Home-built Motion VR Cockpit for Microsoft Flight Simulator with Pendular Yoke and 8-axis Throttle

[@shyeo6969]

This is the most astonishing and inspiring video I've ever seen on youtube! Fpv quad taught me about soldering, cad and 3d printing, dance pad/keyboard DIY taught me about Arduino and woodwork. Now I feel like I will follow your path to this epic home sim cockpit, and gain a whole lot of skills along the way!

[@RomanBershadsky]

Good luck with your project!

[@Wilem35]

That sounds like a fun project and affordable as well. Thanks as well for the hard work on our local airports.

[@RomanBershadsky]

A fun project and so much fun using it!

[@Name-ot3xw]

Don't be shy, it's very pretty. Slap on a nice aftermarket car chair in there, and some nice wood to cover the pedestal wires and you've almost got a saleable product imo.

[@RomanDesignCanada]

The foal was a budget build, so the old office chair suits perfectly. To make something like this saleable and poeeible to produce even in small batches, the frame needs to be metal, proper u-joint implemented, some other parts added, etc. I suspect by the it could be saleable, considering small batch production time, the cost would be comparable to what's already available on the market.

[@jonathanchristenen4803]

Still rocking the CV1, love it!

[@RomanBershadsky]

I'm using Reverb G2 for the last year and a half. I had the Oculus Rift S before than and the difference in clarity is huge. It's very sharp if your PC can drive it (which with MSFS is a big if - I have 4090 + 5900X and I will still be upgrading the CPU). You can still kind of see the pixels but only in the aliasing (diagonal lines etc.) There is no screendoor effect whatsoever. We'll see what the next generation will bring. Better lenses would be nice, and better tracking. Resolution could be a bit higher, but not much, it's already too large to drive comfortably...

[@protradersaimachinelearnin8125]

this is so cool, wish i could build something like this .

[@RomanBershadsky]

There's nothing particularly difficult with the build. Takes time of course, but no exotic skills or machinery. If you can cut and join wood, solder wires, and have a 3D printer - it's very doable. I have never built anything like that before. Just done normal stuff around the house, smaller Arduino projects, RC plane models etc. So it's not like I had a lot of experience with designing, engineering and prototyping. I have no engineering background.

[@junglemastah]

Outstanding! So it is possible for DIY… I’ll have to study your video, unless you start selling this setup!!!! ❤🤞

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks. Not only possible, but not really difficult to build. All my files are on my website for free (optional donation) - link in the description. There is no documentation or exact measurements, but those vary for every project, depending on your motors, frame, controls, etc. You can calculate your geometry with SimCalc software.

[@junglemastah]

@@RomanDesignCanada Fantastic, thanks for sharing! Will send a donation your way once I dig in! Cheers

[@RomanDesignCanada]

@@junglemastah Good luck with yout project!

[@bartekprzybylski1169]

Great job! I'm speechless!

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks!

[@MrPuddinJones]

this is brilliant. well done!!!

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks. I enjoy it immensely!

[@suddenlysolo2170]

Very Cool! I have a 'Yaw VR' motion simulator I use for flight simming and I'd like to get the Yaw2 motion chair - I don't have the skills to build my own

[@RomanBershadsky]

Thanks! I couldn't justify the budget for off-the-shelf motion rig, so decided to build my own.

[@eugyy88]

This is Amazing!

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks. I'm working on a 6DOF motion sim now. It will be even more amazing!

[@zaelu]

Beautiful work!

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks! I'm planning on building a 6DOF motion simulator now!

[@zaelu]

@@RomanDesignCanada Very cool. At some point I will do one also but now I have no space for movement of such platform... unless I go on the balcony in the rain :D .

[@nils169]

Very nice. Maybe next year I want to build something like this.

[@RomanBershadsky]

Go for it, it's worth it.

[@larrysouthern5098]

GREAT LOOKING SIM SETUP... DIY IS THE BEST... 🐦 ❤

[@CaptFrankWhite]

You are an engineer, obviously. Building it is way over my head and buying one is way over my budget. Nevertheless, you've put together an awesome system. Thanks!

[@RomanBershadsky]

Not in the slightest. I'm not an engineer, nor am I a professional with tools or electronics. I'm a web designer. I do have basic skills with normal woodworking tools, basic soldering skills, basic scripting (like compilins Arduino sketches based on existing libraries and examples). Nothin really complicated or extraordinary. I have no welder or welding skills, so I did the wood frame instead, which is also cheaper and inherently not as jarring and clunky as metal rig. This is the most complicated project I've ever done. Previous DIY projects were building a projection home theater screen, and building a 3D printer from kit a few years back. I also build my own PCs. So some basic skills are needed, but no special skills are required.

[@CaptFrankWhite]

@@RomanBershadsky Goes to show you're a smart guy. Keep the vids coming.

[@Because_Reasons]

Incredible. If I only had the space and tools lol

[@RomanDesignCanada]

I own a fairly large house with a garage, but I actually built it in my living room, and once ready, it takes just barely more space than an office chair and it sits in my quite small home office room. So not much space is needed, this is a compact build by design.

[@Because_Reasons]

@@RomanDesignCanada Incredible...

[@NFrost87]

Love your work, please keep it up. Is it possible to do a "copy" of this with actuators? I have a friend who has two 150mm travel 200 kg lying around i can have for free.

[@donbouchier3454]

How did you make the connection to the HP server power supply... do you have a picture of your connection

[@RomanDesignCanada]

I don't have a picture, but it's a very popular power supply, google it. You need to short some pins to turn it on, and take the current from others, it's easy.

[@Uruguayvirtual-j1o]

Great and I congratulate you. Can you tell me what motors you use or purchase link? Thank you

[@RomanBershadsky]

Thanks! The link is in the descriptiof of the video.

[@NaFiGaToRus]

nicely done! how much time did you spend on this? And from where does your chair receive the position of a plane? From the sim itself or somehow calculated from the position of your yoke?

[@RomanBershadsky]

I spend 2 weeks on and off on building it, then a lot of tweaking. It gets the info from the sim directly (through FlyPT Mover software). But I also have a profile for StarField that only uses joystick position for motion, which works OK for a space sim where there's no gravity. It can get positional data directly from games FlyPT supports. Or simtools, but I don't own that one.

[@mb944]

Nice setup. Where did u get the 737 throttles?

[@ikkeennigij121]

looks like great fun. What software did you use to get the telemetry data to your platform ? (e.g. sway, surge,...)

[@RomanDesignCanada]

FlyPT Mover. It's free.

[@ikkeennigij121]

@@RomanDesignCanada thanks !

[@Yukii_tan]

Hey, question, how do you manage the tracking with the VR headset whilst using the motion rig ? I would assume it's all over the place, but in the video it seems very smooth ?

[@RomanDesignCanada]

There's no issue with tracking whatsoever, it works just fine. With a limited movement there's no real need for motion compensation, however it works too: I use OpenXR MC layer that takes a OpenVR-compatible "virtual tracker" from FlyPT Mover software and compensates the motion rig movement, so I'm rock-solid in the virtual cockpit.

[@gregson99]

looks like you still need force feedback for flight yoke. If you fly faster it should be harder to turn push pull at least on small aircraft. looks cool though. 430$ well spent.

[@RomanBershadsky]

That would be nice, but much more difficult (and very expensive) to do.

[@aparecidoserrano]

Good evening, Roman, what settings did you use in roll, pitch, sway, surge? for flight simulator.

[@RomanDesignCanada]

See video description. Settings for every part of the rig are part of the packages on my website.

[@aparecidoserrano]

ok,thanks@@RomanDesignCanada

[@gabrigarcia8918]

Impressive! Btw, whats that thing you have mounted in the reverb g2?

[@daviddoudouable]

It is a leap motion :)

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Yes, it's a Leap Motion controller for hand tracking - there is a section on it in the video

[@oliverf944]

Epic

[@RomanBershadsky]

It is!

[@bert7050]

I need such set up for my girlfriend who’s a military helicopter pilot. Could you point me in the right direction for the hard ware purchase and setup. Thanks in anticipation

[@RomanDesignCanada]

All 3D design, sample configuration and 3D-printer files are available for a FREE DOWNLOAD (optional donation) at flightsimulation.romandesign.ca/roman-design-motion-vr-cockpit-project/ - All electronic parts were bought on Ali Express, U-joint parts from Amazon (but if you can get a U-Joint from a scrap yard an can weld it to a seat ot something, it would be better), motors are from Ebay. Part list images are in the file package.

[@acobabe]

What size potentiometer did you use for the position sensors?

[@RomanDesignCanada]

No potentiometers at all - they wear out quickly. I use a bunch of cheap Hall sensors (something like 10 sensors for $3 on Ali), designed and 3D printed a magnet holder that fits the hollow shaft end, and sensor holders. Then react and connect identically to potentiometers, only they have no friction at all and no moving parts! They only have 180 degree range (and another 180 degree repeating voltage curve), but as the motor arms should only rotate around 90 degrees max, that's fine. You can by Hall potentiometers, but you'd still have to connect axit to motor shaft, which chan break off and needs precision. My way - no precision, just fix the sensors a few mm from magnets in the shaft, no moving parts, no friction, no forces acting on any of that, so nothing to break down.

[@acobabe]

@RomanDesignCanada thanks for the reply the diagram in your construction photos listed a potentiometer. I am planning on using a rv40 worm gearbox a double output shaft and putting a geared output that I 3d print out a mount for. I'm hoping with a geared connection it shouldn't have reliability issues. Mainly what I was asking the impedance size ie 10k ohm etc.

[@RomanDesignCanada]

@@acobabe The schematics are generic. It's an Arduino board, so whatever works with Arduino is usable. I think 10k pots are best, but it can work with many others...

[@acobabe]

@RomanDesignCanada hey thanks again for the quick reply sourcing parts now I'll let you know how it goes :)

[@topwrench2005]

Roman I’m building a motion platform pretty close to what you I’m just adding yaw with a 3rd motor, can you give me the name of all you software you use?

[@RomanBershadsky]

FlyPT Mover for the motion rig, SimShaker for Aviators + SoundModule for the vibration transducers, MobiFlight for the custom controller/switch boxes, SMCTools for the initial Arduino firmware for the motor drivers. I think that's it.

[@zul19654]

Hi. This is really interesting. How much total spent?

[@RomanDesignCanada]

As it says in the description, around $430. Depending on what you have lying around etc. it may be around $500 or so.

[@SkyKing-Opa]

What is the weight capacity with chair please? Pretty nifty setup.

[@RomanBershadsky]

Well, I don't know precisely. I know it handles 82kg well, but I had people up to 100Kg and it didn't fall appart. Most of the weight is on the U-joint, motors just have to be strong enough to shift that weight around the pivot point, not lift the entire rig+pilot. That's why 6DOF rigs are so much more expensive - you need much more powerful motors and heavy duty construction to lift and move the entire weight of the system.

[@chefstronghill8856]

Do you have plans? Measurements etc

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Whatever plans I have are available at flightsimulation.romandesign.ca/roman-design-motion-vr-cockpit-project/ - though it's not a very detailed plans with measurments etc. I winged it as I went through with it, so it's not a blueprint - just the good starting point for someone to build his own rig.

[@liliandenis3082]

How much did the home build cockpit cast including the VR headset?

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Those are copmetely separate and independent of each other. I use Reverb H2 which costs about $600 USD. But you can use Quest2 which is cheaper or Pimax which is more expensive or whatever HMD you like. It's not connected directly with the motion part in any way.

[@charledawn]

Amazing how much does the baby cost ?

[@RomanBershadsky]

Cost me $430 in parts. Covers everything except for PSU I got for free (but you can get it for $20-$30) and I had some lumber scraps I used, and I used my old pedals. But making new pedals would cost me $10 in parts. So it would come to maybe $550 if you had to buy everything.

[@charledawn]

@@RomanBershadsky wow 🤩 Amazing wait one question 🙋‍♂️ , does the $500 include cost of the motion vibrators , butt kicker , hydraulics ?

[@RomanBershadsky]

@@charledawn There is no hydraulics. The bulk of the budget is actually 2 geared 12V motors: $243 for both. buttkickers are DIY from old car speakers, so they cost me nothing. Driven from the old amp. Some people use truck windshield wiper motors or wheelchair motors from scrap yards, so the budget can vary both ways, depending on what you already have and what you need to buy. If you have a scrapyard neadby you could find suitable motors for a few bucks.

[@charledawn]

@@RomanBershadsky Thanks 🙏 for you Helpful reply , ever thought about building this for Simmers ? and then selling ?

[@RomanBershadsky]

@@charledawn It's not worth it. By the time you get the production base and materials that's good enough to produce and sell it, and consider the time it requires, the prices will be in the thousands, just like already available motion rigs. This is great for DIY project, but I calculated that you can buy an equivalent off-the-shelf system (counting all the controls I built and 2DOF motion rig) for about $4200. If you want motion rig without any controls, you can get 2DOF one under $2000 and 3DOF for around $3500.

[@markalexwhite]

Shame you can't see your hands in VR - reaching for controls requires muscle memory - slightly disorienting! Otherwise - magnificent! ;-)

[@RomanBershadsky]

The technology is there. I even beta-tested Leap Motion with OpenXR Toolkit, and also Quest 2 and 3 have built-in hand tracking that can be passed to PCVR. Hand tracking already works well in DCS. The problem is that MSFS has not done a good job with VR implementation in general, and is not doing anything to fix existing problems. Even traditional VR controller support is extremely buggy and poor. There's nothing preventing a proper hand tracking it in terms of hardware or software - the technology is there. But somebody must be willing to implement it, and sadly, it's not happening with MSFS so far...

[@bernaro]

Well that's look impressive. Please can you tell me about the logic of the movements. Is it based on the relatives forces in action or simply based on the position of the aircraft. That could be a big difference on the immersive feeling as for instance acceleration should put the seat to an angle even the aircraft is still rolling on the runway. In the same idea I would like to know the values of angles in the different directions. Thanks my friend.

[@RomanBershadsky]

I talk about it in the video. It's based on angular accelerations in part, but position is also mixed in, as well as heave acceleration is mixed into pitch and sway acceleration is mixed into roll. So it's a complicated mix of several forces. I dialled the mixes and filters to my taste, so it feels natural in the sim. Also, when I say "position is mixed" it's not the actual position data, but "lateral gravity" and "longitudinal gravity" forces. That way it works smoothly even through the 180 degree rolls. Mixing position in would result in a hard snap in the roll, which is not realistic, nor is it healthy for the rig nor the pilot :-)

[@MLBPeacePlanet]

Great stuff

[@RomanDesignCanada]

Thanks!