Hi,
I am considering a motion platform - NLR or DOF Reality or similar, as I do not have the skills or knowledge to build my own.
Initially it will be 2D - I have a triple monitor setup that I really like, and unfortunately suffer from bad “effects” when I try VR.
Horribly basic questions that I cannot resolve, so all guidance/advice much appreciated on the following please:
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How important is it for all the peripherals (Honeycomb Alpha + Bravo, and G1000 units x 2) to be attached? If it is better to be attached, how to do so (particularly the G1000s x 2)?
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I do not know if it is OK to have the monitors separate from the motion platform? On YT some of the vids indicate they are separate whilst others show them attached (so they move along with the motion platform).
As I say, any and all comments/advice welcomed.
Many thanks, Alasdair (aka Flybasher…)
Mixed reality VR is the way to go. You will see less and less of projection, monitors etc.
If you are new to VR, it takes a week or two to get used to it.
When I first got my VR headset, I tried a helicopter and almost immediately got really dizzy. I had to lay down and rest for an hour till I started feeling better.
The trick is to stop as soon as you start feeling bad.
Each time you use the headset you will be able to go a little longer before feeling bad again.
After a week or two, you will be able to do anything in VR and not feel bad.
VR is so incredible, I will not fly without it.
Thanks for the responses suggesting I persevere with VR.
To reiterate, I am not able to do so - I will be sticking to 2D for the foreseeable future.
Hi Alasdair,
I gave up with VR too, not for quite the same reasons as you but it isn’t for me, although I really wanted to like it. I have multiple screens too, and a tobii head / eye tracker, which setup I far prefer to a headset.
To the question of mounting controls on a motion platform, I would think that you’d definitely want the stick / yoke, pedals, throttle and any other controls mounted to the platform and moving with you. To have the platform move you around and away relative to fixed base controls, just as you’re trying to operate them, would be totally unrepresentative and very awkward.
The G1000’s might be different - IRL, you mostly operate them on the ground or in stable, level flight, so you probably don’t need to go to the additional hassle of trying to mount those in front of you. I think it also depends what you have to represent the Garmins - if it’s a couple of tablets with the screens popped out then it shouldn’t be too difficult, but if it’s an expensive full replica like the Aviatek or RealSimGear, them I’m not sure I would want the hassle of connecting them and the risk of jiggling them around and breaking something.
With the screens, you could mount them on the platform if you have the hardware and can manage the connections and power leads, but I think it’s unnecessarily heavy, complicated, and is going to lead to breakages.
I think a motion platform will be my next move too, and for the display I’ll use three fixed screens and the tobii 5 tracker. This way, when my head gets moved around, the display will reflect that accurately. Hope that helps.
Hi - thank you for this input.
I had not thought about using the tobii 5 tracker for this - I do have one and now you mention it, it does make perfect sense.
I think mounting the monitors/screens on the motion platform will not be for me - as you say, the weight and cable management would be a worry.
My G1000 units are FlightSimBuilder - which I like very much. I take the point about probably using them in level flight so not imperative to mount on the motion platform - seems a sensible approach.
I will certainly have the Alpha and Bravo on the platform.
Thanks again for your input - I hope your plans progress well.
Regards, Alasdair (aka FlyBasher).
Happy to help.
I’m very happy with the tobii 5, and it’s simplicity in use is so much better for me than the regular messing around with software for VR.
Looking in more detail at the DOF Reality and NLR platforms, neither will be able to mount three screens, so that solves the monitor issue!
The NLR platform is specifically designed to move the seat only. I can see how this makes sense for driving simulation, but for flight with the potential for more movement, I would personally prefer the approach of the DOF Reality P6.
For the G1000’s, if you do go down a path similar to the DOF P6, I suspect they would be too far away to use if they were not also mounted on the platform. The company offer a monitor mount, which looks like it should have sufficient adjustability to mount it lower than pictured on the website, and therefore mount the FSB gear just slightly behind and above the yoke.
I’m sure the manufacturers would be happy to speak with anyone thinking about ordering a platform, and if you let them know exactly what you want they can probably come up with a solution. Someone must have already asked about using a cockpit display on one of these, whether for cars or aircraft.