FULL MOTION MOTORCYCLE SIMULATOR FOR PROFESSIONAL USE
Since 2005, when Cruden built the world’s first professional-grade motorcycle simulator, our engineers have been working on hardware, software, motion cueing, vehicle dynamics, rendering and content for a realistic motorcycle simulator that can be used professionally by manufacturers, race teams, universities, research institutions and road safety organisations.
To see a video of the Cruden motorcycle simulator click here.
PRODUCTS
Our package incorporates a 6-DOF motion system in hexapod configuration, depth-map sensors for rider body tracking, an extra stiff steering actuator and a Head Mounted Display (HMD) for visualisation.
Every driver uses essentially the same technique to control a car. This technique is also very intuitive and straightforward; direct car controller displacements (e.g. turning the wheel) result in corresponding direct car responses (e.g. driving a curved path). When riding a motorcycle, the control inputs from the rider are force-related instead of displacement-related. A rider controls the motorbike by exerting forces on the bike, for example by pushing (but usually not rotating!) the handlebar, or shifting his/her weight.
The motorcycle steering process is made even more difficult to mimic by the essential riding technique of counter-steering. Above a certain speed, in the instant before leaning into a corner, a rider initiates a turn by pushing on the inside handlebar: pushing left to go left or pushing right to go right. This might seem counter-intuitive but most riders counter-steer instinctively and are barely aware of their handlebar input.
Whereas every driver controls a vehicle roughly the same way, especially when handling is not ‘on the limit’, there is much more differentiation in riding styles on motorbikes. Consequently, for a motorcycle simulator to offer a realistic riding experience, it must cater for all these different riding styles.
Rudimentary motorcycle simulators of the past have attempted to mimic the effects of the rider moving weight in one direction or another by measuring with sensors any changes of pressure in the saddle or on the footrests. Cruden’s much more sophisticated system uses depth-map sensors to continuously detect exactly how the rider is positioned on the bike and uses this information to alter vehicle behaviour accordingly. To complement this, a very stiff steering actuator allows for realistic counter-steering capabilities.
Riding a motorcycle requires a very large field of view, both horizontally and vertically, hence the MC1 motorcycle simulator is equipped with a Head Mounted Display (HMD). This device offers a virtually unlimited field of view and unprecedented levels of immersion. The integration of the HMD with Cruden’s Panthera simulation software means that the HMD responds to the user’s head movements, not to the movements of the motion platform.
The simulator has been designed to be of value in high-level rider training, racing simulations and fine-tuning vehicle dynamics.
See our technical papers section to browse academic articles on motorcycle simulators.
If you are interested in motorcycle simulators for entertainment and attractions, please visit our colleagues over at Cesys.
Interested? CONTACT US
A professional grade motorcycle simulator for manufacturers, race teams, universities, research institutions and road safety organisations for the purpose of safety research, high-level rider training, racing simulations and fine-tuning vehicle dynamics.
REQUEST SPECIFICATION SHEET- 6-DOF motion system in hexapod configuration
- Customer-supplied motorcycle hardware
- Depth-map sensors for rider body tracking
- Extra stiff steering actuator
- Head Mounted Display (HMD)
A LIST OF WELL-KNOWN ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRUST CRUDEN
Interested? CONTACT US
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FREE PANTHERA DOWNLOAD
Welcome to Cruden’s no-cost, license-free version of its Panthera simulation software. Users can run simulations, modify and expand vehicle models, add interfaces to hardware and use custom cars and tracks.
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