Head Centered Approach to Washout Filter Design for Motorcycle Simulators

Many motion base simulators have been developed in the last thirty years for many different types of vehicles. In order to make a simulation more realistic, linear accelerations and angular rates are exerted on the pilot by moving the platform on which the mock-up vehicle is located. This has to be accomplished without driving the simulator out of its workspace. The software component that is in charge of this is commonly referred to as washout filter. Washout filters have been widely investigated in the past, mainly in the field of flight simulators. In this article we present a washout filter designed for a motorcycle simulator. The solution follows, as a reference point, techniques previously adopted for large aircraft simulators. However great importance is given to specific aspects of motorcycle dynamics. Sensors are used to determine the rider’s position on the motorcycle being their masses comparable. Moreover the washout location is considered on the rider’s head thus being movable. The washout filter, which is being used to drive the MORIS motorcycle simulator, located at Piaggio company headquarters in Pontedera, Italy, has been tested off-line showing good results and will soon be tested on real riders.