How it works

Unidrift consists of a motion sensor and a USB receiver. These two devices act as a bridge between the physical world and the game world. Whenever you move in the real world, your character in the game does the same.

You have the option to include our recommended elliptical machine at checkout, or you can purchase the motion sensor and USB receiver on their own and use a third-party exercise machine. The motion sensor can be securely fastened to the rotating component of most exercise machines, provided there is space for it to fit. You can find the dimensions of the motion sensor here.

 


The motion sensor attaches to your exercise machine and tracks your physical speed and direction. The USB receiver receives this data over Bluetooth and emulates the corresponding game inputs.

Unidrift will categorise your motion into:

  • Moving backward
  • Stationary
  • Moving forward
  • Sprinting forward

Unidrift then generates the corresponding game control inputs for the game you are playing. All other controls, such as aiming and jumping, remain the same.

The USB receiver features two USB-C ports:

  • Port 1 emulates a generic PC/Xbox 360 controller.
  • Port 2 emulates a keyboard.

 

This flexibility means Unidrift works for all players, regardless of whether you prefer to use a controller or a keyboard and mouse.

Controller

If you game using a controller, the first step is to pair it with the USB receiver over Bluetooth. The USB receiver will pass through all controller inputs it receives, apart from the inputs assigned to forward/backward motion components.

The motion sensor sends speed and direction data to the USB receiver, which converts this into the forward/backward motion inputs and 'sprint' button presses. This means all forward/backward controls are based on your physical motion. Below is a typical example where the forward/backward motion is assigned to the left joystick up/down position.

You can fully enable the left normal controller forward/backward inputs by double-tapping the Start/Options button on your controller if, for example, you need to take a break or navigate through menu options.

The Unidrift USB receiver is compatible with most Bluetooth controllers and will automatically go into pairing mode when powered on. Controllers we've confirmed compatibility with so far are:

Please note that advanced features such as touchpad input and controller audio are not yet supported.

When you use Unidrift with a game for the first time, you can set which buttons/joysticks to emulate in the free Android/iOS App, then save this setting as a controller profile to enable seamless switching between games.

Unidrift can emulate:

  • Quick tap toggles on/off sprinting
  • Quick tap only toggles on sprinting
  • Press and hold to sprint

For any button on a standard controller.



Keyboard and mouse

If you game using a keyboard and mouse, the USB receiver appears as an external keyboard when plugged into a PC or Mac. When you use Unidrift with a game for the first time, you can set which keys to emulate in the free Android/iOS App, then save these settings as a key binding profile to enable seamless switching between games.

Unidrift can emulate:

  • Quick tap
  • Press & hold
  • Double-tap and hold

For any key on a standard keyboard.