Motion Simulator Seating with Integrated Actuator Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home video game systems lack immersive interaction, as existing force feedback interfaces are bulky, impractical for home use, and limited in their ability to provide a sense of weightlessness and movement sensations.
Innovation Solution
A motion simulator with actuators that transmit motion signals from video outputs to a seating portion, allowing it to move along multiple degrees of freedom, secured to the floor, enabling practical and weightless viewing experiences without the need for a bulky base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bulky force feedback interfaces are used to provide movement sensations, then the sensation and immersion are improved, but the device size and practicality for home use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The motion simulator is divided into separate functional components: actuators integrated into furniture legs, a seating portion, and a control system. This segmentation allows the motion-generating components to be distributed throughout the furniture structure rather than concentrated in a single bulky unit, achieving immersive motion effects while maintaining a compact, space-efficient design suitable for home environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuators are nested within the furniture structure itself, with motor assemblies integrated into the legs and frame of the seating furniture. This nesting approach embeds the motion-generating components within the existing furniture geometry, eliminating the need for separate bulky interfaces and achieving a compact integrated design that provides full movement sensations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If force feedback interfaces are made stationary and heavy, then structural stability is improved, but ease of displacement and practicality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The furniture design incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements, allowing the structure to transition between stable operational positions and easier displacement states. The actuator systems enable controlled movement of the seating portion while the overall furniture maintains stability during use, and can be repositioned or reconfigured when not in use, balancing structural stability with operational flexibility.
3Reliability
If multiple actuators are added to provide multi-degree of freedom movement, then movement sensation quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system is designed with multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes: the same actuators provide both structural support and motion generation, the control system handles multiple degrees of freedom through integrated algorithms, and the furniture structure serves both aesthetic and mechanical functions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite providing sophisticated multi-axis motion capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The motion simulator provides immersive movement sensations and weightlessness, enhancing the gaming experience while being compact and easily integrated into existing furniture, making it practical for home use.
Implementation Method 1
at least two actuators, each of the actuators having a first member and a second member interrelated by a degree of freedom, each of the actuators having a degree of actuation connected to the seating portion for displacing the first member with respect to the second member along the degree of freedom as a function of actuation from the actuators in relation to the motion signals
Data Source
AI summary
A motion simulator for transmitting motion with respect to a floor as a function of motion signals associated to a video output. The motion simulator comprises a seating portion for accommodating a viewer viewing the video output. Actuators each have a housing and an output shaft interrelated by a degree of freedom. Each of the actuators has a motor connected to the seating portion for displacing the housing with respect to the output shaft along the degree of freedom as a function of actuation from the actuators in relation to the motion signals. The housing of each of the actuators is secured to the seating portion. The output shaft of each of the actuators comprises a leg supporting the motion simulator on the floor, whereby the seating portion is movable as a function of actuation from the actuators.