Every good simple robot needs a good joystick. Since the balbot has fairly simple controls (front, back, turn left, turn right), I wanted something very chunky/heavy duty but fun. And as usual, Sparkfun comes to the rescue.

The enclosure on the right is something I picked up from Radioshack (did you know these still exist? And that they are still awesome?). The joystick itself is very very chunky and looks like it can take a lot of abuse (kids at Maryland day will possibly get their hands on this, so that’s a good thing). Operation is simple and contains 4 micro-switches. 1-2 switches turn on depending on where the joystick is pointed.

For the handle to go through, I had to cut some holes into the enclosure’s cover. The big center one I made by using incrementally bigger bits – from tiny (for pilot) to BIG. The other two are just for two #4 machine screws that hold the joystick up against the cover.

A few nuts on one side to make up for not having those little screw receivers on the cover.

It fits! Oh wait… what the hell is pushing that side up?

Metal plate on the joystick was sitting on top of the screw receivers on the base. A few adjustments using bit number BIG and we’re all good.

The joystick comes with a little cap to hide the inevitably shitty drilling job you do. However, it just flails around up and down the joystick handle unless you tether it down. A little velcro keeps it tethered but still allows movement from the joystick.

All done! Electronics will have to go in later.