Universal 6DoF Recessed Simulator

Hi

It's just an estimate though. You usually find that when you build something you estimate X and then end-up spending Y...

I wasn't too clear about the size, open space required meant some room around it to walk around it, overshoot etc. The actual size is smaller.

After some good advice in this thread, I've adjusted the "wheelbase" smaller, which increased the actuator angles, so at rest it's just about 45 degrees now. The footprint is 2.075m x 2.150m so you might be able to squeeze it into a 2.25m x 2.25m (assembling will be a bit of a challenge but it's doable) space and then reducing the soft travel for zero overshoot. The footprint can't be reduced much more than this, the recessed designs have a larger footprint and reducing the travel wouldn't make much difference. The idea here is to have something universal that can be used for pretty much anything (even a bike or a VR surface in which you would mount your walker on the platform and then simulate the surface you're walking on), so we'll have to stick to the recessed design since the small footprint simulators end up being too high with long travel. This design in flight simulation mode (seat upright) can more or less have your head touch the ceiling if you have a low ceiling, so you can imagine that if the footprint is reduced and the platform is raised, you won't have much travel.

Btw, you can see some of the stuff I've made here: https://grabcad.com/jonathan.robson/projects

This size is much more viable for me. Although still pushing what I can get away with, I completely understand the need for it considering the nature of the design & for the reasons you've suggested. Let's see where you end up with the costs once you have worked around the various inevitable hurdles along the way.

Thanks again.

I took a look through your other projects. Every one of them is a work of art! Anyone who hasn't had a look, should check the link out.

you said you are working on a hmd... i really would like to make one, i try to made one last month, and it was horrible, heavy and resolution less... show your hmd maybe i would consider make another

fer

I've always targeted weight and FOV as a primary focus area.

I have it down to more or less 200grams, give or take, the last proto was about 250 grams but I had a lot of cameras in(Intel realsense, Leap Motion and 2 stereo web cams) which I'm taking out on the next, resolution and FOV is excellent but positional tracking is a big headache for me... You can PM for some details if you wish to discuss...





So as it turned out I went on Friday night to pick up the fiberglass seat, it's small so I want to see if I can convert it into an adjustable seat, anyway so the guy selling it is in the simulation business and this simulator is standing there, and I thought hey let me ask him about it... Says he sells them for $37500 "It's a full motion simulator".... Nice guy but I couldn't believe the price, I was too shocked to even ask if it's imported or if he has it built locally.


What do commercial units go for?

@RobsonSwiss - using the headphones as part of the side straps instead of hanging them off like an appendage is brilliant! My side straps ride on the tops of my ears and it's not the most comfortable. The ear cups would cover my ears and help hold the headset. May be more prone to individual ear position things, but I like the approach big time.

It had it's drawbacks too but it worked well, I bought one of the vive audio bands, the earphone on it is quite good, so I'll be using the vive headstrap from now on.

What type of screen are you using in your HMD ? Nice work

your hdm is a beauty

fer

Thank you, I'm using the AUO 3.81" Panels.

I've made quite a lot of changes... travel is slightly less at 550mm, with the motors inline the weight came down quite a bit, along with some other items... the platform is under 20kg, total weight calculates around 100KG, with such a low platform weight the performance should be quite nice.




I have some minor polishing to do to finish the design and then take a decision on it.

That design is beautiful! Please keep us posted!

what about the seat, are you going to buy a comercial one? or you will do it from scratch, in carbon fiber or fiber glass?

- tell me you will do it, i have been looking all the internet for some one making one at home... but it seams that no one takes the task

fer

Hi

We'll be making it, I bought a shell, but it will requite some modification. It's not exactly "DIY" as in something I'll do in the garage at home, I have a company that I outsource carbon work to(one of my earlier HMD prototypes was actually carbon, check out below.) and I'll use a company that specializes in automotive seat re upholstery to finish the upholstery, from my side I'm just deciding on how to go about modifying the seat, where to make adjustments, if it should or should not be adjustable (width wise), of course the seat mounting will be adjustable.

woow, you are a serius hobist post your seat stuff when you make'em !

fer

Beautiful design

Looks gorgeous! Have you considered the possibility that you might need to add some weight to the base platform or fasten it to the floor in some way? My 2DOF will sometimes tilt/lift off of the ground slightly because the momentum of the platform is enough to shift the base.

Yes sir, there are a few ways, the easiest is to bolt it to the floor. The batteries can be stacked on the base near the actuators which will act as small anchors, around 40 - 60KG, further some solid steel bar can be placed inside the base tubes sections to add another +- 60KG to the base.

I've sent an email to the guys that sell the .75KW AC motor actuators to get a feel for the pricing... Long story short I'm considering 1.2KW motors instead which will make the actuators too long if placed in-line so I'll have to mount them outside.

Any progress with your rig?