joystick positions of said at least three joystick segments with respect to each other and said first fixed position; an articulated arm comprising at least three controlled segments and at least four articulated arm joints, said at least three controlled segments comprising a plurality of controlled segment lengths having said relative ratio of lengths between themselves, said at least four articulated arm joints permitting movement of an end of said articulated arm in each of x, y, and z directions with respect to a second fixed position, at least four articulated arm electronic angle sensors carried by said at least three controlled segments and said at least four articulated arm joints which produce control signals based on respective relative angular articulated arm positions of said at least three controlled segments with respect to each other and said second fixed position; and at least four servos which receive signals from respective pairs of said at least four electronic joystick angle sensors and said at least four articulated arm electronic angle sensors, whereby said at least four servos operate to control movement of said articulated arm so that said respective relative angular articulated arm positions of said at least three controlled segments match those of said relative angular joystick positions of said at least three joystick segments.