Looking for gimbal

[MG2R]

OK, this is not to be used for photo/video, but I rekon you video gear nuts (where's Brandon when you need him? ) might point me in the right direction.

 

I'm looking for a 2DOF gimbal which can support about 1kg (~2.2 lbs) of weight. I'm thinking of mounting a Xenon (HID) projector on my motorcycle and have it auto-level itself whilst cornering. Not sure if feasible, but a gimbal recommendation would be awesome

 

EDIT: people that are new to this thread: it has kinda derailed a bit. Synopsis: yes, I know my plan is a bit rediculous and is probably not realistic, but I'm still looking for a somewhat affordable 1DOF or 2DOF gimbal which supports 1kg of weight. Gazer MD1 and MD2 are looking promising but seem to be unreleased yet and will probably expensive as all hell... Feel free to post suggestions.

Edited August 17, 2015 by MG2R

[Syntaxvgm]

Looking to accomplish this? 

but with a lamp? 

[MG2R]

Looking to accomplish this? 

but with a lamp? 

pretty much

[Syntaxvgm]

pretty much

forgive me for being rude, but what will that accomplish exactly? Are you looking more for vertical stabilization to prevent the light "bouncing"? Is that a problem on bikes?  

[ShadowCaptain]

OK, this is not to be used for photo/video, but I rekon you video gear nuts (where's Brandon when you need him? ) might point me in the right direction.

 

I'm looking for a 2DOF gimbal which can support about 1kg (~2.2 lbs) of weight. I'm thinking of mounting a Xenon (HID) projector on my motorcycle and have it auto-level itself whilst cornering. Not sure if feasible, but a gimbal recommendation would be awesome

 

Ronin M ?

 

Wait mounting a projector? what are you trying to achieve? 

[ALwin]

I'm really really curious why you want to use a gimbal to mount lights.

[MG2R]

Full explanation is quite lenghty and technical. At work now, so can't spare the time. Will update this when I get home

[ShadowCaptain]

Full explanation is quite lenghty and technical. At work now, so can't spare the time. Will update this when I get home

 

I can wait

[Bsmith]

Full explanation is quite lenghty and technical. At work now, so can't spare the time. Will update this when I get home

I'm interested to hear, can't wait to hear/read more ij a attempt to help with this "interesting"(crazy) idea/question.

[MG2R]

OK, F it, I'll type it out.

 

So, in order to improve the lighting on my motorcycle (nighttime driving is a thing), I want to fit it with a HID/Xenon headlight. Now, these things function best (read: only usably) with projectors, instead of the standard reflectors halogen lights are typically equiped with. For those who don't know the difference:

 

The projector is used to get a very clean and defined cut-off line for your low beams, as to not blind oncoming traffic. The cutoff looks like this (RHD):

 

On halogen reflectors, the cutoff usually is way less clean with more spillage, meaning more blinding to oncommers. Not ideal at all.

 

Now, last night, I noticed another issue: because motorcycles lean over when cornering, the low beam cutoff basically stops your headlight from illuminating the inside of the corner (where you most need lighting. Moreover, on the outside of the corner, the light pattern is raised, effectively turning it into a high beam which blinds oncommers in a right side turn (RHD).

 

Since fitting a projector will probably require me to get an entirely new headlight anyways (my current is too small to accomodate a decent one), I figured I might as well go all out on this one and try to mitigate the leaning issue as well. By placing the headlight on a sort of gimbal/gyro, it could keep itself level at all times, thereby illuminating further into the corner without blinding oncomers.

 

Chances are this is going to be rediculously expensive, and probably not really feasible, but I do want to try

 

SO: I'd need a gimbal/gyro thing to mount an HID projector, which looks a bit like this:

(will probably not be that exact one, but it's a good example)

Edited August 17, 2015 by MG2R
added "SO"

[MG2R]

Just found the Jobo MD-1 and Gazer MD2. Both seem interesting. Would require some heavy modding though, waterproofing might be an issue too.

[ShadowCaptain]

Pretty sure its illegal (at least here it is)

[MG2R]

Pretty sure its illegal (at least here it is)

Don't know, and don't really care about it. I'm improving lighting conditions for both me and oncomers, thereby improving my safety. That's all I care about.

 

That gazer seems to be unreleased as of yet. Also, gimbals are rediculously expensive, it seems...

[ShadowCaptain]

Don't know, and don't really care about it. I'm improving lighting conditions for both me and oncomers, thereby improving my safety. That's all I care about.

 

That gazer seems to be unreleased as of yet. Also, gimbals are rediculously expensive, it seems...

 

yes gimbals are very expensive

 

Its not though... oncomers are blinded by the insanely bright lights, thats why the new laser lights detect on coming cars and darken the light towards on coming traffic

 

You could actually cause accidents they are that bright

[MG2R]

yes gimbals are very expensive

 

Its not though... oncomers are blinded by the insanely bright lights, thats why the new laser lights detect on coming cars and darken the light towards on coming traffic

 

You could actually cause accidents they are that bright

That's what the low-beam cut-off is for, it makes sure only the surface is lit when using the low beam Xenons are perfectly legal, if equiped with proper projection equipment.

 

I'm actually reducing the chance of oncomers being blinded: in a right hand curve (on RHD roads, for UK it's a left turn), the cut-off line on the left (UK: right) is lifted up, because of the motorcycle leaning to the right (UK: left); this blinds oncomers. By putting the light on a gimbal-like thing, the cut-off line stays level to the ground, and oncomers aren't blinded. Ever.

Edited August 17, 2015 by MG2R
a -> proper

[ShadowCaptain]

That's what the low-beam cut-off is for, it makes sure only the surface is lit when using the low beam Xenons are perfectly legal, if equiped with proper projection equipment.

 

I'm actually reducing the chance of oncomers being blinded: in a right hand curve (on RHD roads, for UK it's a left turn), the cut-off line on the left (UK: right) is lifted up, because of the motorcycle leaning to the right (UK: left); this blinds oncomers. By putting the light on a gimbal-like thing, the cut-off line stays level to the ground, and oncomers aren't blinded. Ever.

 

I dunno how you would mount a gimbal there, there are cheaper ones, but I am not sure its massiveness feasible it is without costing hundreds or thousands of dollars

 

You would have to fully waterproof them too, since gimbals motors are all exposed to the elements

[MG2R]

I dunno how you would mount a gimbal there, there are cheaper ones, but I am not sure its massiveness feasible it is without costing hundreds or thousands of dollars

 

You would have to fully waterproof them too, since gimbals motors are all exposed to the elements

Yes, that's why I came to the photo/video forum, I figured guys here might have an idea on (waterproof) gimbals. I can't imagine professional video guys don't shoot in rain. Then again, professional video guys pay professional video prices

[ShadowCaptain]

Yes, that's why I came to the photo/video forum, I figured guys here might have an idea on (waterproof) gimbals. I can't imagine professional video guys don't shoot in rain. Then again, professional video guys pay professional video prices

 

yeah thats what I mean, you will pay like $15k , they are using $70k cameras with $50k lenses

[MG2R]

yeah thats what I mean, you will pay like $15k , they are using $70k cameras with $50k lenses

Yup. That's kinda outside of my price range

 

Well, I'll keep looking either way. must be something out there which I can use... 1DOF would actually suffice. 2DOF simply would've been extra fancy.

[Speakerator]

You could have a closer look into how BMW does it with their latest (?) R 1150 GS. They do not only integrated Xenon beams with automatically adjusted lenses but some kind of adaptive cornering light. If i remember correctly, there were multiple aftermarket kits of questionable legality availlable. Not saying you should get a kit, but it could serve as a nice input. 

 

[MG2R]

You could have a closer look into how BMW does it with their latest (?) R 1150 GS. They do not only integrated Xenon beams with automatically adjusted lenses but some kind of adaptive cornering light. If i remember correctly, there were multiple aftermarket kits of questionable legality availlable. Not saying you should get a kit, but it could serve as a nice input. 

Would be nice. Would not even come close to fitting on my naked bike though A hi/lo combo headlight, that's about what I can fit.

[Speakerator]

Would be nice. Would not even come close to fitting on my naked bike though A hi/lo combo headlight, that's about what I can fit.

 

Well, it would look... interesting. Though they simply immitated the functionality, not the design. (Though one could probably make a hella nice naked bike out of the BMW R.... That inline-6-engine...  :rolleyes: ) Different question, regular ellipsoid headlights with blue-ish bulbs aren't an option? They are legal here in Germany so I guess they have to be legal pretty much legal anywhere else (our rules regarding customization suck^^) and they do not require any additional adaption. Fitted with something like Philips Blue Vision, they should get pretty close to real xenon, I had them myself for quite a while.

[MG2R]

Fitted with something like Philips Blue Vision, they should get pretty close to real xenon, I had them myself for quite a while.

I'm not doing this for looks, I'm doing this to increase the lighting conditions at night. I could care less about what colour my light is

 

EDIT, but Xenons do look better

[ShadowCaptain]

I'm not doing this for looks, I'm doing this to increase the lighting conditions at night. I could care less about what colour my light is

 

EDIT, but Xenons do look better

 

dude they are not blue to be cool, its because the plasma they emit between the electrodes gives out blue light

 

They are super bright

[MG2R]

dude they are not blue to be cool, its because the plasma they emit between the electrodes gives out blue light

 

They are super bright

Actually, the plasma gives out white light at 4300-5000 K

 

I know what Xenons are. I have a background in physics. The suggested Philips Blue Vision bulbs are halogen, coated with a blue film that makes them *look* like Xenons. Practical implication is that these are less bright than a non-coated halogen, and thus WAY less bright than Xenons.

 

EDIT: was stressing I wouldn't go for blue-coated halogens because I want better light output, which Xenon will give me.