System, Apparatus, and Method for Pedal Control

Innovators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center have developed a novel footpedal-operated system and device to control movement of an object in three-dimensional (3D) space. The system enables operators to control movement of spacecraft, aircraft, and watercraft using only foot pedals. This design leaves the hands free for simultaneous operation of other equipment. The foot pedal controller integrates six articulating mechanisms and motion sensors, and provides continuous positional feedback to the operator. Motion control across six degrees of freedom is enabled by three control motions for each foot. Specifically, the foot pedal controller moves the object forward/backward, up/down, and left/right (translation in three perpendicular axes) combined with rotation about three perpendicular axes, often termed pitch, yaw, and roll.