Engadget test-drives Festo AirMotion Ride, humiliates self (video)
By Richard Lai 
posted April 9th 2010 1:37PM
posted April 9th 2010 1:37PM
posted April 9th 2010 1:37PM
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That looks like a lot of fun, hopefully the next generation of arcade racers!
Caption contest on PIC #4
@Drago re-Pic #4 - she doesnt actually drive like that using the arch of her foot on the gas does she? Dang - if ppl drive like that it's not wonder they suck at driving. Toyota nothing - ppl need to be educated on basic foot placement!! that'll prevent some wrecks right there!
PS - I'm also irked by those fools who pedal a bicycle with their heel/arch over the center of the pedal. Look stupid, can't be comfortable, and reduces your efficiency 5-fold.
@Drago
Were you thinking more along the lines of
'She can have a ride on my fluidic muscle'
@Phenom I'm more irked by people that make comments like yours
@Phenom
The comment about the bikes, so true. I see people riding like that all the time. Is rather silly.
@Cydoniac
Totally, I'd love to try this or own it! Dirt 2 FTW. On-screen steering is too sensitive by the looks of it, could use some tweaking.
@Drago Hey, she's not wearing panties!
@Drago She was just sitting there with a smile on her face as she was riding six black hoses. I swear each one was as long as my forearm.
Seeing this makes me want to go back to my childhood and relive Need for Speed with this AirMotion seat.
How can you not judge? Those arms look like they would wear and tear in short order if people using the game drive like that (and I am sure many will, at least at first).
@NiKoLaSm You'd be surprised, the festo pneumatic muscles can pull 18-wheel trucks, perhaps it looks fragile but it really isn't.
Do I sense an opportunity for a Speeder Bike Game? I mean, the Force Dynamics says it all
@Lord Vader I wonder what it would look like to play TRON on that thing...
Tron's Special Effects are weak, they are no pleasure to look at these days. I say let them rot like the vector graphics they are. I think you meant to say "I wonder what it would feel like to play Tron on that thing..." Amazing obviously. Until you crash into your own lightbike trail. Then it's game over for you, literally
@Lord Vader
Vader, are the rumors that you play Tron for 14 hours a day on your in-helmet videos screen true?
@Lord Vader I know what I'd be saying if I had a go on that: "YEAAAA-HOOO! YOU'RE ALL CLEAR KID! NOW LET'S BLOW THIS THING AND GO HOME!"
this is awesome. I want that for GT5
one more added to the list of things i need to get for my dream home
$?
@The Advanced Kind
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!
I just want to know what they're doing about the possibility of whiplash ...
@scarfie I'm sure ppl signed waivers - Liable to be sued in this litigation-infested (common sense lacking) country that is the US
I love how he almost knocked the steering wheel off the base at the end.
I could see this being used at DMVs all over the country, for people to practice driving without running me over...
It guess it will need a 3-phase screw compressor.Good luck selling this, but it looks nice.
I guess it will need a 3-phase screw compressor.Good luck selling this, but it looks nice.
I wana play forza 3 with this
Here's another video of the AirMotion ride:
http://www.festo.com/INetDomino/coorp_sites/en/ded5d1663e4760f1c12572d00035d10d.htm
My favorite is their robot arm:
http://www.festo.com/INetDomino/coorp_sites/en/1e70ac4a67fcfb11c12572d0004d3d44.htm
Looks cool, but needs a seatbelt with shoulder straps. Given the way the steering wheel is attached and oriented relative to certain things, the last thing I want is to drive head first into a wall at high speed.
Ohhhhh Ohhhhhh... OK. I'm alive!! LOL
They bring that same tired demo to every tradeshow they've been at for the past 5 years. Anyone here know what Festo actually sells? Pneumatic valves and cylinders.... yep no flying penguins for sale, sorry.
I'm surprised these have not become mainstream in arcades and hopefully when they drop in price, in homes.
Looks great but just a little too violent hahaha
I left The Gadget Show Live 4 hours ago and this thing was pretty cool!!!
oh and I saw a 10 year old kid drive better than this ;-)
@summerboy18
Thats whashe said
It appears that the lateral motion doesn't match the game well. Sometimes when he is in a hard turn, the seat isn't leaning at all, other times it is.
It doesn't look like it has any problem with forward and back motion though!
The sim they're using is Live For Speed (LFS), by the way. Excellent sim. The best on the market aside from iRacing.
haha, i drove this once.
It wasn't attached to the floor and when i hit a wall at 100mph the thing came of the ground.
aah good times
Why would you waste hardware like that on a driving game? Flight sim, please.
you know that there is a joke here that is best left unsaid. :)
Oh cmon, LFS isn't THAT hard, is it? Take an easier car next time, not a FWD mini-GTR racer :P
Nice driving! "One eyes farther and rook reft and right).... DWO
Festo are a cool company but unfortunately for them they are selling a product (pnuematic cylinders for automation) that is on its way out. Most auto factories are in the process of switching from air and hydraulics to all electric motors...
The above demo would be better with electric servo motors...(Festo even sell their own electric motors now)...
You know, there's something called a brake and you use it to slow down the car.
I used to do the same force feedback simulation to my roommates chair in college when he was playing video games.
He didn't seem to enjoy it as much. *shrugs*
PS: and who says asians can't drive. =P
@Ducman69
ps: he crashes 3 times.
@annoyingposter3 I was making a funny. ;)
"I'm still alive" - that did look like a braking manoeuvre that would throw you through a windscreen at the end!
Looks fun Richard!