Motion-Pro II Racing Simulator

You’re going to need a lot if you plan on getting one of these.

A lot of space (bedroom sized) a lot of money (used Ferrari amounts) and a lot of understanding from your spouse (Hillary Clinton levels of “understanding”).

What you see here is the Motion-Pro II Racing Simulator and I think, this might just be the new high water mark (although people have a long way to go to beat the HyperStimulator).

Manufactured by CXC Simulations it’s loaded with goodies like three 46-inch 1080p LCD displays, 505-watt 5.1 surround sound system synchronized with four vibration transducers, and full motion simulation using electro-mechanical actuators.

Of course, it’s that last little bit that’s most intriguing.

Motion base simulators are amazing thing, and I’m sure that this one is too, but as near as I can tell, they’re using off the shelf software (i.e. it’ll play any game you can load into the PC), so that makes any motion base movements and force feedback essentially guesstimates. See, I’ve spent a fair amount of time in full motion, three axis simulators, and real force feedback and dynamic motion of the platform is not something that you just turn on.

Let’s put it this way, once I was in a sim when they were upgrading the software, and the test pilot, about 30 seconds out from touching down at Kai Tak said, “I thinks there’s still too much kick-back from the ailerons in a left roll. Dial that out will ya?” That is how force feedback and motion base movements are dialed in.

Full specs after the jump.

Motion System:
Drive motors and amplifiers: CE & UL compliant
Degrees of freedom: 2
Pitch / Roll angle: +/- 20 deg
Pitch & Roll velocity, maximum per second: 80 deg/sec (1.7 g’s)

Display System
Display Type: Flat-panel LCD
Screen Size: 46″
Maximum Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
Contrast Ratio: 10000:1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Height: 28-43/64″
Width: 44-3/8″
Depth: 4-57/64″
Mounting: Integrated Frame Mount

Sound System
Type: 5.1
Total RMS power: 505 watts RMS
Total Peak power: 1010 watts
Maximum SPL: 115 dB
Frequency response: 33 Hz — 20 kHz
Amplifier: Ultra-linear, high-capacity analog
Signal to noise ratio: 93.5 dB, typical 100
Drivers: Satellites: 3″ polished aluminum phase plug drivers, subwoofer: 10″ high-excursion ported driver
Surround sound effects: Hardware decoding for Dolby(R) Digital, DTS(R), and DTS(R), Dolby Pro Logic II
Supported digital formats: Dolby Digital, DTS and DTS 96/24, PCM: 44.1 kHz / 16 bit through 96 kHz / 24 bit
Tactile Transducers: 2 (250 watt max)

Steering Wheel
Wheel: Sparco 270 LN/SN Racing Wheel
Force Feedback Engine: Exclusive Active Driving Technology(R)
Motors: 2 motors for powerful effects
Hardware FF Adjustments: 2 switches adjust each motor
Software FF Adjustments: Easy to use Graphical User Interface
Buttons: 12 User Definable Buttons

Pedals Throttle: Linear
Brake: Pressure Sensative
Clutch (optional): Fully Progressive
Spring-tension: Adjustable Preload
Pedal: Adjustable Travel and Rake
Pedal Plate: Adjustable Positioning
Potentiometers:Industrial Grade
Materials: Billet Machined Aluminum/Steel

Shifter
Sequential Shifter: Formula 1 Style Steering Wheel Paddles
Gated Shifter (optional): 6 Speed Gated Shifter w/ Reverse

Physical
Height: 59 in / 150 cm
Length: 74 in / 188 cm
Width (single screen): 44 in / 112 cm
Width (triple screen): 114 in / 290 cm
Machine weight (single screen): 375 lb / 170 kg
Machine weight (triple screen): 535 lb / 243 kg
Player Weight maximum: 250 lb / 113 kg
Player height minimum: 59 in / 150 cm
Player height maximum: 79 in / 200 cm
Power: 120VAC, 50-60 Hz, 600 Watts

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