A robotic appliance with a joystick sensor and associated methods of operation are provided. In one embodiment, the robotic appliance includes: a housing, a joystick sensor configured to provide sensed signals that vary as the robotic appliance traverses a surface area and comes in contact with an obstacle, a controller adapted to receive the sensed signals, wherein the controller determines the direction of the obstacle in relation to the robotic appliance and an x-y plane corresponding to the surface area based on the sensed signals and controls the robotic appliance based on the direction of the obstacle, a propelling mechanism, and a bumper that defines a periphery for a front section and a rear section of the robotic appliance in the x-y plane, wherein the bumper is in operative communication with the joystick sensor so that movement of the bumper in relation to the housing varies the sensed signals.