Abstract
This paper describes the development of an optical three-dimensional controller. A typical 3D controller consists of a two dimensional controller with a superfluous secondary controller for its third dimension. These 3D controllers have a severely limited operating range and do not allow the user to move simultaneously in three dimensions. In the past, controllers commonly used potentiometers to detect movement; this component limits the operating range as the sensors must be fixed to a point. The proposed optical controller incorporates all three dimensions into a single controller allowing for further utility while decreasing complexity for its user. The use of an optical controller would be advantageous in terms of its size and weight as many mechanical and electrical components in traditional controllers would be eliminated. The optical controller could be used for precision controlling in many circumstances because of its direct mapping to 3D systems. © 2014 SPIE.