Space-SIM: Simple 2DOF Seat Mover

[jas89]

Hi all.

I'm looking forward to the re-emergence of the space sim genre with 'Star Citizen' and 'Elite:Dangerous' currently under development.

Being a seat-sim-noob, I'm having a go at a simple 2DOF seat mover to start with. Since I live in a unit with no access to a workshop, my goal is to use as many easy to assemble parts as possible.

Consequently, I've roughed in a frame using steel angle/shelving from the local hardware store, bolted together. Some threaded rods and rod-ends serve OK to connect the upper part of the seat to the worm drives.


I'll canabalise my old DXRacer office shair for the seat.


I'm using a steering wheel knuckle as a u-joint, but I don't expect it to be solid or rigid enough for the finished product, so I plan to use a more robust universal joint from a modified car drive shaft, with fixing plates welded on each end. I'll make sure the actual u-joint is right underneath the chair for the finished product.


I'm using two 12v worm drives from motiondynamics.com.au which are doing a great job so far.


With a few bits of hardware from the local electronics shop, I've wired up two Pololu Jrk 12v12, powered by two HP DPS-600PB server power supplies so I'll have plenty of power.


I used a bolt as the axil for each motor, and eventually I ended up drilling a hole in one end of each bolt to fit the potentiometer that feed back to each JRK controller. This hole is just big enough to fit the pot, then I drilled a small ~1.5mm hole through the axil and pot shaft so I could slide a nail through to lock them together. A metal bracket holds the pot in place, but it is flexible enough so that my alignment of the pot to the axil doesn't have to be perfect.


On the other end of the bolt is the lever arm with a small 90* bend at one end. After I tightened up the whole lot I drilled another hole through this bend and the bolt and slipped a pin through to ensure the lever arm won't slip.


I've managed to get the JRK's connected to my PC and the rig moves OK by using the slider control on the JRK config utility, simulating Pitch and roll.

Before I finish off the rig, I'd like to get the software talking to the space sim, being 'Elite Dangerous' in this instance. Since there appears to be no telemetry/plugin available for this sim yet, I'm hoping X-Sim Extractor with the graphics plugin can do the job for me.

I welcome any comments or suggestions! I'm also keen to hear from any other flight/space sim fans, particularly those interested in combining a motion chair with an Oculus Rift - which will likely present some challenges for the X-Sim graphics driver (since the head motion and ship motion will often be different).

[thaparser]

hi jas89,
this looks like a good start, congrats!
while you wait for the space sim game, you can test the rig with any of the (racing) games it supports.

I'd be very careful with the resistance of those materials you have used as they don't seem strong enough to withstand the weight of the player against the force of those motors you're using. you may find that metal is quite flexible in certain situations.

so, test carefully and good luck!

cheers

[GrumFoss]

Hi,

I have been looking at doing the same thing so I can play Elite Dangerous, (In STYLE ) I will watch this thread with great interest. Looking forward to seeing the seat develope.

Grum