Hi - I am trying to create an object whose weight can be adjusted dynamically in real time. The idea is for a VR game I am creating where an object (such as a crate) is pushed by the users body force. The object in the real world will sync up with the position of the same sized model in the virtual environment. Sometimes I would like the box weight to be easy to push and other times I would like the box weight to be harder to push...hence the dynamic weight.
I was wondering if there are any pre-made arduino controllable components for such a job (either controlled friction, controlled wheel brakes, industrial actuators or any other technology that would work ) ?
Weight is the force of gravity acting on the mass of the object. The mass isn't readily varied.
You are talking about what is known more widely as force-feedback. Modulating the friction force
would indeed be a way to do it, and electromagnetic braking suggests itself (although that doesn't
work at low speeds). There have been several projects on these forums about controlling the electromagnetic
brakes on exercise bikes, that might be a starting point.
Also you could have gear-motors passively driven from castor wheels and electromagnetically
brake the motors via a PWM'd MOSFET - if you detected the speed you could compensate the
amount of braking to the speed the box is pushed.
MarkT - thanks for the info - sorry for taking a month to get back.
I've decided to use a wheelbarrow with a mountain bike wheel & hydraulic disc brake attached.
I'm looking at either:
Getting a stepper motor to simulate a human hand grasp/release on the brake lever
or
Using an actuator to control the disc friction on the disc itself.
I can't find anything relevant on the forum - any ideas ?!