Joystick

A pivot-based input device: translates stick angle (X, Y axes) into digital or analog signals for precise, multi-axis control in systems from early 20th-century aircraft to modern flight simulators and industrial machinery.

The joystick is a fundamental pointing device: a stick pivoting on a base that reports its angle or direction to a controlling system. Originating in early 20th-century aviation (e.g., Louis Blériot's 1908 Bleriot VIII), its technology evolved significantly: from simple digital switches to analog potentiometers and high-precision Hall effect sensors. It became the iconic input for early video games (like the 1977 Atari 2600), but its core function remains critical in professional applications: controlling cranes, surgical robots, and, most notably, high-fidelity flight simulation (HOTAS systems). It provides superior, multi-axis control over standard mouse and keyboard interfaces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joystick