Usually, we expect to see sim-racing manufacturers unpacking their new hardware at highly specialized events such as FS Weekend. But this year, MOZA Racing has chosen the aisles of the GDC (Game Developers Conference), taking place from March 9 to 13 at San Francisco’s Moscone Centerto get an ambitious message across. No longer content to simply recreate the track, the manufacturer wants to design a hardware and software ecosystem capable of teaching you how to drive.

Racing Lab AI: learning by force feedback

The most compelling new feature at the show was undoubtedly the Racing Lab AI Coach. Until now, the quest for the last tenth invariably involved the tedious analysis of acceleration curves on MoTeC or Garage61. MOZA proposes to bypass this analytical stage and speak directly to our bodies.

Their algorithm, trained via Reinforcement Learning to match the times of professional drivers, doesn’t limit itself to visual indications. It physically interacts with the motors of your Direct Drive base and active pedals. By dynamically modifying the resistance of the steering wheel or the firmness of the brake pedal(Load Cell), the AI guides you in real time. It forces your hands and feet to apply the right angle or pressure at the exact moment. Rather than a simple telemetry tool, it’s a veritable muscle memory sculptor.

The HMA150 reinvents dynamic chassis integration

To accompany this artificial intelligence, MOZA is tackling the very closed motion market with the HMA150 Haptic Motion Actuator. This 100% in-house-designed 4-actuator system offers 3 degrees of freedom (Pitch, Roll, Heave).

Its major advantage over the competition? Its architecture. MOZA has succeeded in integrating all control and power electronics (48V low voltage) directly into the aluminum structure of the cylinders. No need for a gigantic 220V industrial rack behind the chassis, the installation promises to be remarkably uncluttered.

In terms of performance, the HMA150 has nothing to be ashamed of when compared with the industry’s heavyweights: 150 mm of travel, 300 mm/s of speed, and an acceleration capacity of 1g for a 250 kg load (the system can handle up to 350 kg at 0.45g). Equipped with a 600 MHz processor and a 21-bit encoder, the device delivers haptic vibrations at 150 Hz, a critical threshold for reproducing tire slip or vibrator roughness with the highest fidelity.

A telemetry-free ecosystem

Finally, MOZA has unveiled Motion Manager, a utility designed to make the most of your dynamic platform. This software is capable of generating physical feedback by analyzing in real time the audio and video streams of games lacking official telemetry. A daring software pirouette that considerably expands the uses of this type of hardware.

With these announcements, MOZA confirms its determination to master the entire immersion chain. I can’t wait to see if the responsiveness of the HMA150 actuators and the relevance of the haptic coaching live up to these impressive data sheets. So, would you be prepared to let an AI dictate the hardness of your steering wheel to correct your trajectories?