Filed under: Gadgets, Motorsports, Videos
Greatest video game accessory EVAR
Home racing games have come a long way since Pole Position, with controllers providing feedback to virtual drivers, while true to life graphics and vehicle driving dynamics making the action feel much more real. Microsoft has even engineered some real-life smoke from their official steering wheel, even though the software giant from Redmond, Washington really wishes the problem didn't exist.
The pneumatic experts at Festo have taken a big step towards making the most real-life racing game experience, and the extent of on-road feel of their new contraption looks very impressive. Festo uses Fluidic Muscles and mechatronic systems to give users a true sensation of either driving or flying, depending on the software being used. It's really more of an industrial simulator than a game, and we're pretty sure it costs a bit more than a Playstation 3. Either way, we'll need to come up with a business case to AOL for buying one for the Autoblog team. You can check out a video of the Festo system after the jump.
Thanks for the tip, thesawzall!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Will 6:45PM (8/25/2007)
All fun 'n games until a hydraulic seal busts and ruins your Italian shoes...
And your skin.
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nunya 2:18PM (8/26/2007)
It is operated by pneumatics ( Air Pressure ), not hydrolics
mca1990 7:17PM (8/25/2007)
Epic FAIL. No stick for manual simulation.
edit: nvm i see paddle shifters );
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Andrew 7:38PM (8/25/2007)
does anyone else find that guy's face hilarious?
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Hamud 7:38PM (8/25/2007)
Besides the paddles, the Logitech G25 steering wheel used there has a 6 speed manual shift lever with H pattern, separated from the wheel, which can be used as a H shifter or as a sequential shifter.
That's an awesome setup. I would be happy with a virtual chassis, even without the hydraulics.
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Freezerbee 7:46PM (8/25/2007)
Yeah the guys face is quite... I'm not sure, is it smug? I think I'd be smirking and always looking slightly upwards after that thing blew my mind too.
I'll admit I know absolutely nothing about these "fluidic muscle" contraptions but I think they're freakin' neat. Next up: actual, giant walking robots? please?
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Hamud 7:58PM (8/25/2007)
Andrew, I only saw the video now and the guy's face is really hilarious.
He's like: "look at me, me has no emotions" aahhahahahaahahahahhhahahahhahhaha.
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CRiccio 10:09PM (8/25/2007)
The STIG!
why not the LS2LS7? 7:59PM (8/25/2007)
Eh. I'm conflicted. First of all, G25 for the win. It's a fantastic wheel. But why didn't these guys get a seat that allows them to mount the 6-speed gated shifter (w/reverse and physical reverse lockout!) on there?
These motion chairs never satisfy, because you cannot create sustained G-forces. If you push the pedal, it can't push you into your seat, if you hit the brakes, it can't thrust you out of the seat, and when you make a sweeping turn, there's no side forces. These things can only replicate jiggle, not g-forces.
The muscle-like actuators themselves look nice.
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why not the LS2LS7? 8:01PM (8/25/2007)
Eh. I'm conflicted. First of all, G25 for the win. It's a fantastic wheel. But why didn't these guys get a seat that allows them to mount the 6-speed gated shifter (w/reverse and physical reverse lockout!) on there?
These motion chairs never satisfy, because you cannot create sustained G-forces. If you push the pedal, it can't push you into your seat, if you hit the brakes, it can't thrust you out of the seat, and when you make a sweeping turn, there's no side forces. These things can only replicate jiggle, not g-forces.
The muscle-like actuators themselves look nice.
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grajeda 8:04PM (8/25/2007)
it looks amazing...
but it sure will cost more than a ps3.
but i´ll be glad to sell my entire dvd collection for this...
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TechRightGuy 9:16PM (8/25/2007)
Electric Linear Actuators; no hydraulics. Very cool and useful devices in their own right.
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JF 11:17PM (8/25/2007)
I'd rather have this:
http://force-dynamics.com/content/index.php
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1iEtjs6S80
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mike 1:36AM (8/26/2007)
Did i catch that right...is autoblog part of AOL?
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rgseidl 8:36AM (8/26/2007)
As a video game accessory, this will be one expensive gadget. I could imagine a substantially more robust version making it into next-gen games for commercial arcades.
Another application would be in driver training. With sufficient screen acreage and compute horsepower, you could expose learners to a variety of hazardous conditions that you hope they never experience in real life, e.g. black ice, mu-split roads, debris falling off a truck, an accident just in front of them, a bird striking the windshield, a deer jumping into the road, dense fog banks, aquaplaning etc.
If you can learn how to cope with such situations in a simulator, with the assistance of an instructor, you will be better able to drive defensively and avoid an accident. You can also use the device to demonstrate objectively how alcohol increases reaction times.
Finally, you can demonstrate how well TC, ABS, ESP etc. really work and why they are worth paying extra for. This is where dealers might want to have one of these in the showroom, to let potential customers take their prospective purchase to the limit without any risk of actual injury or damage.
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defconracing 7:11AM (8/27/2007)
Instead of a simulator (which is cool, and gimmicky), why dont we just improve the (pathetic) american drivers license requirements (more instructor time for example, we have 6 hours, Germans have around 20). Send your kids to Skip Barber or Bob Bondurant racing schools to teach them how to actually drive.
Mocib 9:01AM (8/26/2007)
The game he is playing is Live for Speed.
http://www.lfs.net
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andyx 10:48AM (8/26/2007)
rgseidl, you're absolutely right. I had a steering wheel for my PSone and it was very easy to transfer my experience in it when I took my driving lessons later.
Also, looking at the picture on the first page of this blog, He's driving position, the way he's sitting too close and with his arm bent at 90deg; it's very difficult to control and very uncomfortable at the same time. Also, his expression... :D
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Michael 2:15PM (8/26/2007)
I drove with something like this at a Festival. My Hands still hurt ;) Amazing!
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Rohit 9:01PM (8/26/2007)
He braked with his left foot :O
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