Flying the Birdly Virtual Reality Simulator

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We strap on an Oculus Development Kit and mount Birdly, a full-motion virtual reality rig that simulates flying. It's one of the most awesome and intuitive VR experiences we've ever had, and we chat with Birdly's creators to learn how it works.
Read more about our time with Birdly here: www.tested.com/art/makers/4633...
More on Birdly birdly.zhdk.ch

[@tested]

Read more about our time with Birdly here: www.tested.com/art/makers/463385-hands-birdly-virtual-reality-flight-simulator/

[@BlobVanDam]

At first, I thought this was the most pointless and silly thing I'd ever seen. But then I realized it's actually the greatest thing ever. Now I really want to try it out!

[@Mxfld2011]

You can! They have one in every state!

[@Dante02d12]

I had the chance to test Birdly, for 2 minutes, and I can assure you : these were the BEST two minutes in my life! Seriously, it's the best virtual reality experience we can do for now! If you have the chance to test it, DO IT, even if that means waiting for 2 hours!

[@pedroz3891]

+Lulu Vi Britannia Ahhh I want it! hahaha

[@lowjamz828]

I want to get down there and test this out so bad. Looks like it would be a fun expierience.

[@mikaelakattenbroek2037]

same!! I did it too for 3 min and it was so fucking cool

[@epica2154]

Use it in fpv

[@AmitKumar-ze3vi]

@@mikaelakattenbroek2037 q

[@sarcasm4905]

Next; Flappy birdly.. every time you fail, you get hit in the face with a 2x4

[@HarpoFitz]

+Herkko Koskinen That is just - straight up - hilarous

[@MrReptilejesus]

"Since we're flying over Chicago we decided we wanted to replicate exactly what smell you would experience there as a bird, we call this unique fragrance 'Smog, Death and Despair'."

[@WhoCaresHo]

Lmao I just sent this to my friend, we are from North Philly and I said “imagine what Philly would smell like” and he said “we don’t have to lol” 😂

[@stratocasterbeast]

this made me lol really hard.those dudes are just talking and then you got the dude in the background in his own little world floating around in akward positions on that goofy contraption with a blindfold lookin thing on hahahaha

[@rzrx1337]

he does that in a lot of videos.

[@rusty._.salsa7777]

He’s in New York now they have implemented King Kong the Ocean and Lady Liberty portals you fly theough

[@DoomedTVNlolzatyou]

When I dream of flying, I'm not flapping my arms lol. It's more superman than pidgeon :p

[@rusicatalin]

See

[@DoomedTVNlolzatyou]

Catalin Rusi Saw

[@Theflapsface]

+DoomedTVN Or Goku.

[@DoomedTVNlolzatyou]

jakeeypants um okay.... the 2 most random replies I have ever received on youtube ever.

[@blvckcvrgo]

+DoomedTVN for me it is like I'm swimming in the air. Amazing is that density of air is not same as density of water in those dreams, it may be obvious but actually it is reflected by how I really am swimming in the air, maybe frog style swimming has something to do with it, who knows ;) Actually it would be weird to fly like you are front crawl swimming xD

[@TheMaverick4000]

I cant wait : Walking like a human Simulator

[@tomfoolyaface9862]

YES

[@InjectorGadget]

DayZ Standalone does that already, you're late.

[@1NcognitoXx]

+Ray Guzman lol yes, dayz the run simulator, the auto run macro creator.

[@1NcognitoXx]

The killer of souls

[@ShapezPuller64]

That looks amazing! The expression on Will's face after taking of the Oculus said everything I need to know. *insert joke about flying to exhibition*

[@melsuarez]

Wow! It provides a glimpse into the future of gaming, research, and amusement park rides. Like an articulated cockpit simulator but to experience bird flight. Truly amazing for 6 months of work. VR is definitely going to become THE thing.

[@NuEM78]

Dear Santa...

[@brendapatriciaencinascoron8159]

+DeutranLP lol

[@esk8spirit362]

+DeutranLP Fucking hell, screw santa, someone buy it for me right the fuck now or I go crazy.... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I wanna go to sleep and wake up two or three years later when all this amazing shit is available for us normal working slaves... I mean people...

[@hassanabuabed9563]

@@esk8spirit362 lol that's so funny

[@DanielRichards644]

The FUTURE of Arcades will be VR games based off things like this.

[@hikmetcancelik]

I have been thinking about this for skydiving for the last a month and there you guys have everything ready :)) So cool!

[@Pixelifications]

This looks amazing. So much respect to the creators, I hope I get to try Birdly or own a recreation of one someday soon.

[@Phelan666]

VR flappy bird when?

[@connor218]

Somebody already made one I think.

[@bugzkilla]

look it up been in existence.

[@catethps]

bugzkilla there's one called Floculus Bird

[@bugzkilla]

11volcano yep. look up flappy bird oculus rift jacksepticeye

[@cyrusjameskhan]

Looks like an incredible experience!

[@schmobot]

The future seems to be equal parts awesome and terrifying.

[@TeeTaan]

Why terrifying?

[@mikicerise6250]

Cause, whippersnapper, back in my day we didn't have no virchul reality. We had measles and world wars. And I tell ya wut... we LIKED it! I tell ya, I say, I tell ya it was better back then. All this techmanology is the end of all that's good and holy and nachrul in the world. You betta repent 'fore Jeebus whups yo ass. Bring back the good old days.

[@lupineindigo]

i got to use a birdly at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Very intuitive and wonderful, really feels like you were meant to fly.

[@fxshell]

I already flow with it once. I live in Switzerland and near my village there is a Bird rescue Center. It's kinda cool with the Oculus but it's not that exciting. It is also pretty exhausting when you're flying some time.

[@amihartz]

We need virtual reality arcades in every Walmart and this should be one of the systems.

[@dc2008242]

Amelia Hartman it could replace the little kiddie rides XD

[@iicreateiicreate3010]

this is so cool!! i really wanna try this

[@aspltroop840]

this is amazing keep up the great work

[@devent10n]

This is awesome and I need it in my life

[@caninho1]

crazy guys. thank you for inventing this guys........ i love u

[@nickigna]

This is awesome! By the way, they have a badass room. Looks like something out of Portal.

[@Gazzapa57]

Looks amazing. Some smaller side fans in the front to blow from left and right when you bank during flight would add to the experience I feel.

[@jasonluong3862]

Can't wait for the Flying over the New York East River experience.

[@oO_ox_O]

He didn't reply to Neil's question on how they got the bird movements, I guess they just went for what feels best instead of really much realism, but I guess that's OK, it's done basically everywhere, from film lighting, to computergraphics.

[@freedfighter96]

They did say they were going for intuitive controls, so they probably focused on that more than realism.

[@venusyip7069]

This is awesome!

[@Puddingfuzz]

now this is modern art :D

[@Certifiable]

What a time to be alive! SO close to Holodeck tech, 350 years early!

[@LordDragox412]

Which button do you use to poop on people? No bird simulator can be complete without such feature xD

[@bluegreenash]

The right thumb button poops, the left thumb button is to fire photon torpedoes.

[@RianEffendi]

Best cheesy grin I've seen yet Will. Looks like that was fun. Onya guys

[@BoStanfordify]

I love this. I also think in just a few years we will look back and all this first tries at vr, ar and robotics will look so clunky, old and primitive. Like when you see 80's tech.

[@someoddusername5677]

Even now the newest version of Birdy is much more streamlined

[@HYBECTIVE]

I'd get so addicted to this

[@bluegreenash]

Reminds me of the old 3D hang glider simulator that they used to have in the trocadero centre in London (in the 90s?) but that did not have you flapping... Looks cool, I wonder if they do a multi-player dog fighting game, there were thumb triggers, so I guess you could have weapons, or be a pigeon and target statues/monuments for guano bombs.

[@bluegreenash]

Like the idea of the smell feedback, just let's hope that they don't sample the rivers for authentic scents

[@Crittek]

Bahahaha I love these virtual reality prototypes we come up with. Reminds me of old footage with everyone trying to make a functioning flying machine before the Wright Bros. figured it out.

[@Montahue]

The perfect bird-simulator, the only thing missing is a ball of high quality hamp seed for energy and inspiration.

[@Ax1007]

Initial Reaction: That is so silly Final Reaction: I want it.

[@theinterfaithshepherd9075]

that is a cool idea! clearly could hook it up with a drone of some kind.

[@person8203]

While using it: "holy crap this is so immersive" After using it: "I really need to get out more"

[@stridera]

They have one of these at the Exploratorium now. Looks fun.

[@MrZee2014]

Amazing .. I think they need to add a support for holding the neck .

[@TheModularian]

Suggestions for future upgrades- Add some harnesses so the flyer can go STRAIGHT up, down, etc/ Create a gliding mode, where flapping is not required (Typically in my flying dreams I don't need to flap)/ Make panels for arms and legs extendable. That would make things even cooler!

[@1u2a]

damn this is awesome never thought about it

[@senrabnaneek]

Imagine this with that oculus rift wingsuit game! That would be cool

[@hotshot1o2o3o]

lol this thing is so funny...thanks for making the video guys

[@alessiocasagrande7916]

OMG this is the coolest thing ever!!!!

[@mikicerise6250]

I will be trying out Birdly in Madrid this Christmas. ^_^

[@willgoldstone]

this is awesome, would love to have a go one day. Bit cheeky to say 'the game engine is by ourselves' - it's got the Unity engine 'trial version' watermark in the corner :P

[@DY9725]

This is one fitness program I can get behind!

[@Granite]

Love the german guy. He seems like he would be fun to work with.

[@steelheels43]

Joking aside I like the idea and the work behind it 😄

[@Kgamer64]

this sounds amazing XD

[@SaneKitty]

i wanna try this it’s legit my dream to fly

[@3er24t4g1]

Really cool project, what are they using for the smells, esters, extracts?

[@canadiantotoro4723]

This company is gonna be the first to get fully immerseve VR

[@rnaodmletetr]

This is a great start to VR flight. I don't know about the bird aspect though. I assume, myself included, when you dream about flying you fly like superman, not a pigeon having to flap your wingarms. Maybe have arm controls that can either both be straight out in front of you or one out and one to the side like the classic superman pose, with controls to how fast you fly at your fingertips. Do that and I would pay to use it for hours!

[@omabe8025]

Having a Fantastic four moment when he saw SilverSurfer going through the building .. he goes like "oh that's sick"

[@Ryansanders80]

Flys over bird hunting club

[@jykugoku]

Woow How is this thing now did they kept with it improving for a CV or it was just a 1 time thing?

[@johnharper1585]

i gotta say one thing....amazing.

[@NusaybaMoft]

WOW impressive!

[@Plasmafuse]

Awesome!

[@allluckyseven]

The poster child of the Oculus Rift is at it yet again!

[@hexadecimal5236]

Bringing back the Arcade!!!

[@kinghighflush101]

I did this on a museum it was so fun

[@ollienix3285]

If I ever got this I would sing "I believe I can fly!" the whole time

[@Tobnosh]

mybe some kind of circle cage around connected so the inner part moves as you turn around, probably the next stage of development :)

[@seanengelbrechten4263]

I did that in SF the exact thing and they were also working on smells

[@MasterMayhem78]

I want one!

[@CrimeToBeMade]

wow seriously wow, this is impressive.

[@fraguzz]

how about asking the guy trying it out how it felt... I need that!

[@ComplainBear]

As and rc-plane guy... aren't the hand controls (ailerons) inverted?

[@bowtieproductions6708]

they should make a death star trench run. but you're sitting and the chair moves as you move the control sticks.

[@dullaspalace7112]

COOLEST THING EVER!

[@PWingert1966]

Any plans to put in foot controls to simulate the birds tail for flight controls?

[@catnipmouse]

omg I want this so much

[@cyrusjameskhan]

Arcades are coming back!

[@McJaews]

I have to say: This is giving me many conflicting feels. First of all, the idea of simulating bird flight is amazing, and the rig looks well suited for it apart from a few details. Second, I can't help looking at this like I'm reading a "weird stuff they did back then" article in the future. Like how we have those old videos of people attempting to fly with home made wooden wings, strapping balloons onto bicycles etc. Thirdly, I'd like to know how "simulatory" they'll go with this. There's a huge difference between for instance a racing simulator, and an arcade racer. Will you have to flap in certain ways to maintain lift and forward momentum? Could you do rolls by tucking in only one wing? Is there some constant force pushing you forward? It's a cool cool cool(!) start to something I would love to be able to try out, and I wish them all the best of luck etc. I'd personally love for the legs to do work too though. Like tucking them in will allow you to hover like a hummingbird. Curling them makes you do quick turns and even loops. Twisting for balance. Bird simulator! Put an entrance fee om that baby and let's start making it pay for itself!

[@DanielWallace]

Will is the future of birds now.

[@scarocci7333]

for people wondering if it's as cool as it look like. Let me tell you. I tested it. And it was fabulous. I regret everyday to not having this one

[@FutureLaugh]

to remove the table, you can use gloves with censores, suspend the subject from a type of netted hammock and use a kinect to read the data. then you dont need a table and you can swing/ hover / suspend etc

[@TheBenderr]

Damn! I thought we would have got his initial reaction after he got out of flying.

[@luckystrke]

I wanna try!!

[@vaporizethis]

I got to play with one of these at work, its a really fun expirience. Its disorienting at first especially if you've never used vr before, wouldnt recommend for anyone who gets motion sickness.

[@CaryWeiss]

This needs to be made in into Quidditch!

[@gilbert7119]

will is so high this is an amazing high-venture

[@JSprayaEntertainment]

the one in area 15. las vegas ... has all these features ??

[@ElClausinator]

Since I'm Swiss too, it's funny to hear this guys talk sicne my Swiss accent isn't as clear as his xD

[@KustomFu]

it needs a tiny fan inside the goggles so you get wind in your eyes!

[@RCmies]

Maybe not to your eyes but yu could add a simple fan to blow on your cheeks or something

[@xpavpushka]

And a toilet to shit on statues and people.

[@DeathBringer769]

In this case I'll take the comfort of not having itchy, red, dried out eyes over the extra level of "realism," which is in this case part of real-life annoyance and would pull me out of the experience, breaking some level of my immersion as a bird wouldn't suffer from the same problems of the eye drying out and becoming uncomfortable/itchy/red due to wind. A bird isn't going to be compelled to reach up and itch his/her eyeball either, thereby further breaking my immersion when I do go to slip my hand under the Oculus to inevitably scratch/rub the itch. Simply put, it reminds me that I'm human and not a bird by adding something like that (a fan in the goggles..)

[@iamironclaw]

I can't see any possibility for them to add fans inside the goggles. They can't have them on the sides as the goggles has to sit snug or it will be like looking at 2 monitors, and can't have a fan in front of the eyes as the screens are there. So, no fan can be done, imo.

[@oO_ox_O]

***** Birds have extra eyelids against that.

[@MaddyOwns]

nice idea, one thing could be improved tho: i can imagine the feel of flight could be even more immersive if u were not lying on a solid plate but instead be hanging down from a ceiling just like a puppet on ropes you know, kind of like being in a hammok or something like that. But maybe that might be even harder to realize, i dont know.

[@Technodreamer]

Are there issues with users getting neck pain from having their heads forward for a long period?

[@UberJamesMan]

+Technodreamer No. Those users do exist, but no one cares.

[@Luka1180]

@@UberJamesMan That is contradictory. You can't say No and then say yes. It's either yes or not. And in this case it looks like you're actually saying YES.

I want to try this

[@coyfoxy6973]

WOW! Can I play Flappy bird with this?!

[@patricknelson]

If you wanna see this right now, they just brought it to The Tech Interactive museum in San Jose.

[@DougPowell01]

Can this be adapted to do s live interface to a drone aircraft??

[@semphony100]

I would recommend a 360 sim rig WOW you can even live a dream of sky diving in real full immersive VR. Please I wanna join you people , I would give anything in the world to be part if this work

[@LenHarms]

will the air force be using these for the drones?

[@That_Chaplin_chap]

why the flapping mechanisme..arent handsensors enough? the arms are the wings..it should autamaticaly render the right movement in the bird ai