Motion Base Platform Optional Equipment

Hardware Options:

710-COMP - PC-based Control Computer

Intel CPU-based PC with Windows 11 (or higher) 64-bit with Ethernet, DAC Board, S&SI Interface Card for DAC Board, Cable between the Drive Amplifier Chassis and Computer, and Maintenance Software is included.

710-PCHDWR - Motion Base PCIe Controller Card and cable only

This includes an analog to digital/digital to analog PCIe card, an interface card to the PCIe card, and a 6' cable between the computer and the electronics rack provided with the motion base platform system. The cards can handle 6 channels of I/O and provide the enable lines and safeties.

710-BANDW - Bandwidth and Backlash Removal

This removes the backlash from 12 arc/min to <1 arc/min. The gearmotors must be disassembled, modified, and reassembled. The drive amplifiers are changed from a standard COTS at 3Hz to one that provides 10Hz or more of bandwidth.

Software Options:

All software options are for software only. It does not include the computer, PCIe card... it is just the software. We do offer software for other manufacturer's systems. 

HAVE A CUSTOM REQUIREMENT. CONTACT US. WE DESIGN SOFTWARE TO SUIT... INCLUDING OUR STANDARD SOFTWARE PACKAGES.

710-MAINT - Maintenance Software Only

Our maintenance software option allows the user to verify the motion system for functionality. It allows the user to move and calibrate the system for checkout. It is not meant for standard operation.

710-AUTHSOFT - Entertainment Ride Authoring Software only - DMX, STMPE

The Authoring Software option is primarily used in the entertainment industry to program a ride profile to a predetermined video or entertainment production. It can control relays for mist machines, lights, seat belts, and safeties. DMX and control tracks can be implemented for fans, heaters, mist machines, and external lighting. Our record and playback is an optional add-on package that allows the user to record joystick inputs from the user to be played back by the motion base platform. This is useful for making the motion base platform payback a ride profile for a movie. This can also be used to record certain movement criteria and to play it back indefinitely for testing of equipment on the motion base platforms. Syncing of the playback to the movie via STMPE code is available. This Package can be purchased and used on any other vendor motion base platform, our entire motion base platform product line, or on one of our older systems.

710-HISOFT - Flight Simulator Host Interface Software only - Prepar3d, X-Plane, and Professional

The Host Interface Software Package option allows the user to talk to the motion base platform computer via Ethernet. The Host sends the motion base platform computer the information on the position it would like the motion base platform to go to and the software performs the math model necessary to perform the request. It informs the Host if there is an E-STOP or a fault with the system. This allows the motion base to interface to a remote computer or to a Host on a flight training device (Prepar3D, X-Plane, or custom proprietary system) or an Active VR System using Unreal or Unity engines. The Host Interface Software is a UDP ethernet communication package between the motion base computer and a “Host” computer. It sends and receives data packets between the computers and then translates the data to move the base. The Host computer and software are provided by the customer. The software charge does not include the computer. This is not a hardware host interface. The hardware host interface is ethernet and is included with the computer as standard equipment. This can also be used for VR applications where a Unity/Unreal Server sends commands to the motion base. Latency is <1ms (gigabit)

710-SSSOFT - Sea State Antenna Testing  Software only

The Sea State Antenna Testing Software option is used with our high-angle motion bases. This package can perform Sea State level 6 as long as the motion base platform can perform to that specification (the angularity would need to be changed to ±35 degrees). It is used for testing the stability of modern transmitting/receiving equipment for seaboard use. This software can be used on our standard six-axis motion bases.

710-PRECSOFT - Precision Motion Base Software only (check out our article on this software here)

Our engineers have designed, programmed, and tested the Precision Software Package to control our motion base platforms.  Since there is no closed-form solution to a non-linear Steward Motion Platform, a specially designed math model was developed to take the commanded roll, pitch, yaw, X (longitude), Y (lateral), and Z (vertical) commands from the host computer and sends control signals to each of the six non-linear actuators on the motion base to instruct the motion base to accurately follow the commands.  The software takes care of all the non-linearities of the cranks and pushrods.  In addition, the software allows the center of the moving platform coordinate system to be moved anywhere.  For example, the center of the moving platform coordinate system can be moved 20 inches above the center of the moving platform, and roll and pitch will be centered about this new coordinate center in such applications for aircraft pilot feel and realism or off-the-nose in missile testing scenarios.  With customization, the software can determine the location of a point(s) on a Unit Under Test in free space such as in antenna testing. As part of the Precision Control Software, our engineers have also developed a Dynamic Software Evaluator package that reads the feedback potentiometers from each of the six actuators and calculates the roll, pitch, yaw, X, Y, and Z position of the motion base platform.  The roll, pitch, yaw, X, Y, and Z positions can be sent to the host computer so that the host computer knows exactly where the moving platform of the motion base is at any time. The Control Software has an iteration rate or 1KHz, but the host can send data anywhere from 200Hz up to the 1KHz. The typical bandwidth of the Control Software is around 3 to 5Hz. A separate Server Module handles the exchange of data to and from the Host to the Precision Control Software. Through a special software command set, motion can be started or halted, communications turned off or on, moved to specific locations, etc. via the Server Module. The Server Module is also responsible for reporting position data from the Dynamic Evaluator back to the Host. These two software programs (Precision Controller and Dynamic Evaluator) are independent of each other but are memory-mapped to work seamlessly between the Server Module, Precision Controller, and Dynamic Evaluator.  Either one can be used (with the Server Module) by itself or used together.  As the Server Module is responsible for all communication, both software programs are completely unaware of user inputs and rely solely on inputs derived from Host communications.