Especially when it's not even accurate and the data he's given is decidedly one-sided towards his argument.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_actuator
Notice how linear actuator is a generic term for any piston that goes up and down, including hydraulic rams, compressed air, electro-magnetic actuators ect.
So like I said, same family, different species.
It's all irrelevant, because the point I was trying to make is that mame typically doesn't have the control board emulated. So I can get data of when the actuator is being sent a up/down signal *maybe* but the control pot or whatever mechanism used to determine what position the ram is in, must be gathered via the control pcb or something because I always get either garbage or nothing. The two common ones on arcades are worm gear types and either or compressed air/electric pistons, neither of which use stepper motors, so it's a bit hard for me to track them. The games, in all honesty, might not even have a tracking system. Much like a cnc, they might just count the turns, but without a stepped motor controlling them I don't see how. Even worse some of the games just won't send the outputs without the control pcb present. Most of the earlier sega stuff does... they don't seem to care much, but the newer games might bail.
If you read what I wrote, You might have found the relavant info that you ended up repeating anyways...
Much like a cnc, they might just count the turns, but without a stepped motor controlling them I don't see how.
Outrun uses an electric motor, that drives a worm gear shaft. Theres no Piston, nor hydraulics, nor air compressor.
Motor drives are the most common of all arcade machines motion controllers. Ive never seen any other type, and Ive been around the block.
You do not need a stepper motor to keep track of motion. You can use a simple optical wheel setup. The game can calibrate the device to the furthest extremes on startup, using limit switches. Then, the game can center the device by counting the optical disc sensor beams. The number will always be the same, because the shaft isnt going to change in any way... and even if anything got messed up... the limit switches keep it from being a problem. Worst comes to worst, and it realizes the assembly is broken, and turns itself off.
Sega often used various motor speeds. Not actual steppers. Steppers of any real power and speed are generally very expensive.. Or, at least they were, especially back 20+ yrs ago. You would need a very high amperage power supply, that probably would cost +300$ alone... just for the needed juice to move a people around 24x7, for years, without breaking down.
In order to know what your dealing with, you have to know the hardware end of things... not just the software side.
By knowing the basics of hardware, you can figure out the rest. If your clueless to mechanical hardware.. then you will never understand the software signals functionality.
Compressed air is extremely rare in any format, especially in the past. Compressors are LOUD and pressurized tanks are dangerous. Both to the patrons, and the service mechanics / operators. They also make loud popping & hissing on release, as well as often leak air. Air also doesnt have the power that hydraulics have.. so trying to move a heavy object with air pressure, isnt easy nor viable in an arcade machine. A mere 60 seconds of play would be like 400 gallons of air.
At best, you might use air compressors for some mechanical compressed air gun game, for lightweight targets that move... or the gun itself. In modern use, its more for "puppets", like the robotic band at the old chuck-e-cheese locations. The noise made, is covered up by the loud music.. and those things have pretty much no mass, and are easily pivoted. Unlike a dead-mass human of 200lbs.
Using hydraulics, you have seal failures, leaks, and toxic substances. If there are hydraulics from any time in that era, Id be very surprised. Maybe on a full sized car version of Ridge Racer... but I cant see it being used on that tiny Cruisn Cab. Hydraulics of that magnitude, to move heavy people around, would take up a lot of space in beefy assemblies and large reservoir tanks.
Add to the fact that any computer controlled actuators, that border on CNC level of ability.. controlling precision speeds, positions, and accuracy... are/were going to be boat loads of cash. This is why simple limit switches are used.
Simple cheap motor. Simple speed controller. Simple on/off switches.
Very little space needed. Lots of power. Easy to repair. Reliable.
I doubt you will find Any human-moving arcade game, powered by hydraulics, or air, before 2k. If any at all.
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