Diseño del mecanismo de un simulador ecuestre

Abstract

The object of this paper is the design of a simple mechanism that could transmit the sensations of a horseman when riding. The mechanism will have a flat movement and will be able to simulate the different natural ways of a horse (gait, trot and gallop). When moving, a horse uses movements which coordinate the four extremities, head and body. In this study, only the body of the animal will be considered because it is through the body that the movements of a horse are transferred to the rider. To analyse the sensations of the movements in a horse, two points have been taken into account: withers and back, where the saddle is located. These two points are regarded as a “rigid solid”. The curves of movements will be obtained using a video recording of a horse in real conditions (in a riding track). This recording will provide us with the data necessary to design our mechanism (positions, velocities, accelerations . . .). The graphs of movements will be obtained by means of some specific multimedia software, and with the filmed shots, previously digitalized, the points of displacement (withers and back) will be obtained. An analysis of these points and the curves of movements should result in the design of a “3D model” of the horse, to which some servo actuators (motorized cylinders) will be added to simulate the movements of the horse.