When I attended the IAAPA 2012 trade show in Orlando, FL, there was a noticeable trend in new product entries for vehicle simulation products. All of them involved racing in one form or another, with a particular nod towards Formula 1 simulators. When every single company is showing off a professional grade simulator that involves racing, your thoughts soon became “oh, another one”. It probably doesn’t help with the arcade area is also full of racing games, although the bright side is at the very least there is no lack of options to choose from. I did have to question how many of those companies would still be around for the next show.
There is one name in the simulator field that stands out and has been around for a while however, that of Cruden. They develop high quality simulators that are often used by racing engineers and other automotive companies where the simulators allow for quality testing or training. We have mentioned them before as they also bring their technology to the amusement industry, offering something different for a high end location to present to their customers.
At the coming IAAPA trade event, they are going to show off their newest product, the Hexatech 3CTR. Breaking from the automotive racer trend, it has been designed to simulate a number of watercraft, although the unit will come with a powerboat cabinet as seen here in these mock-up designs:
The press release mentions that apart from the powerboat it can also be programmed to simulate even whitewater rafting and that they “spent hours with the Dutch military on its fast interceptor vessels and security boats to get the motion just right.” (tough job but somebody had to do it, right?). While they are aiming this with some amusement functionality in mind, as I mentioned it is intended for the high-end on quality and price. More details on that in the press release below.
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Cruden to make waves at IAAPA 2013
Leading simulator company will show a new powerboat simulator at IAAPA 2013; unique concept is an affordable route to realistic, accurate motion and group fun.
Cruden, the world’s leading professional motion simulation company, will make a virtual splash at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando (November 18th-22nd 2013) by inviting visitors to take the helm of its new powerboat simulator.
The Amsterdam-based world leader in professional-grade full motion simulation is adding to its traditional motorsport simulator offer and teasing visitors to its booth (no. 1051) with interactive drive and ride simulator ideas ranging from speed boats and rafts to motorcycles and helicopters.
Guests will be able to climb aboard a Hexatech 3CTR (three-seater) simulator and launch themselves into the water in a dual engine P1 powerboat or a fast interceptor military vessel, carefully modelled by Cruden’s vehicle dynamics engineers. This is the first Cruden simulator to offer interaction for three guests at once. The guest to the right of the driver controls the throttle; the person on the left is the navigator. Depending on customer requirement, the simulator can be switched to race car mode, providing a most versatile, modern attraction. The powerboat simulator is a more affordable way for attractions owners to specify a Cruden simulator; requiring fewer degrees of motion than a racing simulator, the basic 2-DOF simulator will cost around €85,000 (ex. works).
“This year, IAPPA is all about demonstrating Cruden’s intention as a serious simulator technology leader in the attractions sector, and in a number of imaginable experience settings. The sophistication of our simulators is already appreciated by race engineers for vehicle development; now we will help the market understand what that means for water or air craft and for interactive experiences incorporating multiple guest inputs, such as powerboat racing or wild water rafting,” says Frank Kalff, commercial director of Cruden.
“We have observed that of the many power- or speedboat simulators on the market, none really provide a representative feeling of speed and force feedback. We have spent hours with the Dutch military on its fast interceptor vessels and security boats to get the motion just right.”
The powerboat simulator is available with a powerboat body.
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About Cruden
Cruden is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of professional, interactive, motion-based racing simulators. The company develops the most high tech, realistic and accurate professional equipment for the top levels of international motorsport, including Formula 1, as well as vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. The same package is then made available to the global attractions market and to private individuals to create a motorsport experience which simply does not compare with ‘games’ machines on the market. Cruden’s heritage is in the development of professional simulators for the aerospace, marine and automotive industries. Originating from Fokker Aircraft Company, the company was FCS Racing Simulation before becoming Cruden in 2006. www.cruden.com
