Simulator technology

[marcush.]

Think you are mistaken by the word simulators in f1 teams

It is more of a sofware driven tool rather than harware. The F1 teams simulators puts together a track data by combining various parmaters/test results from other individual testing equipment such as wind tunnel, suspension test rigs, and all other mechanical parametes. The simulators is used to verify/predict behavior of updates, rather than to provide a driver experience.

Most teams either develop the software inhouse/outsourced to their specific requirment

v This is not F1 guys call simulators, this is more for a driving experience

Dynamic Simulation tools are around for a long time one example is Adams which was used by Audi already when they entered sportscar racing and that was 199os at least it feels like decades..
The wording simulator is at least for me tied to a driver in the loop setup what as far as I understand is not really what is calculated in even the best simulations as the driver input and feedback is a main contributor to vehicle performance /exploitation.
The simulators are a must have todays but people who have worked with it a lot -likme Timo Glock stated it was very entertaining but you would have to question the relevance for development .

It is surely a superb tool to train your new driving talent and adapting your driver to all the possibilities and preparing him for what to expect from certain changes he can perform in cockpit.It will undoubtedly prepare a driver to better handle the pressure of a weekend but a simulator is unable to reproduce the real forces acting on the driver in a real car like driving through a 7 second 3g sustained cornering scenario ,or a massive 4 gs braking from 300kph to almost standstill.mechanical constraints will only allow short peaks of such acceleration as you need an awful lot of space (e.g.as sled big as a football field to accomodate sustained corneringand braking at 3and more gs.
This really is one of the reasons why some or most(?) drivers experince all levels of nausea in the simulator as the feedback to the driver does not match what you expect and thats causing your body to revolt realising you get fooled .


Wirth Reseachs Simulator is partly supplied by a dutch company ,Cruden who supplied also the Toyota simulator hardware.
I thought Ferrari and Mercedes had input from Kukko but looking at the hardware on the pictures it looks more like something else.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

@ marcush

Mercedes sim so far as I'm aware is fully in house.

[marcush.]

maybe I can research a bit about the Simulator in Sindelfingen next week ,time permitting.

[Jersey Tom]

The motion platforms and such have an "Oooh, aaah!" factor to them which I'm sure appeals to fans and sponsors... and there is certainly some development value there... but IMO is a small fraction of the simulation.

The driver-in-loop part you can do without and still do very good development work. Or conversely, you can have these immense motion platforms and if the "guts" of it isn't done right - your aero or tire models are questionable for example - then you're out to lunch.

[Forza]

Info about Scuderia Ferrari's simulator

Moog tapped to produce Ferrari simulator

Posted Jun 24th 2008 8:33AM

Ferrari has placed an order with aircraft systems supplier Moog to build the Scuderia a new high-tech driving simulator for its championship-leading F1 pilots to be installed at the company's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The system, which you can bet costs a fair bit more than a PS3 and a new barcalounger, features a custom motion-control solution with motion mechanism, control loading system and top platform with the software and operator workstation necessary to control the installation.

Moog develops and manufactures simulators and control stations for everything from aircraft and satellites to medical equipment and industrial machinery. Although the terms of the deal between Moog and Ferrari were not released, Moog's stock prices shot up last Wednesday following the announcement. Check out the press release after the jump for more information.

[Sources: Moog]

PRESS RELEASE


EAST AURORA, N.Y. June 18, 2008 -- Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B ) announced today that Ferrari has placed an order for the engineering, design, development and deployment of a next-generation driving simulator to be located at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The system includes a driving simulator featuring a customized motion control solution with combined motion mechanism, control loading system, complete software package, top platform and a dedicated operator workstation.

Marco Fainello, Head of the Car Performance and R&D Department for Scuderia Ferrari, stated, "The dynamic driving simulator is a new step for us in developing virtual tests that give drivers the true feel of a real environment and direct feedback on their actions. We have been impressed with Moog's motion control expertise and their ability to make every detail of the mechanical design a key to improving overall system performance, as well as the comfort and security of our drivers. This dynamic driving simulator will support the new breed of tests we are planning to launch to support our future success."

"It is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our expertise in motion control and testing systems and develop a new breed of test system with our customer," said Pim van den Dijssel, Market Manager for Test Systems at Moog in Europe. "Ferrari selected Moog to provide an integrated motion control and testing system designed to meet specific and demanding requirements such as: higher levels of fidelity, efficiency and longevity."

With more than 500 motion bases developed for leading customers around the world, Moog is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of electric and hydraulic motion platforms that span a variety of key applications with payloads ranging from 1,000 Kg (2,200 lbs) to 14,500 Kg (32,000 lbs).

Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog's high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.moog.com.

Moog Driving Simulator Heightens Reality of Virtual Test Laps for Ferrari Drivers
The driving simulator used for test and simulation by the Formula 1 team reaches record level of performance

9 June 2010

Moog Industrial Group, a division of Moog Inc. and a leader in providing high-performance flight simulation and leading-edge testing systems to the automotive and aerospace markets, has delivered a new testing simulator to Scuderia Ferrari in the Gestione Sportiva at Maranello, Italy.

Two years in development, the new Ferrari F1 dynamic driving simulator features a customized motion control solution with combined motion mechanism, control loading system, complete software package, cockpit and dedicated operator workstation. A crucial requirement was that the system needed to operate at a higher frequency bandwidth compared to conventional systems.

Ferrari selected Moog to provide an integrated flexible motion control and testing system designed to meet specific and highly demanding requirements. The project development entailed a bilateral exchange of expertise to overcome technical challenges. In particular, addressing the latency and high bandwidth requirements of the simulator led to advances in the use of carbon fiber composite materials in the structure to create more stiffness and lower weight.

Marco Fainello, Head of the Car Performance Department for Scuderia Ferrari, stated: “The dynamic driving simulator completely meets our specifications and expectations for a system that can test car designs as well as train drivers. Working closely with Moog during the two years of development on this system has helped us realize the maximum benefit from high performance simulated motion control.”

Ferrari test-drivers are already using the new simulator which offers them a heightened sense of driving reality as well as highly responsive and immediate feedback on their actions.

“The driving simulator is being used to test current and future car designs and train new drivers on multiple F1 circuits. In both these training scenarios we cut track time and can plan training with more certainty without wondering about weather forecasts,” added Fainello.

The driving simulator simulates real race track conditions and is used to test different aspects of the car such as wings and brake settings that affect performance. The high fidelity of the simulator allows the pilot to feel the difference that modifications to a part or component of the car can produce without the high acceleration of a real test drive. Moreover, driver training is no longer restricted, saving both time and money, while respecting new regulations.
Pim van den Dijssel, business manager Europe, for Moog, added, “We worked closely with Ferrari’s engineering team during the development of the driving simulator in our facility and we are delighted to hear positive feedback from Ferrari’s drivers now using the system.”

Ferrari required the simulator to run at mechanical frequencies high enough to help drivers get the most accurate feel of the car’s behavior and create much higher velocity and acceleration than standard systems. This represented one of the most challenging aspects of the project and resulted in Moog designing new actuators in order to deliver the desired strength and stiffness at lower weight. Low weight, stiffness and rigidity of the cockpit cabin were also important.
High bandwidth and less latency make brake and steering more responsive, creating the high fidelity test drivers need to correctly feel and assess the car’s behavior.

The test pilot is seated in front of a screen providing a viewing angle of more than 180°. Ten multiprocessor computers control the system with a total 60 GB of RAM producing around 5 GB of data per day. It features a 3,500 Watt Dolby Surround 7.1 sound system.

“We are delighted with the success of this dynamic driving simulator for Ferrari. Engineering hardware and human-in-the-loop (H2IL) testing solutions in a driving simulator is an area in which we have over 20 years experience, since Moog pioneered advanced cueing technology. Using Ferrari’s software model, we can achieve enhanced fidelity through advanced platform kinematics and optimized motion cues,” continued van den Dijssel.

Moog motion control expertise has well been at stake in developing this leading edge driving simulator that used every detail of the mechanical design as a key to improve overall system performance, as well as the comfort and security of drivers. This dynamic driving simulator can definitely support the new breed of test Ferrari is planning to launch to support their future success.

Link

To get a better understanding of the subject, this is an interview with Marco Fainello, Head of Vehicle Performance and the designer of the simulator.

Can you start by explaining what exactly is a simulator?

“Basically, it consists of a Formula 1 car cockpit, surrounded by images that a driver would see if he was at the wheel of a real car, including what can be seen in the rear view mirrors. The cockpit, fitted with identical controls (pedals, steering wheel and so on) as used on track, is mounted on a platform which transmits signals from electronically controlled actuators, which can reproduce every possible movement in all directions, thus putting together everything a driver could feel if in a car.

"It is impossible to exactly reproduce every movement of the real car because that would require a space as big as a real race track: therefore techniques are used to select and replicate some of these movements in a way that is compatible with the space available and that are also useful in terms of getting the driver to experience some of the sensations he would feel on a track.”

What does the driver see when he is in the cockpit?

"The track is replicated on a specific computer that uses a faithful 3D reproduction, including objects found at the side of the track and in the background, the track itself, it’s characteristics in terms of kerbs, and the actual track surface. Furthermore we have imaged data relative to the position of the sun and shadows that this creates and we can modify some external parameters, such as air and track temperature, as well as wind direction and strength.”

Can one say that the simulator can totally replace on-track development?

"Driving simulators can definitely not replace real track testing, but like many other calculator-based methods and test benches (in fact, this piece of equipment is a mix of both these methods) it can contribute to the design and development process for new parts that can be used on the car, thus reducing costs and saving time.”
Link

Offical Ferrari press relase

New Ferrari simulator makes its debut

Maranello, 22 December – Scuderia Ferrari’s new simulator was unveiled today at Maranello. The ceremony took place in the structure built to accommodate the new machine, within the Gestione Sportiva, in the presence of Ferrari CEO, Amedeo Felisa and the Scuderia Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali.

“It’s an important day for us as the completion of this project means we will now be able to tackle with confidence some of the challenges that make up modern-day Formula 1, while putting Ferrari at the cutting edge in terms of this technology,” said Domenicali. “Furthermore, I am pleased that such a complex project as this, which got underway around two years ago, has been completed on schedule thanks to the efforts of all those who worked on it.”

The first virtual laps at the wheel of the simulator were driven by Andrea Bertolini, who worked with the Prancing Horse engineers on the development of the project, having gained a great deal of experience over the past few years, working on the simulator at the FIAT Research Centre.

The Ferrari simulator, built with the technical support of Moog, consists of an aluminium and composite structure in which are fitted the cockpit and the equipment which produces the images and sound. The platform weighs around two tonnes and is fitted with electronically controlled actuators that way around half a tonne each. The whole structure is fitted on a specially designed and built base, weighing two hundred tons. The whole is controlled by ten multiprocessor calculators with a total memory of over 60 GB of RAM: the amount of data that can be produced is around 5GB per day. It features a Dolby Surround 7.1 sound system, putting out 3500 W. The installation required over ten kilometres of cabling and power output is around 130 kW. The simulator is housed in a building measuring around 180 square metres, on two floors, which includes the control room. The platform covers a surface area of around eight metres wide by the same length and is six metres high. The driver is installed in front of five displays, which give a total viewing angle in excess of 180°.

[allstaruk08]

RB sim

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdczR3dgRaI#t[/youtube]

1 min 12 seconds does the guy say "dickhead" ? hahahaha

[hardingfv32]

The motion platforms .... IMO is a small fraction of the simulation.
.... The driver-in-loop part you can do without and still do very good development work.

Can you expand. I do not understand how these systems can be of use without the driver being in the loop.

Brian

[ImAnEngineer]

The motion platforms .... IMO is a small fraction of the simulation.
.... The driver-in-loop part you can do without and still do very good development work.

Can you expand. I do not understand how these systems can be of use without the driver being in the loop.

Brian

Offline simulations

[Jersey Tom]

The motion platforms .... IMO is a small fraction of the simulation.
.... The driver-in-loop part you can do without and still do very good development work.

Can you expand. I do not understand how these systems can be of use without the driver being in the loop.

Brian

You don't need a human and motion platform to drive a virtual car. Vehicle dynamics and simulation work has been around for a long time before DIL.

[raymondu999]

I wonder - could they use such a driver-out-of-loop sim or some iterative process to perhaps zero in on a "theoretical best" setup? Then at the circuit they'll only make that last 5% worth of adjustments to balance and other things.

[Lycoming]

Its almost certain that they do that, then do what you refer to as the last 5% in the sim with the driver. Then, at the track, they just make sure that it still feels ok and work around tyre wear... basically adapt to the conditions of the track on that weekend.

Such an optimizer is not spectacularly difficult to code. They're quite common.

[Jersey Tom]

Such an optimizer is not spectacularly difficult to code. They're quite common.

Large scale optimization problems.. local minimums.. not so trivial.

[elmerfud]

Those hexapods can be diy built you know?
You need 6 ball screws,6 large stepper motors, a large dc power supply, an P4 computer with open source software called 'enhanced machine controller' or emc. Your game would have to have some force feedback ability.

The tricky part would be to code the software interface between the sim game and the emc software.

Oh, and that type of machinery can severe a limb, so i'd strongly recommend building a safety cage around all the moving gaps.

It'd cost about 5 grand usd to build yourself.
(you could sell the code if it was pretty good)

[Richard]

We had two simulator threads running so I've merged them.

If you look back a few pages you'll see earlier posts discussing the driver in-loop or not. Page 14 has some very good posts on the subject

viewtopic.php?p=288793#p288793

[munks]

There's this thread as well ...

<link to another thread>