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This 1970s tank simulator drives through a tiny world

Tom Scott2 HN recommenders · recommended in 2 months, 2024–2025
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explainer · general · evergreen · 2024–2025 on HN

Tom Scott visits the Swiss Military Museum to see the last surviving 1970s tank-driving simulator. It uses a real camera moving over a miniature model landscape rather than any computer graphics.

Recommended as a great example of early VR and pre-computer simulation.

4 comments from Hacker News

@anfractuosity2024-08 · in “Sega Jet Rocket: The '70s arcade game with no computer or screen”

Very cool, reminds me a bit of two Tom Scott videos (these ones do use displays though, but combined with little model worlds) * ▶ this video - 1970s tank simulator drives through a tiny world * link - Submarine simulator

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@bux932024-02 · in “A man who invented VR goggles 50 years too soon (2016)”

Using VR goggles that have no capability of viewing anything VR makes them just regular goggles though? This tank simulator from the 1970s is a great example of early VR: ▶ this video I wonder if there's anything earlier..

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@bitwize2025-09 · in “Simulating a Machine from the 80s”

The Swiss Military Museum maintains an exhibit with a 1970s tank simulator that guests can try out. It consists of a tank cockpit in a hydraulically mounted chamber that can pitch and roll with the changing terrain. The operator drives a little camera around a large diorama providing a first-person view of simulated terrain; a "foot" on the camera senses the terrain which is then translated into movements of the chamber. Apparently all of the equipment is original except the computer; as computer parts became harder to replace, eventually they just used a Raspberry Pi. ▶ this video

@jtxt2024-10 · in “Building a Game with the Real Engine”

Reminds of an early tank simulator where the driver in the cockpit saw a video feed from a camera on a gantry they were slowly driving around a diarama. ▶ this video "Real engine" for just one player at a time though.