Force feedback took off in a big way in the late 90s, bringing a sense of realism to flight sticks and racing wheels that hadn’t been there before. Its cheaper haptic cousin was rumble feedback via vibration motors, which does add a little something but it’s more an idea of a feeling than anything relevant to real life. It’s also usually pretty weak, but [teenenggr] has a way around that.
The build takes a regular Playstation controller, and disconnects the internal rumble motors. The controller’s motor output is instead linked to an Arduino Uno’s digital input. When the Arduino detects the rumble motor signal switching on, it turns on a relay, supplying power to a hefty one horsepower induction motor, fitted with an eccentric weight. Hydraulic Vibration Motor
What happens next is pure chaos. Essentially equivalent to throwing a brick in a washing machine, the motor shakes the entire desk at the slightest hint of rumble signals from the gain. Sustained vibration commands, such as when firing machine guns in Crysis, flung [teenenggr]’s monitor from the desk. Even with it taped down, game play quickly became impossible as he inadvertently hits ALT-Tab and leaves the game while trying to hang on to the desk for dear life.
Is it a useful hack? No, but it would make an excellent prank if bolted underneath your friend’s gaming rig for a laugh. With that said, the intense vibration probably won’t do any good for mechanical hard drives, anything with edge connectors, or just their computer in general. It’s a big step up from the last [teenenggr] project we featured – a rumble feedback mouse. Video after the break.
Ah really love this guy. He also already did a nice solenoid keyboard feedback. Or a smaller variant with solenoid feedback on mouseclick.
Good way to have a Martini…shaken, not stirred.
I’m not a Martini guy but… shaking it breaks the ice up. It’s a memorable quote from a cool character, but also terrible cocktail advice.
Bolt the motor to the chair instead. There actually were linear motors specifically designed for that application.
This use reminds me that there is also a huge market for somewhat similar actual products that also have motors and are very much sold to the 18 and up community. Most are probably not quite 1 HP though. Most commercial products in that market are generally about 0.04 HP.
Could also use a soft motor starter (though would not have quite the speed here) or even better, a serial over VFD as well then just still use your Arduino or other microcontroller to send it whatever you wanted.
You takling about ButtKicker for simulation games right? But they are more 400 Watt than 0.04 HP ;P
But can it run…. Oh, nevermind, carry on.
Let’s Get Ready To Ruuuuuuuuuumbbbble !!!
Isn’t this a “Tingler” from movie theater seats from 60 years ago?
I laughed even before I read the headline.
Why stop at a measly 1HP? Strap on a 200 HP motor out of electric car. Playing construction sim would be so realistic you might get police investigating “bulldozer running inside a house” complaint
I built a shaker like that many years ago. It was a dangerous thing, but fun. Make sure you are never in line with the eccentric weight and don’t expect the bearings in the motor to last a long time.
Rapid on/off would be possible if he motorized the offset weight and let the main engine run continuously. No spin-up or spin-down – just the center of gravity moving off of or onto the axle.
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