How to wire a 2 Joystick to control 3 electric motors.?

Question

I'm participating in a school underwater robotics team (rov). We have 3 motors controlling this rov, one on each side (left and right) and one for up and down in the center of the rov. All three motors are 2 directional motors. The way we would like to have the controlls setup is that we have 2 joysticks, one for each side motor. Then line the joysticks up side by side, have the left joystick control the left motor and the right joystick the control the right motor(up forward, down backwards), and then have one of the joysticks control the up and down motor (by moving the joystick left or right). Kind of like a bulldozer works. Is this possible and are there any suggestion on wiring this project. Thank you very much for your help.

It is a wired analog transfer. It is powerd by a 12v source(car batterie)

Answer 1

You did not mention how you are transmitting your control signals, ( sonar vs teathered / analog vs digital) Since the joysticks are potentiometers you will need a circuit or controller to determine position.

Power control to the motor(s) can be done with an H-bridge which will give directional control combined with PWM for speed control.