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Showroom Formula SAE Student Project

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Noah Jackowitz, Jan 21, 2019.

  1. Noah Jackowitz

    Noah Jackowitz New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Arduino, 4DOF
    I am working with a team of 5 mechanical engineering students at California Baptist University to create a simulator for the school's SAE club. Every year, the club designs a ~600cc formula car and competes against other colleges nationwide.

    SAE.PNG
    Image 1: The 2017-18 CBU FSAE Team

    As our senior capstone project, my team is building a motion simulator to lower vehicle operating costs and allow others such as prospective students to experience driving the vehicle. The design is nearly complete, featuring a full space frame and fairing for accurate look and feel, and force feedback and control loading wheel and pedals. We are currently designing mounting patterns for our 4 actuators.

    Rear View.PNG
    Image 2: SolidWorks Drawing of Space Frame and Approximate Actuator Positions

    We are beginning to fabricate the chassis, using 1/2" (0.84in.) steel piping, and will attach a PVC foam fairing once it is complete. We plan to use an Arduino Mega PLC with a 4-channel H-bridge shield to control the actuators.

    Grinding.PNG
    Image 3: Preparing a Section of Piping for a Weld
    • Like Like x 1
    Noah Jackowitz, Jan 21, 2019
    #1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I look forward to following your progress.

    It sounds like there will be a fair mass to control, what actuators are you planning to use?
    noorbeast, Jan 21, 2019
    #2
  3. titomaky

    titomaky Member Gold Contributor

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Motion platform
    I would love to see the progress of this project by future engineers. I'm sure we'll all learn a lot. Good luck friends
    • Like Like x 1
    titomaky, Jan 21, 2019
    #3
  4. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Yeah the ones depicted in image 2 are completely inadequate unless you're building a sloth simulator :D.
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2019
    BlazinH, Jan 21, 2019
    #4
  5. Noah Jackowitz

    Noah Jackowitz New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Arduino, 4DOF
    The actuators are Progressive Automations PA-03. They can hold 200lb dynamic load each, with speeds between 0.9 and 1.6 in/s, depending on loading (see photo). The simulator, fully loaded with a 95th percentile male driver, is round 400lb, with the cg closer to the front actuators, since the rear are mounted at an angle. I agree they are not ideal, but we could not find anything better, given our budget.
    Speed Vs Load.PNG
    Noah Jackowitz, Jan 22, 2019
    #5
  6. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 22, 2019
    noorbeast, Jan 22, 2019
    #6
  7. Noah Jackowitz

    Noah Jackowitz New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    Arduino, 4DOF
    Noah Jackowitz, Jan 22, 2019
    #7
  8. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Ratings:
    +10,878 / 54 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    I would suggest you refine your project priorities a bit more specifically and be realistic about what you can and can't do within your budget.

    Is the priority good motion or external rig aesthetics? If it is the former then take a leaf out of the racers handbook - parts left out cost nothing and cause no service problems. In other words ditch the heavy cockpit and instead create it in VR as a game mod (depending on what game you plan on using), where there are no performance consequences. So build a traditional seat shaker or light weight full frame design.

    If the external aesthetics are the priority then at least minimise the mass, use carbon fiber or aluminum for the frame. I appreciate that has a cost implication, but that tends to be the trade off in motion sim building.

    If you can't or won't consider those two options then the quickest and cheapest way to throw power at it, to move that sort of mass, would be to look at AC motors: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/vfds-and-3phase-motors.9/category

    Or perhaps on the DC side powerful winch motors: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/dc-winch-motors-for-motion-simulators.151/

    You could always build actuators: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/diy-linear-actuators.248/
    • Agree Agree x 1
    noorbeast, Jan 23, 2019
    #8