SIXAXIS + model airplane = killer flight sim

While we've seen some crafty folks turn a Wiimote into a mouse (twice), the engineering minds over at Zedomax apparently figured they'd offer Sony an alternative to that sure-to-be-sued motion-tracking gizmo it has "patented." Of course, maybe the project was just to show off a good bit of snazzy soldering skills and a horrendously slipshod computer rig, but it's impressive nonetheless. Although it can't take flight like the FlyTech Dragonfly, this SIXAXIS airplane can control the motions of a flight simulator (or other joystick-enabled programs) by actually maneuvering the model in the manner you'd like your on-screen, pixelated counterpart to fly. Moreover, the propeller even kicks it into high gear to simulate the thrill of the flight in the comfort (and safety) of your own room. While the list of hardware (and background knowledge) necessary to create this thing is far too long to cover here, you can get your feet wet with a Cubloc controller, an accelerometer, and about 40 hours (or more) of unused vacation. But if you're ready to take the leap into the modding elite, there's no better place to start than the read link below (and the vid after the break).

[paul @ Dec 19th 2006 6:00AM]

sweet, but the guy behind the camera is retarded.

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2006 6:12AM]

QTF

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2006 6:03AM]

That thing should definitely have a wriststrap...

[artard @ Dec 19th 2006 6:04AM]

Look's like to much work.

[BurnZ @ Dec 19th 2006 6:18AM]

Cool idea but no real use.

[Cardbored @ Dec 19th 2006 7:53AM]

seems like a good way to lose a finger with that spinning propeller

[Robert Gilbert @ Dec 19th 2006 7:59AM]

At least tidy the desk before you show it to the world!

[Lewis @ Dec 19th 2006 8:10AM]

Holy shit that cameraman is a retard.

[rj @ Dec 19th 2006 8:53AM]

is it just me or is the delay from the physical plane to the screen really bad?

[crashoveride489 @ Dec 19th 2006 10:00AM]

I think I will just stick with my r/c planes that fly on there own. That I I don't have to make the engine noise myself.

[Richard Lai @ Dec 19th 2006 10:01AM]

What a great way to cool our sweaty hands!

[kevin @ Dec 19th 2006 10:23AM]

Damn impressive! Build me one too!
By the way, the guy behind the camera is so funny! hahahaha... :)

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2006 11:32AM]

The voiceover sounds like something from bad porn.

"You wanna get a little closer? Yeah...nice, nice..."

Shitty demo, but cool idea.

[thomas @ Dec 19th 2006 11:46AM]

haha they remind me of pinky and the brain. sweet mod.

[Tom Gabriele @ Dec 19th 2006 11:58AM]

dear. god. please do not play with sweaty palms.

[Garrett @ Dec 19th 2006 12:40PM]

rj: Couple of reasons for that. One is that my code for acquiring the accelerometer samples simply grabs a bunch of them and averages. This means that I only get a meaningful sample every 25 cycles. I'm implementing a simple moving-average filter that will smooth it out the same amount, but respond to changes much faster. The other reason is that the game has a huge deadzone in the center of the control area; even with a regular joystick you don't see the plane do anything until you move it about 15 degrees in any direction.

Robert Gilbert: That desk is my clean one, since it's at work and I have to keep it nice. You should see the one at home.

Others: Now now, be nice to Max...he wasn't prepared at all for the video and can speak more languages than just English. That said, I did recommend a retake.

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2006 1:03PM]

not only is the cameraman retarded, but they both need to take their retainers out

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2006 1:38PM]

Very impressive time wasting exercise. Also to be filed under "when smart people waste oodles of time on pointless shit".

Cuz, you know, I'd much rather stand around playing with a big model of an airplane than fly with a full HOTAS setup from the comfort of my chair, kicking peoples asses.

[kevin @ Dec 19th 2006 4:14PM]

Hey there Zedomax guys,
don't worry about stupid dumbass people who have nothing better to do than make stupid comments,
just keep working hard as there are people who do like your stuff!

kev

[max @ Dec 19th 2006 4:18PM]

Hey thanks Kev,

I will keep my head up,
I don't really care anyways,
All people have the right to think what they think
as I have the right to think what I wanna think or say what i wanna say.

peace!

max

[Jiffylush @ Dec 19th 2006 4:53PM]

Dear lord, please buy this man a tripod for xmas.

I am assuming he has no friends or at least no friends with a video camera.

I could actually believe that the cameraman had developmental issues.

[sygyzy @ Dec 19th 2006 6:23PM]

Is the cameraman a retard?