3dRudder Foot-Powered VR Controller for Gaming & CAD Work
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/01/02 - Updated: 2026/02/01
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Electronics - Software - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This product review details the 3dRudder, a foot-operated motion controller that provides hands-free navigation in virtual reality environments, gaming applications, and professional CAD software. The device stands out for its practical utility in multiple contexts - it serves gamers seeking immersive VR experiences, professionals working in 3D design spaces, and particularly benefits individuals with upper body mobility limitations or hand-grip difficulties who need alternative computer input methods. Originally developed for mainstream VR and gaming markets, the controller has proven valuable as an accessibility tool because it emulates keyboard, mouse, or joystick functions entirely through foot movements while users remain seated, reducing fatigue and opening new possibilities for people who cannot rely on traditional hand-based controls - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
3dRudder: Foot Powered VR and Gaming Controller
The 3dRudder control unit is shaped like a disc, allowing you to move naturally while sitting to minimize fatigue and is hands-free. For gaming, as well as CAD design, 3dRudder lets your feet take you into total Virtual Reality (VR) immersion and move intuitively through any 3D space.
3dRudder is the first foot-powered movement controller specifically designed for Virtual Reality. Simply sit down, place your feet on the circular controller, and begin moving effortlessly through 3D environments along 4 axes of simultaneous movement : Right/left; front/back; rotate R/L and up/down with a tilt of your feet.
"The original idea came from Valerio Bonora, my business partner. Valerio is an architect by trade. For years he had this idea of being able to navigate digital models of buildings or products with his hands. We started to work early 2014 on a proof of concept with two other talented engineers and co-founders. And today we are shipping to the world our foot-powered VR and gaming motion controller, used while seated."
Main Content
For gamers, designers, architects, and professionals who want to do more in their 360° environments, 3DRudder is the only product that makes VR movement easy - keeping your hands totally free. 3dRudder also works as a foot-operated 3D mouse for drones in the air and under water, and for CAD software and design.
Because the 3dRudder is designed to be used when seated and does not require hand operation, it is ideally suited for individuals with mobility and hand-grip issues. 3dRudder is highly responsive and comfortable to use.
3dRudder - A Great Accessibility Device
The 3dRudder is a great accessibility device because it's accessible to all, not just the disabled. Beyond being a great game accessory, beyond offering the best way to move intuitively and naturally in VR, and beyond transforming the way to design and work in 3D, the 3dRudder is an amazing accessibility device. It readily emulates keyboard keys, a full mouse, or a joystick at the feet, allowing people with disabilities to do new and more things with their computer.
Although the 3dRudder was never originally conceived as an accessibility device, the creators conceived a peripheral offering intuitive and natural movement in a variety of settings that wouldn't cause fatigue and would work with existing games and applications running on Windows 10. VR and Gaming materialized quickly as the best playgrounds for the 3dRudder:
"We started to tour the world to show our device and its various interactions at business and consumer shows. On and on people would tell us : 'Amazing product! And it must be a great device for people with upper body disabilities.'"
"At those shows we met disabled people in need for a foot-powered input device. At the last Tokyo Game Show a man who had lost an arm came to us and said we had the tool he had been searching for and that he would finally be able to play World of Tanks with his son."
"We didn't work for the accessibility market. We work for everyone on the principle many things could also be achieved with the feet with the right device, freeing the hands to do more. But if you have no hands, or just one, or your 2 hands but have difficulties lifting a simple cup of coffee, then using the 3dRudder is a life-changing experience."
Specifications and FAQ's
3dRudder - The Original
- Connects/powers via USB connection
- Compatible with all Windows OSX PC gaming systems on Steam and other platforms, hand controllers and Oculus Rift® and HTC Vive® VR headsets.
- User-friendly client software (included) is easily installed to: 1) configure responsiveness, 2) assign specific behaviors, such as crawling or crouching, 3) adapt it to various applications and games in VR and other digital environments such as FPS to RPG game genres and virtual tourism.
3dRudder Wireless
- 3dRudder Wireless is the first Bluetooth-enabled foot-based motion controller for VR and gaming designed to be used while sitting.
- Connects via Bluetooth
- Compatible with all Windows OSX PC gaming systems on Steam and other platforms, Android mobile devices, hand controllers and Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Samsung Gear VR headsets.
- Automatically recognized by mobile devices as a game controller; no configuration necessary on a mobile device.
- Built-in rechargeable 5v battery - 12 hours min autonomy
- Compatible with all Windows OSX PC gaming systems, hand controllers and Oculus Rift®, HTC Vive®, and Samsung Gear® VR headsets.
Dimensions
- Length: 13.39" (round)
- Width 13.39" (round)
- Height 2.2"
- Weight: 3.9 pounds
- Maximum tilt: 20°
3dRudder comes with Windows client software, enabling users to configure their 3dRudder dashboard for various moves and games in one click.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What makes the 3dRudder particularly noteworthy is how its design philosophy - creating intuitive, natural movement without fatigue - inadvertently addressed a significant gap in assistive technology. The creators' encounters with users who had lost limbs or experienced upper body disabilities revealed that well-designed mainstream products can serve dual purposes when thoughtful engineering prioritizes human-centered interaction. The disc-shaped controller's ability to function across multiple platforms, from Steam games to professional design software, demonstrates that accessibility features need not be afterthoughts or specialized add-ons but can emerge organically from products built with universal usability in mind. For individuals who previously struggled with standard gaming controllers or computer mice, the 3dRudder represents more than just another peripheral - it's a tool that restores agency and participation in digital spaces that were once frustratingly out of reach - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.