Life Project: Sphere Based Motion Platform with full XYZ Axis Rotation

[Bluedrake42]

Been doing a lot of thinking about it... and I firmly believe this is possible. This may take me

a decade to accomplish, maybe even a few years to even start on. But its gonna happen...

to that I solemnly swear.

 

I intend to make a sphere based motion platform with full XYZ axis rotation. The inside of

this sphere will be coated with a flexible OLED screen creating a complete panorama around

the pilot, resulting in absolute immersion. Within the sphere will also sit a fully functional

simulator cockpit, in which the pilot would reside.

 

An example of how the motion platform system would function

 

A different version of the motion platform, however an existing and physical prototype

 

To-date complete video panoramas have only been possible with expensive projector

systems, and even these systems have their problems, they often are big and bulky, and

usually not well suited for smaller simpit projects. However in the future OLED technology

could change all that

 

Paper thin screens offer the most lively image and color. Also OLED screens are virtually

indestructible to boot. They can be flexed to coat any reasonably even surface (well suited

for the inside of a sphere)

 

Here is an example of flexible OLED technology

 

While expensive and small at the moment, the market predicts affordable widescreen models will be available within the next decade

 

In comparison to the previous two tasks (building the panorama and motion platform) it

should prove relatively easy to construct a reasonably light, and authentic simpit to sit inside

the sphere. I also intend to make the cockpit modular, so systems inside can easily be

replaced or swapped out in case of system failures, or maybe just to adjust to a different

aircraft. In order to reduce strain and weight on the motion platform, the video feed from

the OLED screen, control systems, and HUD/MFD systems will be wirelessly transmitted from

the cockpit to the computer (which would be separate from the platform). Overall this will

also make constructing the platform easier.

 

This is something I'm really passionate about completing. My father and I build planes as a

hobby, although I'm more of a simulator nut than he is (particularly for combat simulators) I

feel we are completely capable of making this a reality. I would love to hear feedback and

ideas on how we could best go about this, and maybe some of your own ambitions for what

you would want out of such a system.

 

To finish here are some more examples of motion platforms I've found. Although nothing

like what I've proposed has been built for civilian use (there is one military simulator

that goes above and beyond what I'm proposing

) these are some examples of what has

already been done (although they only have two axis, instead of three; roll and pitch instead of

roll, pitch, and yaw)

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!! And please tell me everything you think!!

I've made some amazing discoveries through the feedback of people on these forums

Edited July 11, 2012 by Bluedrake42

[metalnwood]

Entirely possible to do, the mechanics can be worked out and there is nothing technologically limiting that part of the project - except of course time, space and money.

 

When the screen technology will be there is anyones guess as I am not sure if you are proposing the whole sphere to be wrapped or not? I dont know where oled is going but even so it would require some sort of customised panel to do it and that looks fairly large, something like a 4Mx4M screen or 12x12 feet at least.

 

I am not confident oled will help you out at those sizes.

 

I have thought many times about a good motion platform but my biggest hurdle is space, in your case that looks like a room with at least a 6M (18ft) ceiling which is fine when you have your own space for it.

 

Next would be the money compromises followed by time. I have thought about making my own linear actuators to save money as my own projects tend to think farther than a couple of cheap actuators for a rocking seat, at least 3dof would be required byt ultimately 6. Then the actuators are in the thousands and doing it yourself is something to really think about. The chinese help out here as well.

 

I dont know how much that would cost but if I was to throw a minimum figure about I think you would be scrounging to do it for 50k and that would involve making most things yourself, I hope you have a good workshop thats up to it :)

 

Seriously, unless you are an engineer and know for certain you have the machinery to make it and the $$ and desire to do it then I would think about something a little less ambitious so you have something to use. , just IMHO :)

Edited July 11, 2012 by metalnwood

[Mr_Burns]

Perhaps you search fleabay for one of those old arcade machines that used to play G-lock - they were called the R360 and that looks like one in your last picture.

 

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:hL19frRMtikJ:www.gameroomrepair.com/R360tos.doc+g-loc+arcade+game+r360+for+sale&hl=en&gl=au&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjlHcwzwtxftMhbchcNrpz-lR3mlRsmSbJPXyH0PCDLuIPTL65obw0kS23kaG0_n5IqOEFcG1f-UdLNm7SRwAx7S9oHCgqCQKMorZs2AR7DnfWnrUi-qBM84OU6FGotK2wbNP4Y&sig=AHIEtbQjYbb3fK3zJzO6vYz6xEF3cUoyMA

 

Oops looks like I should have watched your video! Anyway - good luck with you project and keep us informed!

 

I used to work on (well sell, I was in a commercial role so I didnt really work on them) real military simulators and not many (any) were full motion - a large screen and slight seat movements were usually enough emersion to convince you that you were airborne or they had combat domes for full 360 views. What about going for one of those hydraulic fair rides?

 

I think games like HAWX and an XBOX 360 are probably better for full 3d movement - you would only need full 3d in a hog or shark when crashing. Plus, I cant imagine the cost of electricity to run it.

 

Again, not trying to pee on your fire - follow your dreams, above is my opinion!

Edited July 11, 2012 by Mr_Burns

[Bluedrake42]

Entirely possible to do, the mechanics can be worked out and there is nothing technologically limiting that part of the project - except of course time, space and money.

 

When the screen technology will be there is anyones guess as I am not sure if you are proposing the whole sphere to be wrapped or not? I dont know where oled is going but even so it would require some sort of customised panel to do it and that looks fairly large, something like a 4Mx4M screen or 12x12 feet at least.

 

I am not confident oled will help you out at those sizes.

 

I have thought many times about a good motion platform but my biggest hurdle is space, in your case that looks like a room with at least a 6M (18ft) ceiling which is fine when you have your own space for it.

 

Next would be the money compromises followed by time. I have thought about making my own linear actuators to save money as my own projects tend to think farther than a couple of cheap actuators for a rocking seat, at least 3dof would be required byt ultimately 6. Then the actuators are in the thousands and doing it yourself is something to really think about. The chinese help out here as well.

 

I dont know how much that would cost but if I was to throw a minimum figure about I think you would be scrounging to do it for 50k and that would involve making most things yourself, I hope you have a good workshop thats up to it :)

 

Seriously, unless you are an engineer and know for certain you have the machinery to make it and the $$ and desire to do it then I would think about something a little less ambitious so you have something to use. , just IMHO :)

 

Haha oh I'm completely aware of the costs

I'll be lucky to make this for under 20,000

And no the ENTIRE sphere wouldn't be wrapped, only the parts that the pilot would see

so the only part that wouldn't be wrapped would be the part where the cockpit sits in the sphere

 

but yeah I'm completely aware how ambitious this is haha

but also yes I have the facilities and funding to make this a reality

and I'll be damned if I don't create this when I have the capability haha

[DEChengst]

How about making the screen smaller by not making it a sphere but just using the canopy of the cockpit for it ? That would probably also allow for a smaller motion platform.

[Bluedrake42]

How about making the screen smaller by not making it a sphere but just using the canopy of the cockpit for it ? That would probably also allow for a smaller motion platform.

 

I thought about that, but you see by having the screen slightly outside the cockpit you gain a slight "3D" effect, where what you're looking at literally appears to be outside your aircraft. (think about looking out the side of your window and being able to see your engines and wings) adding to immersion. If the actual canopy of the cockpit was used as a screen then it would negate that effect

[metalnwood]

Looking at the youtube vid and lets say the guy is 1.8M then I would say the sphere has a diameter of 2.2M roughly. So the area of that sphere is 18 square meters. If you were to move your head freely I guess you might see half the sphere which is around 9 square meters which is about 12 50" panels.

 

I dont know the future costs or OLED but if it took a few years to reach the costs of LCD then there is some indication.

 

Honestly, you would be lucky to get the electronics and drives for under $20k, then there is the rest of it :)

 

Anyway, back to your original questions, the only other comment I have is that it only looks to be 3 DOF, i.e. yaw, pitch and roll. In a flight simulator I would want at least one more, heave which is Z on your traditional axis. For landings, takeoffs, turbulence etc heave is the only real way to get that feeling.

[Bluedrake42]

Looking at the youtube vid and lets say the guy is 1.8M then I would say the sphere has a diameter of 2.2M roughly. So the area of that sphere is 18 square meters. If you were to move your head freely I guess you might see half the sphere which is around 9 square meters which is about 12 50" panels.

 

I dont know the future costs or OLED but if it took a few years to reach the costs of LCD then there is some indication.

 

Honestly, you would be lucky to get the electronics and drives for under $20k, then there is the rest of it :)

 

Anyway, back to your original questions, the only other comment I have is that it only looks to be 3 DOF, i.e. yaw, pitch and roll. In a flight simulator I would want at least one more, heave which is Z on your traditional axis. For landings, takeoffs, turbulence etc heave is the only real way to get that feeling.

 

that could maybe be accomplished by a hydraulic lift on the base of the whole platform

However I was thinking maybe a kindof force feedback that makes the cockpit shake

instead?It really just depends on what feels the most realistic

 

And yeah like I said haha I'll be lucky to build this thing for under 20 grand

However I'll probably do it in parts, where I build the motion platform first

then the cockpit second, and I can use a single monitor in the front until I

find a convincing and cost effective solution to the video sphere haha

[StiC]

I wondered if anyone else thought of stuff like this. I thought about similar projects but I wanted mine on the outer edge of a variable speed, rotating platform to simulate G forces.

 

Good Stuff

[Succellus]

YES!!! Many thought about it, and done it. A Brazilian team of entusiast engeneer did it but for the 3d dome.

Seeing it work for some seconds just made me think its a waste of time as this will never give the feeling of a plane, you can t mimic any thrust, so you can t mimic somewhere near the plane motion.

I ve been inside such kind of sim... wasnt thrilling for me.

I had the sensation of being like a sac of potatoes straped on a chair, or having the feeling of being inside a car crash that is wheeling madly around.

 

I guess a full working cockpit with a 3d dome with some hydraulics to simulate turbulance and small transitions would be enought and much cheaper.

 

There s a reason why militari haven t implemented it yet for training and tech & money aren t the cause.

 

But thats just me.