When it comes to virtually recreating a genuine F1 driving experience, there is more to consider than 3D visuals and precise control. What about the force of gravity? In the past, driving simulators use full body devices that would shift quickly to create the illusion of force while taking the hard turns on an open track. The biggest problem was latency of the movement of the device and the action on the screen. Veteran F1 driver Michael Schumacher has even stated that “almost all (F1) drivers” experienced severe motion sickness as a result.
The G6 Driving Simulator, current in the fundraise stage at Indiegogo, intends to change that by focusing only on where the body is most sensitive to kinetic force: your head. By synchronizing the on screen action with subtle but clear head force feedback, the sense of immersion comes close to that of full body simulators, but without the motion sickness. Is it convincing? Like the creator said, “It’s gonna make you sweat.”
It’s hard not to imagine how such a device would work in combination with a device such as the Oculus Rift. While there may be considerable technical challenges overcome since independent head movement seems restrictive with this type of helmet force feedback, the potential is obvious. For example, imagine flight simulators where you can look out any direction of the cockpit while constantly feeling the force of gravity as you maneuver in ways at would turn even a veteran pilot’s stomach turn. Not from latency, but from being too real. The G6 might just be the first step in that direction.
Let’s take a look at the tech demo video:
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