Motorsports Brands - Flight Simulators Assisting F1 Drivers Of The Future

Beaumaris Victoria,London, Dec. 22, 2011: Business opportunities for companies equipped to design and manufacture flight simulators are continuing to grow within the motorsport sector as strict testing regulations create a need for advanced driving simulators. The world’s leading professional motion simulation company, Cruden, will demonstrate advances it has made in the field at Autosport International.

With racing teams increasingly employing simulation technology to develop both new drivers and new cars, Dutch firm Cruden has continued to develop the technology it brought to motor racing in 2002, and will be demonstrating its new Set-Up Tool and Telemetry Analyzer at the show.

“The team has been designing and building aircraft flight simulators since the late 1990s; this makes us one of the most established simulator companies in the market,” said Frank Kalff, Cruden Commercial Director.

“The advantages a simulator can bring to driver development are understood now,” Kalff continued. “Professional drivers naturally prefer the real thing, but most will accept that testing in a simulator for circuit familiarisation can shave important seconds off that first test session at a new track and bring them up to a competitive speed much more quickly.”

Cruden’s new Set-Up Tool allows engineers to change vehicle settings, including shock absorbers, dampers, wing settings and throttle mapping, all while the simulator is in use.

Meanwhile, its new Telemetry Analyzer facilitates the evaluation of vehicle model performance and driving style while the simulator is running or once the session is complete. Its instant feedback allows for the analysis of lap and sector times, speed, throttle, brakes, steering angles and gears.

“We are supplying several Formula One teams, major automotive manufacturers and leading research and academic organisations with full turnkey simulator packages, system components and our 'Racer Pro' software,” added Kalff. “Our external physics package allows the seamless integration of our own in-house developed MATLAB/SIMULINK-based vehicle model as well as customer vehicle models using Vi-Grade, IPG CarMaker, veDYNA, CarSim or SIMPACK models. Additionally, we are strengthening our Content and Design studio due to the high demand for the building of race tracks for use with simulators.”

“The crossover of technologies between industries such as motorsport and aerospace continues to grow,” said Autosport International Show Director Ian France. “Autosport International gives those working in complementary sectors an opportunity to speak with key personnel within the industry and explore the vast and varied ways in which they can potentially develop and expand their business to new markets and clients.”