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By EWAN
KENNEDY
4 January 2010
There are computer games – and computer games. And this one
appeals to us like no other we have ever seen. Designed and built
by Ferrari it comes closer to reality than any computerised
driving game we have ever seen.
Limitations on the amount of track testing permitted next season
by the FIA (the governing body of motor sport) have led to Ferrari
designing and building a simulator to let their drivers come as
close as possible to experiencing the real thing.
This just completed Italian driving game consists of a genuine
Ferrari F1 cockpit that's mounted on a platform that's moved by
electronically controlled hydraulic actuators. This permits
movement in three dimensions to give as much realism of huge
G-forces generated by the acceleration, cornering and braking as
possible. Noise and vibration are also simulated.
The driver has five giant video screens to give a 180 degree view
around the ‘car’. Note from the photos that the driver, not
just the car, is being monitored by the computer.
The complete setup, which was built in conjunction with Moog,
requires the use of 10 computers, needs 60 GB of RAM and has a
Dolby 7.1 audio system putting out 3600 Watts of power. The latter
may not please the neighbours, then again the sound of a Ferrari
racing engine on full noise is music to the ears of all true
revheads.
Here’s
an interesting comment from Marco Fainello, the designer of the
Ferrari simulator, “No driving simulator is capable of
reproducing the real feeling that a driver experiences in a
Formula One car.” His statement should be kept in mind the next
time an electronics salesman tells you the driving game you are
considering buying is as just like the real thing…
There are some minor drawbacks to owning this great new
Ferrari driving game. First of all it might be an idea to have a
structural engineer check out your garage floor – because if it
can't support 200 tonnes it's likely to collapse under the weight
of the simulator.
And even if the floor of your garage is strong enough to cope with
that huge mass, it needs to comprise two stories and have a floor
area of at least 180 square metres. I don’t know about your
place, but my whole home isn't that big...
Finally, there's the problem that the Ferrari driving simulator
isn't for sale at any price. After all, the most successful
Formula One racing team in history plans to stay at the head of
the field forever more, so is certainly not interested in helping
competitors gain any advantages.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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