DIY Racing Simulator Is a Repurposed Masterpiece

After building a racing simulator playseat with space for pedals, a steering wheel, shifter, and even a keyboard/mouse, Matthew Loomis was asked by someone, apparently unimpressed with his handiwork, if it “move[d] or something.” Rising to this challenge, Loomis decided to rebuild his setup to simulate motion in two degrees of freedom, using a pair of upcycled motors.

His simulator is actuated by a Sabertooth 2x32 driver board, and control is via an Arduino Uno using PWM and Simtools software. You can see him happily using it in VR in the video seen here.

Though interesting, what really sets this build apart is the creativity that went into sourcing parts. The base was made out of a piece of exercise equipment, the universal joint under the seat is from a truck driveshaft, and the seat comes from a semi. The two two motors were even recycled from an electric wheelchair, which transmit power through bicycle cranks!