Lately, Berney Villers Jr of SimXperience has been giving us input on the inner workings of how Force Feedback replicates the feel of cars via our wheels. This time, he has given us another chapter, taking a look at how inertia and friction can affect wheel feel, and how he looks to combat it with the AccuForce.
READ SIMXPERIENCE BLOG: WHEEL FEEL – BEFORE THE FORCE FEEDBACK IS APPLIED
We as sim racers have one goal: true 1:1 interaction with the virtual cars we are driving. However, there are quite a few compromises that can be made in our hardware, namely in the Force Feedback department. In the case of gear/belt drive wheels, they use a small motor combined with a tall gear ratio. That results in force and speed being lost as energy is being transferred from the motor, through the belt/gears, to the steering wheel. Think of it like a small car getting bogged down at low RPMs.
SimXperience is looking to try to bring a true 1:1 experience in your hands with the AccuForce wheel and SimCommander software. Utilizing a direct drive system for the wheel, no energy is transferred through a ratio system, to give as much torque as possible, with minimal base inertia. However, some people would like different levels of inertia for different cars (for example, you may want to simulate a power steering system in a modern race car or a classic race car’s steering rack), so the SimCommander software will be allow you to customize your levels.
We will be able to see what all of this technical jargon will result in when the AccuForce drops later this year. The wheel is expected to cost around $1,500, with the Pro and Pro MOMO Edition retailing under $2,000. You should also check out SimXperience’s competition, where you can win an AccuForce Pro wheel!
What are your thoughts on Berney’s latest blog post? Let us know!
Probably going to be a nice wheel for the “Rich”.lol
It’s mainly a matter of priorities. For some simracing gear is a professional requirement, for those 2000$ is a more than justified expense. For most of us who (sim)race for the fun of it, it’s too clearly too much, off course there are always the more passionate crowd who will buy it any way. Unfortunately for most of us, a directdrive wheel it will remain a unattainable desire, at least for now.
I am really interested in this product. More close up pictures and info on the connectors for the pedal assembly and shifter or is all that diverted to the pc? What about compatibility with games and maybe some in game footage in iRacing, R3E and Assetto Corsa. Both setup and racing footage would be helpful.
What is the wheel lock? Is it adjustable? I find that I need to run a smaller wheel lock, usually 180 degrees. This enables me to catch the car in a slide or to make a turn. I know you say that response time would be reduced with direct drive, which makes sense, but what is available? Also are the shifter paddles attached to the wheel or are they stationary?
If I remember correctly, in the AccuForce preview video, they said you could have a theoretically unlimited Degrees of Rotation.. you can tweak it to 180 I bet
Absolute a important spot to refine, but will it feel natural and lightninginstant? Or else it falls into the silly bag of these muppetsystems “reproduce” the handling in a bunch of diffrent variables but none seem to succed as it more make you come in incorrect synch with the actual happenings and only make it worse (especially those sitting a faggy frame and along with the screen bounching around like retards 🙂 first of all: Screen shall be firm. but who knows, maybe it works and good the subject is noticed, good luck’.
The point of the blog article is to say that these things can be tuned by the user if they wish as some may be immersed by a light feeling wheel and others a heavy feeling wheel. Some may prefer more inertia feel and others less.
I just read all 5 of your previous posts. You’re on a roll.
hehe thanks for that 😉