How do you select and configure a USB controller for use in Nautis? Most commercially available devices which are reasonably affordable are designed for automotive or aeronautical simulations. These can be adapted however to use as wheels and throttle telegraphs for the ships in Nautis Home and are much better than using keyboard controls. I used a refurbished Logitech G920 Steering Wheel and Logitech / Saitech Flight Throttle Quadrant as the input devices for the wheel and throttle. These devices are available commercially, but it is possible also to find older used generations of wheels lacking a feature called "force feedback" that the automotive simulators use which is not needed in Nautis. These used devices are often available inexpensively on eBay Craigslist or OfferUp for less than $30 - Search "Logitech" and "wheel" and you will find these easily as people clean out their houses or automotive simulator enthusiasts often upgrade their hardware to the latest direct drive options. This can help persons get started more affordably.
For those who wish to have a tiller type control and integrated throttle or azimuth controls you may wish to investigate the VRinsight "Ship Console" and "azimuth controls" which can be found at the link below:
I have used the VRI input devices on the Wärtsilä Simulator that is used at the OCC School of Sailing and Seamanship that I attend. The VRI devices are a good option but somewhat expensive and I do not have these controls on my vessels so I went with the wheel and throttle option from Logitech as described.
Below are the step by step notes, including photos, to set up the wheel as well as notes to set up the axes on the throttle quadrant. I am sure these configuration steps are very similar for any USB input device. I put these configuration notes here for others as it took me a little while to figure this out and figured these notes may help someone else get started.
Note that when using the wheel you will need to select "reverse" direction as shown below if using a simulated vessel with a tiller type steering lever control shown at the helm instead of a wheel.
The throttle also apparently is not often used in reverse for as much of the range in the aeronautical vs. nautical application. I had to set the two rightmost axes Y and Z to be zero at midrange so that one can operate propulsion both forward and aft for either a single screw or dual propulsion. I did not use the left most X axis. The dead zone on the axes allows the telegraph to rest at approximately mid range and not have a "hair trigger" in affecting the engine RPM. It is like a "neutral" position in the middle where you would expect to find it.
I learned of these USB controller options when researching more affordable nautical simulation options and originally found out about a nautical simulator program called Virtual Sailor NG by Ilan Papini that I also recommend as having reasonably good physics to give additional piloting practice at home to practice things like maneuvering in tight places. It can be found here:
https://www.hangsim.com/virtual-sailor/
This Virtual Sailor NG simulator program was used by the Tampa Bay Power Squadrons MUVIT public boating safety program whose website is here:
They Tampa Bay Power Squadron group saved a lot of information on their website and responded to my emails which helped me a lot and gave me ideas about the controllers and how to configure them. I put these references here to credit the helpfulness of these persons and the original sources and also to point others to these useful ideas and help promote them in the name of promoting safety at sea. I hope you find this information useful. Please add any comments or other input devices for others who are getting started.