Sim racing wheel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A sim racing wheel, also known as racing wheel, is a control device for use in racing games, racing simulators, and driving simulators. They are usually packaged with a large paddle styled as a steering wheel, along with a set of pedals for the accelerator, brake, and clutch, as well as transmission controls. An analog wheel and pedal set such as this allows the user to accurately manipulate steering angle and pedal control that is required to properly manage a simulated car, as opposed to digital control such as a keyboard. The relatively large range of motion further allows the user to more accurately apply the controls. Racing wheels have been developed for use with arcade games, game consoles, personal computers, and also for professional driving simulators for race drivers.

History

Racing wheels have long been a feature of arcade racing games, with a steering wheel typically part of the arcade cabinet. International Mutoscope Reel Company's electro‑mechanical (EM) game Drive Mobile (1941) featured a steering wheel.^[1] Kasco's EM game Indy 500 (1968) featured a racing wheel and accelerator pedal.^[2]^[3] Atari's Gran Trak 10 (1974) was the first video game with a steering wheel.^[4]^[5] Sega's Out Run (1986) featured a hydraulic motion simulator cabinet with a force feedback racing wheel, a stick shift, and acceleration and brake pedals.^[6]^[7]^[8]

In the home PC game market, racing wheels began appearing in the 1990s. One of the earliest racing wheels for the PC mass market was the Thrustmaster Formula T1, released in 1994.^[9]^[10] It had no force feedback, only some form of spring-based centering resistance proportional to the steering angle.^[11] Two of the earliest FFB wheels for the consumer PC market were the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel,^[12] released in 1997, and the Logitech Wingman Formula Force.

Force feedback

Force feedback sim wheels have motors to simulate steering kickback. Racing wheels started off as simple plastic wheels hooked up to a rotary potentiometer, which were sprung by springs or bungees. These spring-based wheels had a reactive torque that increased proportionally only to the steering angle, without regard for the simulated vehicle dynamics.^[13]

Eventually manufacturers began to use electric motors in the controllers, in place of springs, in order to achieve a level of force feedback (sometimes abbreviated FFB), first seen in Microsoft's Sidewinder wheel. At first this technology simply provided the centering force and other artificial effects such as shaking the wheel in a crash or other vibrations. However, as driving simulations have evolved, their physics engines have become more elaborate,^{[citation needed]} allowing also for linking the force feedback close to the simulated vehicle dynamics of the in-game physics.^[13] This allows the user to truly feel what forces go through the steering rack, instead of just artificial effects, and genuinely enhance the realism of the game.^{[citation needed]} A fundamental factor for an adequate subjective steering-feel and perception of drivability from a force feedback wheel, is the transfer function from steering torque to steering angle.^[14]^[15]

In 2015, a preliminary comparison of gear-driven and direct-drive wheels in the 0–30 Hz frequency range, for a study on hard real-time multibody simulation and high-fidelity steering wheel force feedback, concluded that direct-drive wheels are preferable.^[16]

Buttons

Sim racing wheels, like real-world racing steering wheels, can have many buttons. Some examples are cruise control or pit-lane limiter for the pit lane, button for flashing lights, windscreen wipers, radio communication with the team, adjustments to the racing setup (such as brake balance, brake migration, differential braking (entry, mid+, exit, hi-speed; to make use of torque effectively at different points in a corner^[17]), traction control (amplitude and sensitivity), anti-roll bar adjustment (front and rear), engine program (strat mode/ engine mode to get extra power or conserve fuel and engine life), engine braking (the engine's throttle or absence of throttle when there is no input from the gas pedal, i.e. whether the engine contributes to the car slowing down or is keeping its speed), etc.), seeing sideways or in the mirror, or to browse various menus (for example using a 7-way «funky switch»).

Comparison of racing wheels

Subsections by motor type: no FFB, gear- or belt-driven, and direct-drive wheels.

Wheel rims


Manufacturer + Product	Year	Diameter (mm)	Weight (no QR)	Weight (with QR)	Material	Other features
Fanatec CSL Elite Steering Wheel McLaren GT3 V2^[18]		300		1090 g (QR1 Lite) 1280 g (QR1) 1412 g (Metal QR2)^[19]
Simagic GT Neo		300	1036 g ^[20]	1493 g (NRG-style QR)^[19]	Carbon Fiber Composite
Moza KS		300		1227 g^[21]^[19]
MOZA CS Steering Wheel		330		2420 g ^[22]
MOZA FSR Formula Wheel		280		1539 g ^[22]		Screen
Moza GS	2022	300		1612 ^[22]
VNM GT Steering Wheel V1		300		1600 g^[23]	Aluminum
GSI X-29		290	1130 g (2 Paddles) 1250 g (4 paddles)		Aluminum
GSI Formula Pro Elite V2		300	1510 g
Bavarian SimTec Alpha		295	1280 hub, 2 shifters ^[24] 1350 hub, 4 shifters and dual clutch		aluminium frame
ASCHER-RACING McLAREN ARTURA ULTIMATE		300	1520 g ^[25]			Screen
Ascher Racing McLaren Artura Pro		300	1520 g ^[26]
ASCHER-RACING F28-SC V2		285	1000 g
Ascher -Racing F64 V3		285		1787 g ^[27]
GRID by Sim Lab Porsche 911 RSR	2022	300	2050 g ^[28]			Screen
SimLab Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering	2024	280	1129 g (no hub) 1240 g (with hub)			Screen
Rexing Mayaris 2	2024	290	1150 g			Screen
VRS DirectForce Lite Formula Wheel		285	1100 g (no hub, 2 no clutches) ^[29]
VRS® DirectForce® Pro Formula Steering Wheel		285	1279 g ^[30]	1530 g ^[29]
Cube Controls CSX3		282	1200 g (with hub, 6 paddles)^[31]
Cube Controls F-PRO	2022	282	1103 g (with hub and clutch paddles) ^[32]			Screen
Cube Controls F-CORE	2023	290	915 g (no hub, no clutch paddles) ^[33] 1074 g (with hub and clutch paddles) ^[34]^[33]		carbon-fiber front plate, aluminium main body
Cube Controls F-CORE EVO	2025	290	895 g	1558 g (clutch paddles, Simucube QR) ^[35]	carbon-fiber front plate, aluminium main body

No FFB

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Atomic	Lamborghini Gallardo Evo Racing Wheel		270	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
BRD	Sim Pro Wheel, Speed7 Pedals	(<=2013)	290	No	Optional	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	Formula T1	1994		No
Thrustmaster	Formula T2	1995^[36]		No
Thrustmaster	Ferrari Wireless Gt F430 Scuderia Edition Cockpit		270	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	Ferrari GT 3-in-1		180	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Microsoft	SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel	1999	240	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
ECCI	Trackstar 6000 Series Wheel/Pedals		270	No ^[a]^[37]	Optional	Paddles	"Pressure Modulated"	Standing
ECCI	Trackstar 7000 Force Feedback		900	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
Thomas SuperWheel	TSW Wheels, Pedals		720	No	Optional	Paddles, Sequential	Load Cell optional	Standing
A1	A1 GT Wheel		500	No ^[b]	N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a

Gear- and/or belt-driven

Earlier products

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB mechanism	Wheel detaches from the base	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Fanatec	Le Mans SE		?	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Fanatec	Speedster 2		?	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Fanatec	Speedster 3	(<=2005)^[38]	210^[38]	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Guillemot	Race Force-Feedback^[39]	(<=2000)		Yes
InterAct	FX Racing Wheel Review	(<=1999)		Yes
InterAct	V4 Force Feedback^[40]			Yes
Thrustmaster	Ferrari 458 Italia		270	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	Ferrari F430		270	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	RGT FFB Clutch ^[c]		270	Yes		Yes	Paddles, Sequential	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	FGT 2-in-1 Force Feedback		180	Yes		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Saitek	R4 Force Wheel^[41]^[42]	(<=1999)^[43]		Yes
Saitek	R440	2004	180	Yes	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Hanging
Saitek	R660GT	2007	180	Yes	No	No	Paddles, Sequential	Potentiometer	Hanging
Microsoft	Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel	2006	270	Yes	No	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Defender	Extreme Turbo (PRO)		180	Yes		No	Sequential	N/a	Standing

Gear-driven

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB mechanism	Wheel detaches from the base	Wheel cover material	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Microsoft	Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel	1997	240	Gears^[44]			No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Act Labs	Force RS (Force Racing System)	(<=2000)^[45]	270	Gears^[44]			No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Formula Force		180	Yes	No		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Formula Force EX	2005	180	Gears	No	Plastic + Rubber	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	DriveFX	2006	180	Gears	No	Plastic + Rubber	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Driving Force EX	2006	180	Gears	No	Plastic + Rubber	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Wingman Formula Force Wheel^[44]	(1998)^[46]	180	Steel belts and motors^[44]	No
Logitech	GT Force	2001^[47]	180	Yes
Logitech	MOMO Force (Red MOMO)	2004^[48]	270	Yes	No		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	MOMO Racing Force	2005^[48]	240	Yes	No		No	Paddles, Sequential	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Driving Force Pro		900	Yes	No		No	Paddles, Sequential	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	Driving Force GT	2007^[47]	900	Yes	No		No	Paddles, Sequential	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	G25	2006^[49]	900	Gear-driven (with straight-cut gears)^[50]	No		Yes	Paddles, H-shift, Sequential	Potentiometer	Standing
Fanatec	Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel	2009^[51]		Gear-driven^[51]					Potentiometer
Logitech	G27	2010	900	(helical) gear-driven^[50]	No	Leather^[52]	Yes	Paddles, H-shift	Potentiometer	Standing
Mad Catz	Pro Racing Force Feedback Wheel	2014	900	(helical) gear-driven^[53]	Yes	Suede leather^[53]	No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	G920	2015^[54]	900	Yes	No		Yes	Paddles, H-shift	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	G29	2015^[54]	900	Gear-driven^[55]	No		Yes	Paddles, H-shift	Potentiometer	Standing
Logitech	G923 TRUEFORCE Sim Racing Wheel	2020^[54]	900	Dual-motor geared force feedback

Hybrid gear and belt-driven

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB mechanism	Wheel detaches from the base	Wheel cover material	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type	Pedal Unit
Thrustmaster	T150 RS	2015	1080	Hybrid	No		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	TMX	2015	900	Hybrid	No		No	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	T150 Pro	2017	1080	Hybrid^[56]^[57]	No		Yes	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing	T3PA
Thrustmaster	TMX Pro	2017	900	Hybrid	No		Yes	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing	T3PA
Thrustmaster	T248	2021	900	Hybrid^[58]	No	Plastic, Fake Leather	Yes	Paddles	Contactless, Magnetic	Standing	T3PM^[59]
Thrustmaster	T128	2022^[60]	900	Hybrid^[61]	No	Plastic	No	Paddles	Contactless, Magnetic	Standing	T2PM

Belt-driven

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB mechanism	Wheel detaches from the base	Wheel cover material	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Fanatec ^[d]	Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel	(<=2009)^[62]	900	Belt-driven			N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	Porsche 911 GT2 Wheel	(<2011)^[63]	900	belt-driven Mabuchi 550 motor^[63]		Alcantara	N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	Forza Motorsport CSR Elite Wheel	(<=2011)	900	Yes			N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	Forza Motorsport CSR Wheel	(<=2011)^[63]	900	belt-driven Mabuchi 550 motor^[63]			N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel	2011^[64]	900	belt-driven^[64]			Yes	Paddles, H-Shift	N/a	Standing
Fanatec ^[d]	Porsche 911 GT3 RS Wheel	(<=2011)^[64]	900	Belt-driven^[64]			N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec	CSL Elite Wheel	2017^[65]	1080-degree^[65]	Yes, single non-ribbed belt-drive,^[65] up to 6 Nm torque^[66]			N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	ClubSport Wheel (CSW) v.1	(<=2013)	900	Single belt drive (Single gear toothed belt drive), brushless servo motor^[67]	Yes		N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	ClubSport Wheel (CSW) V2.5		900	dual belt-drive, up to 8 Nm torque^[66]	Yes		N/a	Paddles	N/a	N/a
Thrustmaster	T300 RS^[68]	2014^[69]^[70]	1080	Dual-belt-driven,^[55]^[71] brushless motor, hall sensor with 65k positions resolution^[72]	Yes^[73]	Rubber^[52]	Yes	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing
Thrustmaster	T500 RS	2011^[74]	1080	Brushed motors^[71]	Yes^[73]		Yes	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing/Hanging
Thrustmaster	TS-PC Racer	2017^[75]	1080	dual-belt-drive,^[76] brushless motor (about 6 Nm torque), hall sensor with 65k positions resolution^[77]	Yes	Pseudo-alcantara^[77]^[78]			N/a	N/a

Direct-drive bases or wheel + base combos

Other types / uncategorized

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Frex	Simwheel ^[e] V1^[79]	2008^[80]	1080	Yes	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
VPP	Wheel, Hyperreal Pedals	(<= 2006)	270	Yes	Optional	Paddles	Potentiometer	Standing

Pedals

Other features by which pedals can be compared are whether they can be inverted (hanging pedals), build material (plastic, aluminum), adjustability (position, pressure, travel), measured pressure, travel length, sensor resolution.^[81]

Potentiometer-based and magnetic brake

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Sensor Resolution	Pedal Type
Fanatec ^[d]	Standard Porche Pedals		N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer	8 bit^[82]	Standing
Fanatec ^[d]	CSR Pedals	2011^[83]	N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer	8 bit^[82]	Standing/Hanging
A1	A1 GT Pedals		N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer		Standing
Act Labs	RS Pedals		N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer		Standing
Redline	Pedals		N/a	N/a	Optional	N/a	Potentiometer		Hanging
Thrustmaster	T3PA	2014^[84]	N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer		Hanging
Thrustmaster	T3PA-Pro	2015^[85]	N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Potentiometer		Hanging
Thrustmaster	T3PM	2021^[86]	N/a	N/a	Yes	N/a	Contactless, Magnetic	10 bit^[59]	Standing

Loadcell brake

Manufacturer	Product	Year	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB	Clutch	Brake Sensor	Sensor resolution	Pedal Type
Fanatec	Porsche Clubsport Pedals	2008^[87]	N/a	Yes^[87]	Yes	Load Cell		Standing/Hanging
Fanatec ^[d]	ClubSport Pedals	2009^[51]	N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell	10 bit^[82]	Standing
Thomas Super Wheel	TSW Load Cell Pedals	2010^[88]	N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Standing
Fanatec ^[d]	CSR Elite Pedals	2011^[82]	N/a	No^[87]	Yes	Load Cell	10 bit^[87]	Standing/Hanging
Fanatec	Clubsport Pedal V2	2013^[89]	N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Standing
Derek Speare Designs (DSD)	Wilwood Load Cell Pedals	2014^[90]	N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Standing
Fanatec	Clubsport Pedal V3	2015^[91]	N/a	Yes^[91]	Yes	Load Cell	12 bit^[91]	Standing
Fanatec	CSL Elite Pedals	2016^[92]	N/a	No	Optional	Optional Load Cell upgrade		Standing
Frex	Sim2Pedal		N/a	N/a	No	Hydraulic w/ Load Cell (HydroBrake)		Optional
Frex	Sim3Pedal		N/a	N/a	Yes	Hydraulic w/ Load Cell (HydroBrake)		Optional
A1	A1 Pro Pedals		N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Optional
CST (Cannon Simulation Technologies)	Pedals		N/a	N/a	Optional	"Pressure Sensing"		Hanging
REVZALOT	P36 Pedals		N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Standing
Thrustmaster	T-LCM^[81]	2020^[93]	N/a	No	Yes	Load Cell	16 bit	Standing
Simworx	Pro GT V3^[81]		N/a	N/a	Yes	Load Cell		Standing
MOZA Racing	SR-P Pedals	2022^[94]	N/a	Yes	Yes	Load Cell	16 bit	Standing

Shifters

Manufacturer	Product	Max Rotation (Deg)	FFB	Clutch	Shifter	Brake Sensor	Pedal Type
Fanatec ^[d]	Porsche Shifter	N/a	N/a	N/a	H-shift, Sequential	N/a	N/a
Fanatec ^[d]	CSR Shifter	N/a	N/a	N/a	H-shift, Sequential	N/a	N/a
Frex	HShift+	N/a	N/a	N/a	H-shift	N/a	N/a
Frex	Shift+	N/a	N/a	N/a	Sequential	N/a	N/a
A1	GearBox	N/a	N/a	N/a	H-Shift	N/a	N/a
Act Labs	RS Shifter	N/a	N/a	N/a	H-shift	N/a	N/a
Logitech	G Driving Force Shifter				H-Shift
Thrustmaster	Th8a	—	—	—	H-Shift (7+1)	—	—
Thrustmaster	Th8s	—	—	—	H-Shift (7+1)	—	—
MOZA Racing	HGP Shifter	—	—	—	H-Shift (7+1)	—	—
MOZA Racing	SGP Shifter	—	—	—	Sequential	—	—
SIMAGIC	DS-8X Dual Mode Shifter	—	—	—	H-Shift 6+2+R, Sequential	—	—

Notes

^ Utilizes fluid dampening.
^ Future FFB addon possible.
^ Includes two separate analog paddle axis.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Components may be packaged together in some cases and sold as a bundle.
^ Includes hub mechanism only; wheel and adapters not included.

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^ "Thrustmaster T248 Wheel Kit Review, Sim Racing Garage". YouTube. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Thrustmaster T3PM". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^ "T128: The Force Feedback racing wheel to get started in racing simulation". Thrustmaster website. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^ "Thrustmaster T128 Wheel Kit Review, Sim Racing Garage". YouTube. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^ Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel – Review
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Fanatec Forza Motorsport CSR wheel and Elite pedals review". Engadget. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Fanatec Porsche 911 Carrera Wheel – Review, virtualr.net
^ ^a ^b ^c Williams, Andrew (1 January 1970). "Fanatec CSL Elite racing wheel review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b Fanatec ClubSport V2.5 review, at techradar.com
^ CSL Elite Wheel Base V1.1 at fanatec.com
^ Thrustmaster T300RS GT Review, Sim Racing Garage, Feb 17, 2018
^ T300 RS: THE FIRST OFFICIAL FORCE FEEDBACK WHEEL FOR PLAYSTATION®4, Thrustmaster official Press release, Los Angeles, June 10, 2014
^ T300 RS, the first force feedback racing wheel for the Playstation®4 System !, Thrustmaster official Press release, New York, 09.15.2014
^ ^a ^b Andrew Williams Thrustmaster T300 RS Review, trustedreviews.com, October 27, 2016
^ Thrustmaster Racing Wheels Benchmarking, thrustmaster.com
^ ^a ^b Thrustmaster T300 RS review, from isrtv.com, beracer.com
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^ Matej Inside Sim Racing Reviews Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer, January 9, 2017 (updated Jan 24, 2018)
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^ ^a ^b Josh Walrath THRUSTMASTER TS-PC WHEEL REVIEW: A GENUINE LEAP, pcper.com, Feb 27, 2018
^ GamerMuscleVideos THRUSTMASTER TS PC RACER WHEEL REVIEW, Dec 13, 2016
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^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Fanatec CSR Elite Pedal Review, Nov 22, 2011, Inside Sim Racing
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A sim racing wheel, also known as racing wheel, is a control device for use in racing games, racing simulators, and driving simulators. They are usually packaged with a large paddle styled as a steering wheel, along with a set of pedals for the accelerator, brake, and clutch, as well as transmission controls. An analog wheel and pedal set such as this allows the user to accurately manipulate steering angle and pedal control that is required to properly manage a simulated car, as opposed to digital control such as a keyboard. The relatively large range of motion further allows the user to more accurately apply the controls. Racing wheels have been developed for use with arcade games, game consoles, personal computers, and also for professional driving simulators for race drivers.

History

Racing wheels have long been a feature of arcade racing games, with a steering wheel typically part of the arcade cabinet. International Mutoscope Reel Company's electro‑mechanical (EM) game Drive Mobile (1941) featured a steering wheel.^[1] Kasco's EM game Indy 500 (1968) featured a racing wheel and accelerator pedal.^[2]^[3] Atari's Gran Trak 10 (1974) was the first video game with a steering wheel.^[4]^[5] Sega's Out Run (1986) featured a hydraulic motion simulator cabinet with a force feedback racing wheel, a stick shift, and acceleration and brake pedals.^[6]^[7]^[8]

In the home PC game market, racing wheels began appearing in the 1990s. One of the earliest racing wheels for the PC mass market was the Thrustmaster Formula T1, released in 1994.^[9]^[10] It had no force feedback, only some form of spring-based centering resistance proportional to the steering angle.^[11] Two of the earliest FFB wheels for the consumer PC market were the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel,^[12] released in 1997, and the Logitech Wingman Formula Force.

Force feedback

Force feedback sim wheels have motors to simulate steering kickback. Racing wheels started off as simple plastic wheels hooked up to a rotary potentiometer, which were sprung by springs or bungees. These spring-based wheels had a reactive torque that increased proportionally only to the steering angle, without regard for the simulated vehicle dynamics.^[13]

Eventually manufacturers began to use electric motors in the controllers, in place of springs, in order to achieve a level of force feedback (sometimes abbreviated FFB), first seen in Microsoft's Sidewinder wheel. At first this technology simply provided the centering force and other artificial effects such as shaking the wheel in a crash or other vibrations. However, as driving simulations have evolved, their physics engines have become more elaborate,^{[citation needed]} allowing also for linking the force feedback close to the simulated vehicle dynamics of the in-game physics.^[13] This allows the user to truly feel what forces go through the steering rack, instead of just artificial effects, and genuinely enhance the realism of the game.^{[citation needed]} A fundamental factor for an adequate subjective steering-feel and perception of drivability from a force feedback wheel, is the transfer function from steering torque to steering angle.^[14]^[15]

In 2015, a preliminary comparison of gear-driven and direct-drive wheels in the 0–30 Hz frequency range, for a study on hard real-time multibody simulation and high-fidelity steering wheel force feedback, concluded that direct-drive wheels are preferable.^[16]

Buttons

Sim racing wheels, like real-world racing steering wheels, can have many buttons. Some examples are cruise control or pit-lane limiter for the pit lane, button for flashing lights, windscreen wipers, radio communication with the team, adjustments to the racing setup (such as brake balance, brake migration, differential braking (entry, mid+, exit, hi-speed; to make use of torque effectively at different points in a corner^[17]), traction control (amplitude and sensitivity), anti-roll bar adjustment (front and rear), engine program (strat mode/ engine mode to get extra power or conserve fuel and engine life), engine braking (the engine's throttle or absence of throttle when there is no input from the gas pedal, i.e. whether the engine contributes to the car slowing down or is keeping its speed), etc.), seeing sideways or in the mirror, or to browse various menus (for example using a 7-way «funky switch»).