FOOT-OPERATED CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING A MACHINE

摘要

There is described a foot-operated controller for providing discrete inputs to a machine to be controlled, comprising: a base; a foot-receiving member for receiving a foot of a user, the foot-receiving member movably secured to the base according to at least one degree of freedom and substantially extending within a plane; at least two switches each located at a different location between the base and the foot-receiving member and each activatable upon a corresponding motion of the foot-receiving member relative to the base; and a communication interface unit for connecting the foot-operated controller to the machine and transmitting to the machine a respective discrete command upon activation of the at least one switch, the discrete command corresponding to a discrete input for the machine, the foot-operated controller being connectable to a power source for powering at least the at least two switches.