A control loader that feels slightly off in aileron, elevator, rudder or trim can undermine an otherwise capable flight simulator. For operators pursuing qualification, and for OEMs building devices that must stand up to technical review, FAA compliant control loader systems are not a cosmetic feature. They are part of the training value, the engineering…
The Real Cost Difference Shows Up Over Time When teams compare motion platform designs, the conversation often starts—and ends—with upfront cost. Hydraulic systems can appear less expensive at first glance, especially when comparing actuators alone. But for 6DOF and 7DOF motion platforms, this narrow view hides the costs that matter most over the life of…
A Technical Overview of Servos & Simulation’s 6DOF Motion Platform Introduction Six degrees of freedom (6DOF) motion platforms are the foundation of high-fidelity simulation when accurate motion cueing, repeatability, and long-term stability are required. At Servos & Simulation, Inc., our 6DOF motion platforms are engineered for professional environments where performance must remain stable and consistent across the years—and often decades—of continuous…
Application Context for the 400-x Control Loading FAA Level D Full‑Flight Simulators (FFS) represent the highest certification standard for government and civil aviation training devices. At this level, force‑feedback accuracy is scrutinized alongside visual, motion, and aircraft system fidelity. Control loading systems must reproduce aircraft‑specific feel across the full operational envelope—without approximation, drift, or degradation.…
Last time, we figured out that the phidgets controlled everything and that there were all of these phidget files… sigh… (If you haven’t been reading this series on the CRJ, please read 1 thru 3 please.) Return of the Phidgets Rick (my lovely programming engineer) wrote a small but significant program that allowed us to…
Why DIY Motion Base Platforms Aren’t as Simple (or Safe) as They Seem In my time exploring the internet, I’ve come across countless DIY motion base projects—built from everything from drill motors to plywood. While many of these builds are undeniably creative, they often raise serious concerns about safety, longevity, and performance. Let’s take a…
Motion Base Platforms have been apart of the flight simulation industry for a very long time. Longer than one might think… The simulation industry is relatively old (almost 100 years!), but not quite as old as planes have been in the sky. The follow article is an except from wikipedia in regards to the history of…
Twelve Years Later: A Motion Base Platform Still Going Strong In 2015, the Servos & Simulation team returned to Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida to inspect a high-angle six-axis motion base platform we originally installed in 2003. The system had been in continuous use for over a decade, supporting Sea State 6 antenna testing for…
Why Some in the Simulation Industry Dislike Motion Platforms—And What You Can Do About It Motion platforms are powerful tools in simulation, but they often come with a reputation that sparks hesitation—or even frustration—among professionals in the industry. Let’s explore some of the most common concerns and how they can be addressed. 1. Cost: Why…
Engineering the Impossible: A Custom Six-Axis Motion Base with Extreme Offset CG Over the past several decades, Servos & Simulation has delivered hundreds of motion base platforms—most of them custom-built, and many still in operation decades later. Recently, we were challenged with one of our most demanding builds yet: a custom six-axis motion base platform…
