Adaptive controller for Special Needs user
 

I am looking for info on adapting an rc car transmitter for a special needs person. The man has partial control of only his left hand. (cannot use his right at all) I was wondering if there is a single joystick that could control both speed and direction of an rc car. If a single joystick is not possible, I wonder if its possible to make the speed be controlled by a fixed "dial." Maybe adjustable from 1 to 10. You would set the speed to a certain number and then use a joystick to control only the steering. Please let me know if anyone has done this or knows if it is possible. I know of several other people with Muscular Distrophy that would also be interested in adapting rc cars. Thanks for any help you can give.

I would think you could do this by taking a 4 channel stick controller as used for aircraft, & use two channels from the same stick (guessing 1 & 3) for throttle & steering.

there are analog sticks that have a rotation. I believe these guys have them.

P-Q Controls | Heavy Duty Industrial Joysticks and Foot Pedals, Hall Effect

but if you look at the guts of a joystick it usually looks like a cube. it might be very easy to mount a rotary pot to the cube and modify an off the shelf. for that matter you might be able to take a standard stick and mount a rotary pot (knob) on the stick. like a clown nose at the end you grab.

but if he can use a foot you could also setup a throttle pedal or chin pedal or armpit pedal.

One topic is enough.....
https://www.rctech.net/forum/electri...eeds-user.html

I've seen pictures of someone that mounted a post on the steering wheel of a surface transmitter that allowed him to steer with his thumb on the end of the post.

But the easiest would be as Ted mentioned, which is using a stick controller with steering and throttle controlled by one stick. My stick controller has the throttle with a non-spring pot, meaning it holds it's position once it's moved. But I don't know if that would work since driving a car, other than at a low speed for someone that's used to driving, requires constant throttle adjustment.