FOMSim force of motion simulator geometry project

Hi Everyone!

I'm Robert, and I am building a motion simulator with a new geometry that I am looking forward to the community's opinions and assistance on. I am into VR (Virtual Reality) and have an Oculus Rift DK1
Headset (video here and here if you are unfamiliar with it) I would like to use in the simulator as well as a monitor and perhaps gesture recognition peripherals and arm/hand tracking hardware.

I'm loving all the valuable information and experience this community offers and I will do my best to add to that where I can. I am just starting to put this together, but I have a lot of miscellaneous parts I'm going to play with that are leftovers from machine builds in my business.

I have the following parts for this build:
Arduino mega
Granite Devices VSD-E Servo Drive
DC Disk servos 80:1 reduction (I have 8 of these, with the right lever, should produce a a good movement vs speed to move axis)
Monitor
Gaming computer
Seat
Happ steering wheel and pedals
Flight Stick
Surround Audio
4 High Force RBH Sound Tactile Transducers
Encoders
Hall sensors

Putting all of this together into the moving framework is next on the agenda, but after that I am totally new and could really use your assistance! I have to figure out how to model the structure and moving links to get the physics/dynamics into the Xsim software. For that I will greatly rely on the information found here and anything the community can add for my unique build.

As an FYI, my build is based off a patent I was awarded in 1998 on the motion bed structure found here:
Manual motion simulator with resistance and video

While it is unconventional, I think it will provide an easy to build structure that can simulate the forces of a race car extremely well.

I look forward to getting to know you all!

BILB

Hi and welcome @FOMSim, just to clarify the software used and supported on this Forum is Simtools.
Xsim is a different software and is found on another Forum.

Mike

Ah, thanks for the clarification Ace! I looked at the URl and spit out XSim. None the less. I'm glad to be here and looking forward to progressing in this.

[Quote = "AceOfSpies, post: 53458, member: 6900"] Hi and welcome @ [user = 9920] FOMSim [/ USER], just to Clarify Simtools the software used and is not supported on this forum.
Xsim is a different software, and is found on another forum.

Mike : Thumbs[/ quote]

So my first obstacle is finding the right information on how to use a non-standard geometry simulator. I've been watching YouTube vids and I have been looking for documentation on what is necessary to get the software to use my machine to the output of the engine geometry or kinematics to the right of the right moves. Where can I find this information? Sketch-up I downloaded 8.0. * And SketchyPhysics 3.2, but like others, it says it installed SketchyPhysics 3.1 and not 3.2. Whats up with that? I do all my modeling in Rhino 3D and I try to export with a Sketch-Up. SKP file. , I am assuming that this would work fine ...?

Are custom builds supported here? I assumed anyone could build whatever base they want and use this software. But, I noticed a forum section for "competitors simulators". Competitiors to what? Am I barking up the wrong tree here? Should I realistically focus my efforts on another software package...? Anyone?

Not at all, every build here that is DIY is custom to the respective builder. So yes, custom builds are supported.
We post up commercial simulators that compete against each other and us , to see what they are up to and to get ideas for designs. We are not making exact copies, just getting ideas. Ive paid good money to play on commercial simulators to see how they run.
If you have a build planned, then show us some sketches so we can advise, Pictures say a lot more than words.
I see you plan to use an ard for control and there are several codes here you can try.
Simtools is the software here and if you give us the right info, we can help.

Gday @FOMSim your build here is welcome any information will be happily accepted.

Ok so you need to write a code to run the servo driver, how far have you got with that ?
Can you share where you are up too, we have a strong Ard group here that are very helpful indeed.
Lets all team up and make this system work for you and anyone else wanting to try it.
That's what this community is all about, and SimTools is just better and easier than any other motion software.

I have no code for the servo driver. I was under the impression I needed to model the structure with kinematics to get the info that the software needs to output the right values based on my axis configuration. I have no idea how to do this however. I am a 3D modeler as part of my business, but have never done any kinematic modeling or animation pipeline work. I am in the process of acquiring the last of the pivot bearing elements and will post a picture when I model it with the actual geometry I plan to use. You can get an Idea of what I am doing by checking out the patent I posted a link to in the first post. One of the benefits of the design is to create the motion while keeping all the loads fairly neutral so the motors only have to provide the force to overcome/create inertia and not to move the payload against gravity.

The whole idea is to simulate the forces of motion or acceleration and not just adjust attitude to use gravity for the effect. For racing, I can't imagine how this could not be an enhancement over the current methods the community is following... I may be wrong, but I wont know until I build it right?

The geometry is designed to simulate the acceleration forces in X and Y for a two axis setup. I would like to possibly incorporate yaw and heave in the future. The motion is similar to tahustvedt's simulator.

So a couple of areas I could use some clarification on, SimTools wise, are regarding the process of how to go from concept and structural design to having the software fully configured for my geometry and axis capabilities, to having an Arduino or other small on-board computer (Rasberry Pie, Beagle Bone, Intel Proto Board) receiving control data from the main computer. Is there a good description of this workflow somewhere on this forum that anyone can point me to? I cant seem to find this info.

@FOMSim
You said "The geometry is designed to simulate the acceleration forces in X and Y for a two axis setup. I would like to possibly incorporate yaw and heave in the future. The motion is similar to tahustvedt's simulator. "
He Has a good idea and the sim works well, but for race, it tends to be more or sharp short motion, although others will disagree.

"The whole idea is to simulate the forces of motion or acceleration and not just adjust attitude to use gravity for the effect. For racing, I can't imagine how this could not be an enhancement over the current methods the community is following... I may be wrong, but I wont know until I build it right?"

Build and lets see it work.

I have a Surge and Traction Loss table on my sim which does use acceleration/deceleration for effect and they work well. From watching the video, Tahustvedt's sim seems to tilt in a similar way to a seat mover and therefore uses gravity more than acceleration/deceleration. Although what do I know, agree - build it and lets see how it goes.

@FOMSim to just use the x - y axis information, you would be using the Surge and Sway DOForces and you can simple set in the Axis Assignments of Simtools , how much in % of the Axis they wish to use to make it simpler.
The trick would be to build a model using RC servos to test your and other theories, saves heaps on changing it when its full scale, or in turn some have managed to go a 3d model in Sketchup which they can integrate into SimTools for testing.

I know the sim in question, help with winch setups, its using to curved rails rolling on each other works well for flight , but you can see by all the missing movement that happens on the screen but not the sim is what dave is pointing out. I know of another one built here in Australia too and its the same issue with his, brilliant for flight.