Load cells are traditionally found in industrial areas such as manufacturing, food processing, large industrial plants etc. As load cell technology evolved the strain gauge method has been super-ceded by better, more efficient and more sensitive capacitive load cells which are non-contact based and have much higher levels of pressure measurement while at the same time increase shock and surge level abilities. 

 

As Load cells have developed and become more sensitive, accurate and stable they are finding their way into more and more areas of our lives. Here we take a look at how they are now being used in gaming simulators for things such as pedals and other resistance based input devices, specifically a racing car simulator.

 

Searching ebay you can now find the plans to purchase a DIY kit to build your own home mini racing car simulator. The interesting part here is how the pedals can benefit from the latest load cell technology. Moving away from traditional strain gauge load cell systems, a cap active non contact load cell helps create a perfect mechanism for measuring the pressure applied to accelerator and brake pedals. Fast, efficient and simple, with a single cable, you can create the perfect racing experience with relatively little tech-know how but huge on experience and playability.

 

These pedals don't have to be created from scratch, from as little as $500 you can purchase a load cell pedal kit perfect for any racing car simulator. One major benefit of their life time use is that as the kits are upgraded and developed the pedals can be re-used over and over without requiring factory re-calibration. The pedals can be inverted just like a real car as opposed to the more standard floor raised pedals giving a more life like experience. The load cell powered pedal can also change the pressure required to push depending on the speed or even the simulated cornering.