Simulator pedal

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A Logitech Driving Force GT combo of a sim steering wheel and pedals (2011) LDFGT.JPG
A Logitech Driving Force GT combo of a sim steering wheel and pedals (2011)

A simulator pedal, sim pedal or gaming pedal is a pedal used in a simulator for entertainment or training. Common examples are throttle and brake pedals for driving simulators, and rudder pedals for flight simulators. For minimum latency, [1] they are often connected to a computer or gaming console via cabling, for example with USB-C. [2]

Contents

For video game entertainment such as arcade games or for beginner sim racers, inexpensive pedals are often used, while for serious training and professional sim racing there are more expensive models, and these are sometimes coupled with a direct-drive sim racing wheel. [3]

Although new sim racers are often more concerned with the steering wheel, many experienced racers recommend putting more money into the pedals (and a sturdy sim rig [4] ) and rather purchase a less expensive steering wheel if one has to prioritize. [5] [6]

Sensors

The transducer or sensor on inexpensive pedals is often based on potentiometers eller Hall effect sensors, while more expensive pedals use load cells (or sometimes load cells combined with hydraulics). [7] [8] Gaming pedals used with computer games are basically electronic brake-by-wire pedals and electronic throttle-by-wire pedals.

Mechanics

The pedals can be designed with complex geometries consisting of arms, springs and dampers with the intention of creating a "natural" feel with progressive and repeatable resistance so that the driver can perform more consistently in competitions. [9] This is particularly important for the brake pedal in sim racing. For some affordable pedals, there are upgrade kits and homemade solutions available with the aim of imitating the feeling one can get with more expensive pedals. [10] [11]

Haptics

In 2022, the Finnish company Simucube launched ActivePedal, the world's first mass produced simpedal with haptic technology. [12] Co-founder and technical director Tero Kontkanen from Simucube claims that such active pedals in the long run will have a greater impact on sim racing than direct-driven sim racing wheels. [12]

Haptic pedals can be used to give the driver of a car simulator valuable feedback (in the form of force-feedback and vibrators) based on telemetry from what happens to the car's tires against the ground in the simulator. [12] Haptics are primarily useful for the brake pedal. In addition to giving the ability to sense the transition from static to kinetic friction when skidding, haptic pedals can also be used to simulate pulsations in the pedals of cars with anti-lock brakes or traction control.

Automotive pedals

The most common sim racing pedal setup is two asymmetric pedals with a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal. A clutch pedal can often be purchased separately as an optional extra, and can, for example, be relevant the driver desires to realistically drive historic racing cars with a manual gear stick. [13] Some inexpensive pedal kits come with three pedals, and some sim steering wheel bundles also come with pedals included. A clutch pedal is rarely necessary in sim racing. [14]

In case the seat and cockpit setup is to mimic a close to lying Formula style seating position it can be beneficial to be able to mount the pedals inverted such that the pedals hang downwards instead of coming up from the floor as normal. Many pedals can easily be inverted by mounting them upside down, but not all pedal sets can be inverted. As for the more common upright GT style seating position, which is more comfortable for longer sessions and therefore will be more relevant for most drivers, it is of less importance whether the pedal can be inverted or not.

Flight pedals

Rudder pedals for flight simulators simulate rudder control (and possibly toe brakes), and come in pairs with one pedal for each foot. The pedals are interconnected and synchronized so that one pedal flips out when the other is pressed in.

Bicycle pedals

Sam Oomen from Team Jumbo-Visma on a smart trainer at the 2021 Paris-Nice Bicycle, Cervelo, Sam Oomen, 2021 Paris-Nice.jpg
Sam Oomen from Team Jumbo-Visma on a smart trainer at the 2021 Paris–Nice

There are indoor exercise bikes that can be used for computer games. [15] Alternatively, some bicycle trainers have sensors to measure the rider's performance, including power (watts), cadence(r/min), virtual speed and heart rate, and these measurements can be connected to software or apps so that one can compete against oneself in a cycling game or against other riders over the internet. [16] [17] Analysis of the measurements can also help with the cyclist's training. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game controller</span> Device used with games or entertainment systems

A game controller, gaming controller, or simply controller, is an input device or input/output device used with video games or entertainment systems to provide input to a video game. Input devices that have been classified as game controllers include keyboards, mouses, gamepads, and joysticks, as well as special purpose devices, such as steering wheels for driving games and light guns for shooting games. Controllers designs have evolved to include directional pads, multiple buttons, analog sticks, joysticks, motion detection, touch screens and a plethora of other features.

Left-foot braking is the technique of using the left foot to operate the brake pedal in an automobile, leaving the right foot dedicated to the throttle pedal. It contrasts with the practice of using the left foot to operate the clutch pedal, leaving the right foot to share the duties of controlling both brake and gas pedals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruise control</span> System that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle

Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of an automobile. The system is a servomechanism that takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.

Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic racing simulations and more fantastical arcade-style racing games. Kart racing games emerged in the 1990s as a popular sub-genre of the latter. Racing games may also fall under the category of sports video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manual transmission</span> Motor vehicle manual gearbox; stick shift

A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission, or stick shift, is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear changes require the driver to manually select the gears by operating a gear stick and clutch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sim racing</span> Video game genre

Simulated racing or racing simulation, commonly known as simply sim racing, are the collective terms for racing game software that attempts to accurately simulate auto racing, complete with real-world variables such as fuel usage, damage, tire wear and grip, and suspension settings. To be competitive in sim racing, a driver must understand all aspects of car handling that make real-world racing so difficult, such as threshold braking, how to maintain control of a car as the tires lose traction, and how properly to enter and exit a turn without sacrificing speed. It is this level of difficulty that distinguishes sim racing from arcade racing-style driving games where real-world variables are taken out of the equation and the principal objective is to create a sense of speed as opposed to a sense of realism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simulation cockpit</span> Cockpit used for training pilots with a flight simulator

A simulation cockpit, simpit or sim rig is an environment designed to replicate a vehicle cockpit. Although many pits commonly designed around an aircraft cockpit, the term is equally valid for train, spacecraft or car projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving simulator</span> Professional simulator designed for beginner drivers

Driving simulators are used for entertainment as well as in training of driver's education courses taught in educational institutions and private businesses. They are also used for research purposes in the area of human factors and medical research, to monitor driver behavior, performance, and attention and in the car industry to design and evaluate new vehicles or new advanced driver assistance systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conventional landing gear</span> Aircraft undercarriage

Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail. The term taildragger is also used, although John Brandon of Recreational Aircraft Australia argues it should apply only to those aircraft with a tailskid rather than a wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drive by wire</span> Automotive technology

Drive by wire or DbW technology in the automotive industry is the use of electronic or electro-mechanical systems in place of mechanical linkages that control driving functions. The concept is similar to fly-by-wire in the aviation industry. Drive-by-wire may refer to just the propulsion of the vehicle through electronic throttle control, or it may refer to electronic control over propulsion as well as steering and braking, which separately are known as steer by wire and brake by wire, along with electronic control over other vehicle driving functions.

<i>rFactor</i> 2005 video game

rFactor is a computer racing simulator designed with the ability to run any type of four-wheeled vehicle from street cars to open wheel cars of any era. rFactor aimed to be the most accurate race simulator of its time. Released in November 2005, rFactor did not have much competition in this market, but it featured many technical advances in tire modeling, complex aerodynamics and a 15 degrees of freedom physics engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrustmaster</span> American video game peripheral manufacturer

Thrustmaster is an American designer, developer and manufacturer of joysticks, game controllers, and steering wheels for PCs and video gaming consoles. It has licensing agreements with third party brands as Airbus, Boeing, Ferrari, Gran Turismo and U.S. Air Force as well as licensing some products under Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox licenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logitech G25</span>

The Logitech G25 is an electronic steering wheel designed for sim racing video games on the PC, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. It uses a USB interface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sim racing wheel</span> Video game controller

A sim racing wheel is a control device for use in racing games, racing simulators, and driving simulators. They are usually packaged with a large paddle styled as a steering wheel, along with a set of pedals for the accelerator, brake, and clutch, as well as transmission controls. An analog wheel and pedal set such as this allows the user to accurately manipulate steering angle and pedal control that is required to properly manage a simulated car, as opposed to digital control such as a keyboard. The relatively large range of motion further allows the user to more accurately apply the controls. Racing wheels have been developed for use with arcade games, game consoles, personal computers, and also for professional driving simulators for race drivers.

The Logitech G27 is a racing wheel made by Logitech. It supports PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PC. It replaced the Logitech G25 in 2010, with some new features including the use of helical gearing instead of the previous straight gears used on the G25. As of December 2015, the G27 is no longer sold by Logitech, in favor of the newer G29 and G920 steering wheels now offered by Logitech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudder pedal</span> Aircraft rudder control interface

A rudder pedal is a foot-operated aircraft flight control interface for controlling the rudder of an aircraft. The usual set-up in modern aircraft is that each pilot has a pedal set consisting of a pair of pedals, with one pedal for each foot. Each right and left pedal works together so that one pedal pops out when the other is depressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Car controls</span> Car parts used to control the vehicle

Car controls are the components in automobiles and other powered road vehicles, such as trucks and buses, used for driving and parking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Full motion racing simulator</span>

A full motion racing simulator, sometimes called a full motion sim rig, is a motion simulator that is purposed for racing, and must provide motion simulation in all six degrees of freedom, as defined by the aviation simulator industry many decades ago. The six degrees of freedom coincide with Earth physics, and are commonly referred to as:

A direct-drive simulator steering wheel is a simulator steering wheel with a direct-drive mechanism between the drive and output, i.e. without gearing, and is used similarly as with other simulator steering wheels for providing torque feedback so that the driver, through movement in the steering wheel, gets an interface for sensing what is happening to the car in the simulator. It is an example of human-machine interaction in driving simulators, racing simulators and racing video games, and is an example of haptic technology

References

  1. ↑ https://www.canberratimes.com.au/profile/523/sam-hollier (2022-02-22). "Latency is not a desirable trait in gaming or out on the road" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.{{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  2. ↑ "Troubleshooting" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  3. ↑ "Best Racing Wheel and Pedals for iRacing and Your Budget" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  4. ↑ will (2020-06-24). "The Console Sim Racer Wheel, Pedal & Cockpit Buyer's Guide" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. ↑ Baxter, Richard. "The Best Sim Racing Pedals: Buyer's Guide" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. ↑ David (2020-07-03). "Sim racing pedals buyers guide. | G-Performance" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. ↑ Mjolnir (2022-12-07). "The Best Sim Racing Pedals: Buyers Guide 2023" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  8. ↑ Jahn, Maik (2020-10-16). "Sim Racing Pedals explained – A Buyer's Guide" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. ↑ Mjolnir (2022-03-18). "Does a Load Cell Brake Make You Faster & Are They Worth Buying?" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  10. ↑ "Sim Racing Pedals FAQs". 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ↑ "Fanatec CSL Pedals with Load Cell Kit Review". 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. 1 2 3 Harrison-Lord, Thomas (2022-10-27). "Simucube launches a sim racing pedal with force feedback" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. ↑ "Easier Manual Gears: Block Downshifts". 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  14. ↑ "Do You Need A Clutch For Sim Racing? - FLOW RACERS". 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  15. ↑ "This indoor gaming bike only lets you play if you pedal" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  16. ↑ "Håvard fra Ålgård syntes sykling var drepende kjedelig. Så koblet han sykkelen til internett" (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  17. ↑ "Virtuelle sykkelritt i Zwift!" . Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  18. ↑ Iversen, Morten (2019-02-19). "Gode apper for rulleøktene hjemme. Zwift vs Trainerroad vs Sufferfest" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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