Exploring Motor and Sensory Devices in a Bicycle Simulator
Raphael de Souza e Almeida, Renato Cherullo, Daniel Radetic, Greis Francy M. Silva-Calpa, Alberto Barbosa Raposo · 2019
This study presents the SimBike (Bicycle Simulator with Non-conventional Devices), a virtual reality simulator that uses motor and sensory devices to provide greater user involvement and comfort. The SimBike seeks to recreate the activity of riding a bicycle by taking full advantage of the efforts made in its execution, such as making curves with the handlebar or body weight, pedaling, braking, among others. It offers feedbacks commonly expected by the rider, such as the wind sensation depending on speed and the sensation of trepidation on uneven terrain. We evaluated the simulator with 16 users, obtaining satisfactory results regarding comfort, immersion, usability, and user experience. The results also suggest improvements to make the simulator suitable for all types of users, regardless of their characteristics such as weight and height, and also propose future studies.