Abstract: An inductive joystick includes a movable actuator which carries an element of electrically conductive low magnetic permeability material (e.g., copper or aluminum), such that movement of the actuator differentially affects the coupling between a primary coil and a pair of secondary coils which are encircled by the primary coil. The arrangement provides a desirable output characteristic, in which the minimum output of each secondary coil is preferably greater than the maximum difference between the outputs of the two secondary coils, useful for detecting component failure. The secondary coils are preferably connected in a processing circuit which rectifies the outputs of the two coils before combining them to form a resultant "difference" output.