So you reckon you’re a pretty fast driver eh, quick enough to steer a Formula One car around Monza perhaps?
What about your own private F1 car, any time of the day or night, on any circuit you wish, in the comfort of your own home.
Too good to be true? Well, almost, for just 120,000 pounds, plus optional extras, you could become the greatest Formula One driver that ever lived, without ever leaving your bedroom.
Dutch based Interactive motion-based racing simulator company, Cruden B.V. is offering their professional Hexatech simulator for purchase by the public, and just in time for the Christmas rush.
Frank Kalff, Cruden’s commercial director said, “Let’s be clear, this is not a video game linked up to a steering wheel, race seat and pedals. Although easy to operate, this is the exact same equipment used by the top racing drivers and engineers to improve their race craft and evaluate new tracks and car settings. Our simulator and the software it uses cannot be bought in a store.”
And don’t worry about this simulator wearing out or a systems crash either, its designed to last for hundreds of thousands of kilometres per year, and for between 10 to 15 years.
But don’t expect to become an F1 pilot in a day, as that’s not going to happen. Mastering the simulator and achieving quick lap times is just as difficult as the real thing, and as the brochure says, “the simulator takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master”
There are a few interesting options too, like a three-seat version, so your friends come go for a spin in your F1 car. You can also choose between three wrap-around 42-inch screens or stereo projectors to view the virtual tracks.
If you get tired of Formula One racing, no problem, you can try the rally, NASCAR, or sports car racing software packages for Le Mans and Nurburgring.
Key features of the Simulator include:
- Driver and/or hardware in the loop simulation tool
- Six degrees of freedom with electromechanical motion system
- Seat belt tensioners
- Near 100% realistic steering feedback
- Fully compatible with Matlab/Simulink and seamless integration of simulation models through dSpace, CarSim and VeDYNA
- State-of-the-art professional image generation offering significantly reduced motion blur as well as real-time CG shadowing and environment mapping
- 42” monitors or alternatively projectors on a curved screen to fully immerses the driver
- Vehicle characteristics modeled and parameterised include chassis, wheelbase/track, tyres, suspension settings, drivetrain (engine, gearbox, differentials, drive shafts), aero loading, aero draft (slip streaming), steering, brakes and driver aids such as traction control, ABS, etc.
- Energy efficient electromechanical motion system typically requires only 5 KWh of electricity (on top of the environmental benefits of not testing on a real race track)
I wonder if you can buy a used one of these simulators on eBay?
