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.…
A non-linear motion base math model refers to the mathematical representation of a motion platform which is typically a Stewart platform or similar 6DOF system—where the relationship between actuator lengths and platform position/orientation is non-linear. This means that small changes in actuator length do not result in proportional changes in platform position or rotation, and the system’s behavior cannot be…
This blog was written by Mr. Tom Bryan ES31\ GNC Hardware Team Lead – RF, Electromagnetic Effects, GNC Hardware Branch, Senior Engineer, Flat Floor Robotics Lab & 6DOF Dynamics Sim Lab for NASA. He worked on the Navigation system for the Artemis SLS system and did the testing for it with our motion base. His…
The Motion Base Requirement (As seen through the eyes of a Feedback Control System Engineer) Written by E. Bruce Baker Over the last several years, there has been much discussion about the need for motion bases for aircraft simulators. Several times, an attempt has been made to prove or disprove the need for a motion…
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…
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…
