Development of a Riding Simulator for Motorcycles

Kazuya Nagasaka; Kazuhiro Ichikawa; Akiyuki Yamasaki; Hiroshi Ishii

doi:10.4271/2018-32-0031

We developed the motorcycles based on RIDEOLOGY (Ride + Ideology) concept. In the past, the “Ride” was studied by a sensory evaluation with actual driving. However, the recent progress in numerical analysis, there have been developed driving simulators. It allows more quantitative measurement in a sensory evaluation. Therefore, we also developed a riding simulator specialized for motorcycles.

In order to develop such riding simulator, there are some technical challenges for motorcycles. First, we need to reproduce roll motion height of motorcycles. Compared to four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles have a higher center of rotation. Second, we need to reproduce vehicle motion control by rider’s changing body position. A rider controls vehicle’s lean by shifting his center of gravity. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a measurement system of rider’s body position. Third, we need to improve senses of speed and reality. In case of motorcycles, there is visual information of wider areas including the view near the rider’s feet. In order to reproduce that, it is necessary to develop new projection system.

To solve these challenges, we developed a two-axis motion table having a high roll-rotation center, measured rider’s body position changes using a stereo camera, and improved the senses of speed and reality using VR technology.

This paper introduces several applications of the developed riding simulator. First, we describe a steering characteristics about steady turnings to investigate rider evaluation of motorcycles. Second, we describe applications of the simulator to develop a HMI (Human Machine Interface) for motorcycles. We concluded that the application of the simulator is useful for such fundamental study.

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Development of a Riding Simulator for Motorcycles 2018-32-0031

SAE MOBILUS