"Motion reversals are imperceptible, or nearly so. "The signals automatically adjust the spool valves so they are in position to drive the acceleration sled such that it gently 'floats' as would an actual racecar going over undulations on a track surface," explains Moncrief. It is this quiescent drive signal that develops, or nearly develops, a quiescent fluid flow through a valve pair. The resulting error signal feeds to a conditioning circuit that outputs a pair of valve-drive signals and what is called a quiescent drive signal. In operation, the patented control system compares commanded position with the actual position of hydraulic actuators based on encoder feedback. Similarly, the double-acting cylinder that drives the sway axis receives two pairs of series-connected proportional valves. One valve goes between the hydraulic pump and cylinder inlet, the other between the cylinder inlet and oil storage tank. A single-acting cylinder on the acceleration sled's heave or lift axis, for example, receives a pair of series-connected proportional valves. It turns out that simple proportional valves, applied in a novel way, give the desired result. A 75-lb person would get a markedly different ride than, say, a 200-lb person, which was unacceptable. These characteristics prevent four-way valves from performing uniformly under widely varying loads. A valve spool transitioning between modes causes a pressure spike ("clunk") at zero flow or a sink if the spool is a make-beforebreak type. But four-way valves for controlling reversible flow to the cylinders have difficulty at the crossover point between lift and lower modes. This pointed to conventional hydraulic systems. And heat buildup can be a problem under high-duty cycles. Electromagnetic actuators were also candidates but discounted, again because of cost and their inability to accurately deliver the range of forces needed for the job. These incorporate special (and prohibitively expensive) hydraulic cylinders with calibrated leak rates. Motion reversals in such systems are unnaturally abrupt.Īt the other end of the spectrum were hexapod platforms, ala aircraft simulators. This ruled out low-cost, arcade-type motion technology that relies on electric-motordriven gear trains. Real automobiles generally impart to their occupants smooth accelerations coincident with direction changes. #Nascar manager simulator how to#But one uncompromising aspect underpinning the design was to keep the driving experience as real as possible.Ī big problem with automotive simulation is how to produce relatively smooth motion reversals along a single axis. #Nascar manager simulator series#Like any engineered product, the SMS NASCAR simulator is a series of compromises. It will retail for about $35,000 and is being contracted to a yet unnamed manufacturer. Moncrief is currently putting finishing touches on a scaled-down version called SMS Reactor. Elan Motorsport Technologies Inc., Braselton, Ga., maker of Panoz G-Force Indy Racing League cars, builds the simulators, which are about two-thirds the size of a NASCAR racer. He got only $1.75 million by the time the product launched but still managed to deliver the simulator design on schedule for the target retail of $95,000/copy. For the NASCAR simulator, Moncrief literally began with a blank sheet of paper and figured simulator-system development costs at $2.88 million. Moncrief is the creator of titles including Asteroids, Lunar Lander, and the world's first driving simulation game, Hard Drivin'. Then start-up company Silicon Entertainment - later acquired by SMS - tapped electrical engineer and former Atariarcadegame designer, Rick Moncrief, for the simulator design. It closely models the underlying physics of a race car navigating banked turns at high speed and faithfully transfers those sensations to the driver. "Entertainment simulator" may bring to mind balky amusement park rides that excel at jerking occupants about but fall short on mirroring reality. Of course, race simulation, even at this level of sophistication, is only as good as the simulator itself. Donaldson became interested in NASCAR simulation, having spent 19 years with Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he helped organize the NASCAR Brickyard 400. This is the vision of Bill Donaldson and his company NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, and one that could soon be reality. Imagine going head to head with some of NASCAR's finest and 11 of your best friends in a simulated race that's being fed live action. Reactor simulators are said to retain about 90 to 95% of the fidelity of their larger counterparts, but cost about onethird as much. An SMS Reactor simulator and an earlier, larger simulator (inset) for comparison.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |