A Mercedes-AMG Driving Simulator is the dream of every gamer. But how does it actually feel onboard the 4-million Euro simulator? Well, Felix Schonhofer, Head of Crossfunctional Product Management at Mercedes-AMG, vlogged his experience.
INSIDE AMG – Kinematics | Can Felix Handle the AMG Driving Simulator? By Mercedes-AMG
For the start of the visit, Michael is responsible with the Digital Vehicle Dynamics Integration at Mercedes-AMG. Thus he is the one who introduces the drivetrain, suspension and technical configuration of the future Mercedes-AMG ONE, the hypercar inspired by the Formula One racers. Future customers will get a bespoke geometrical arrangement. Therefore, settings will be completely different from any AMG. Everything that happens in the laboratory or in the factory will be tested on the race track.
Sebastian covers the Vehicle Dynamic Simulation at Mercedes-AMG. He introduces Felix Schonhofer into the world of elasto-kinemastics. His division works on how the axle moves upwards and downwards. It all starts with an animation that shows exactly what should happen in terms of kinematics. Thus the team uses different colors that show the stiffness in every bushing, for example.
Onboard the Mercedes-AMG Driving Simulator
But the highlight of the vlog, as expected, is the Mercedes-AMG simulator. Jan, who is the Operator of the Driving Simulator at Mercedes-AMG controls the brain of the unit from behind the monitors of a computer. There is a display showing what goes on in and out of the car, ECU and driver’s inputs. Real-time telemetry provides him and his team with further details.
Felix sees the simulator room as a giant movie theater with a car in it. The simulator only travels five by five meters. It is fixed with two parts made of 14.5 tons. Magnets located inside black boxes, at the base of the simulator, pull it down. Air pressure pushes it back up. There is also a 1.2 G lateral force with six actuators. A hexapod moves it up and down.
The complete set up would cost approximately 4 million Euros.
The engineers code-named the cabin “X1”. Its configuration allows settings similar to any Mercedes-Benz model, from the G-Class to the AMG GT family.
Felix tries the Nordschleife race track. So he receives the final instructions before turning the power on. Once he hits the tarmac, he finds it that it actually is much harder than it looks. Minutes later, he gets out of the cabin. But what happens in between?
