Physics [split from network thread]

[reece146]

Here's how I understand the suspension hinges. The suspension does not follow a straight up-and-down path. Instead it follows a curve. This curve is defined by the hinge point indirectly. It's as if the wheel itself was attached by a straight rod of some kind from the hinge point to the center of the wheel, and the hinge allows up-down movement. Take for example the front wheels, which usually have a hinge point behind them. So if the wheel moves up, since its attached to the hinge behind it, it's also going to move towards the back of the car a little along the curve. The big difficulty in this is predicting how the car will react under this movement. I've found that the hinge points can be manipulated to induce understeer or oversteer, but it's impossible to predict or measure...I must rely on testing or the "butt dyno" which of course is really hard since my butt isn't even really in the car...

If it is as you said above, in Vamos we are truly modelling the the instant center of the suspension and through implication the roll center.

Given that, VDrift has enough in its model to have a "pretty damn good" suspension model without incorporating other stuff. The only caveat I can think of is the dynamic modelling and the showing of the suspension movement in an open wheel car is not there since we aren't modelling that.

I'll put together a primer on ICs, RCs and roll axis for the wiki.