Application · For flight simulator OEMs & integrators

Flight Simulator Motion Platform

CSCMotion supplies custom electric 3DOF and 6DOF motion-platform subsystems for professional flight-simulator OEMs and system integrators. We configure the platform around the complete moving assembly, center of gravity, inertia, required motion cues, host interface, site envelope and platform-level acceptance method.

Platform supply and interface support only. Cockpit, visual system, avionics, aircraft model, control loading, instructor station and complete FSTD qualification remain outside our normal scope.

3DOF & 6DOF

Selected from the required flight-motion cues

Complete moving load

Cockpit, occupants, equipment, CG and inertia

Defined host interface

Command, status, timing and safety responsibilities

Loaded platform FAT

Project-specific evidence agreed before testing

A focused subsystem offer

A Motion Platform Subsystem—Not a Complete Flight Simulator

This page is for teams that already own—or are responsible for—the simulator architecture and need a motion platform designed to fit it. Agreeing the moving load, command path and responsibility boundary early removes integration assumptions before they become hardware changes.

A strong project fit

You need a platform beneath your simulator assembly

We work directly with the people responsible for system definition and integration.

Outside our standard overseas scope

You need a complete ready-to-operate flight simulator

These requirements need a complete-simulator supplier or lead system integrator.

Scope rule: CSCMotion supplies and validates the contracted motion-platform work package. Your simulator OEM or system integrator remains responsible for the complete flight-simulation system unless another item is expressly included in our written proposal.

Integrator project scenarios

Flight Simulator Projects We Support

We define projects by the platform’s job inside the simulator—not by claiming ownership of the complete simulator. Every scenario starts with a feasibility review of the moving assembly and motion requirement.

New simulator architecture

Integrator-Designed Moving Cockpit

Your team owns the simulator architecture. We review the complete moving assembly, motion cues and host boundary, then engineer the platform and controller around those inputs.

Existing assembly review

Motion Addition to an Existing Cockpit

We assess structure, mass, CG, inertia, mounting, clearance, cable routing, safety and control compatibility before confirming whether a new platform is practical.

Research & engineering

Flight Dynamics and Human-Factors Rig

A defined command interface and repeatable platform operation can support research projects when the experiment, instruments, data analysis and system safety remain clearly owned.

The load is more than the cockpit shell

Define the Complete Moving Assembly

Platform sizing begins with everything that moves. A single “cockpit weight” can hide occupants, controls, displays, computers, adapters, cable carriers and mass that sits well above or away from the platform center.

We review minimum, nominal and maximum load conditions, three-axis CG, inertia or CAD mass properties, attachment geometry, structural stiffness, service routing, access and the full motion envelope.

Moving mass

Structure, seats, people, controls, instruments, computers, moving displays and accessories.

Center of gravity

X, Y and Z relative to the proposed mounting plane for each relevant load case.

Mass distribution

Inertia or CAD properties for tall, wide, offset or high-payload assemblies.

Physical envelope

Maximum motion, visual clearance, access, egress, guarding and building constraints.

Integrator supplied

Cockpit, seats, controls, instruments and occupants

Define operating configuration, variable loads and access requirements.

Integrator supplied

Visual, avionics, computers and flight-simulation subsystems

Identify which equipment moves and which remains fixed.

Joint definition

Adapter, mounting plane, cable crossing and motion clearance

Freeze interface drawings and responsibilities before manufacture.

CSCMotion supply

Upper platform, structure, actuators, drives and controller

Engineered to the approved moving load and motion requirement.

Joint definition

Foundation, site power, guarding and emergency chain

Coordinate platform requirements with the complete simulator and site risk assessment.

Visual-system note: a fixed visual, moving visual or VR/MR arrangement changes mass, clearance and relative-motion inputs. CSCMotion reviews those effects on the platform but does not supply the visual system as part of this standard offer.

Cue-driven platform selection

3DOF or 6DOF Motion Platform for a Flight Simulator?

The correct axis count comes from the required motion cues and project objective. Six axes are not automatically the right answer for every trainer, research rig or simulator architecture.

Decision factor	Consider 3DOF	Consider 6DOF
Required cue set	The approved task can be represented with three defined axes.	Coupled surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw commands are required.
Project objective	A simpler motion task, trainer or research requirement has been explicitly defined.	The simulator or experiment needs complete six-axis pose and cueing input.
Engineering review	The omitted axes do not compromise the agreed motion objective.	Combined workspace, multi-axis dynamics and cue limiting can be specified and verified.
Qualification	DOF alone does not establish a training-device level or qualification.	6DOF alone does not make a complete simulator FAA- or EASA-qualified.
Product detail	Explore 3DOF platforms →	Explore 6DOF platforms →

Selection rule: choose the architecture from required cues, moving mass, CG, inertia, combined workspace, dynamics, duty, available space and the interface/acceptance plan—not from “realism” language alone.

Do not specify motion at an undefined point

Define the Motion Reference Point and Combined Workspace

Actuator stroke and single-axis travel do not describe the motion available to the pilot or the complete cockpit. The usable envelope depends on the selected reference point, neutral geometry, moving-load configuration and simultaneous commands across multiple axes.

We review the required motion at one agreed coordinate frame, then check the platform geometry, actuator limits, swept envelope and site clearances around that definition.

Reference frame

Origin, axis directions, units, handedness and sign conventions.

Reference point

The cockpit or pilot-relative point where motion requirements are stated.

Combined workspace

Available motion under simultaneous translation and rotation—not six independent maxima.

Swept envelope

Moving structure, cable carriers, visual clearance, access and guarding at every approved pose.

Specification rule: every range, velocity, acceleration and acceptance value should identify the coordinate frame, reference point, load case and whether the value applies to single-axis or combined motion.

Define the command path before integration

From Motion-Cueing Output to Physical Platform Motion

A platform cannot infer the intended flight cue from a software name. The project must identify where aircraft states become platform commands, who owns the cueing logic and what happens when commands exceed the approved workspace.

01 · Integrator

Flight Model

Generates aircraft states or motion-related data.

02 · Integrator by default

Cueing Layer

Creates approved motion cues, washout and limits.

03 · Shared contract

Host Interface

Coordinates, units, timing, commands and states.

04 · CSCMotion

Platform Controller

Validates commands and executes platform-side logic.

05 · CSCMotion

Motion Platform

Produces the approved three-axis or six-axis motion.

06 · Integrator

Moving Simulator

Cockpit and simulator subsystems receive the motion.

Cueing ownership

Assign algorithm, tuning, validation and change-control responsibility before software work starts.

Command level

Define whether the host sends aircraft states, accelerations, positions or approved platform commands.

Limit behavior

Agree saturation, washout, reset, return-to-neutral, timeout and invalid-command handling.

Our normal interface position: the simulator OEM or integrator owns the flight model, cueing algorithm, tuning and simulator-level approval. CSCMotion supports the agreed platform-side command, limit, status and safety interface. Any additional cueing work requires a separately defined written scope.

Close every platform boundary

Host Interface, Platform States and Safety Integration

The platform is one moving subsystem inside a larger simulator. We coordinate the mechanical, electrical, control and safety interfaces that affect our equipment and document the conditions the integrator must carry into the complete system.

01 · Mechanical

Load path and motion envelope

02 · Electrical

Power and moving services

03 · Control

Host data and operating states

04 · Safety

Platform and system safeguards

A clear division of work

What CSCMotion Supplies—and What the Integrator Supplies

The approved specification and proposal govern each project. This matrix shows the normal starting point for a flight simulator motion-platform supply.

Work package	CSCMotion	OEM / integrator	Joint definition
Motion platform	Contracted mechanics, electric actuation, drives, controller and electrical cabinet.	Simulator-level requirements and site connections.	Configuration, moving load, workspace and interface.
Cockpit / cabin	Platform-side mounting review within scope.	Structure, seats, controls, instruments, occupants and operating risk.	Mounting, mass properties and clearance.
Visual / VR / MR	Review effect on platform load and clearance.	Supply, integration, content, synchronization and validation.	Fixed/moving arrangement and relative-motion constraints.
Avionics / flight model	Not in normal platform supply.	Supply, aircraft data, verification and change control.	Define the motion-data source.
Motion cueing	Only when expressly included.	Default owner of algorithm, tuning and simulator-level approval.	Inputs, outputs, limits and test method.
Host interface	Agreed platform-side command, status and safety support.	Host application, network, sequence and system integration.	Data contract, timing, modes and faults.
Safety	Contracted platform-side functions.	Complete-system risk assessment, guarding, access and procedures.	E-stop chain, interlocks and safe state.
Acceptance	Agreed platform FAT and documents.	Witness, site integration, complete SAT and simulator validation.	Load, method, criteria and sign-off.
FSTD qualification	No platform-only FAA/EASA certification claim.	Sponsor, integrator, operator and authority process.	Contracted platform evidence supplied to the responsible team.

Separate three different acceptance levels

How the Flight Simulator Motion Platform Is Validated

Factory platform evidence, site integration and complete-simulator qualification answer different questions. Keeping them separate prevents a platform test from being overstated as a complete-system result.

01 · CSCMotion platform

Factory Acceptance Testing

Verify the supplied platform against the agreed configuration and load condition before shipment.

02 · Customer site

Commissioning and SAT Support

Integrate the actual cockpit, host, visual and site systems under the integrator’s complete-system plan.

03 · Complete device

Simulator Qualification

The responsible sponsor, integrator, operator and authority evaluate the complete flight simulation training device.

FAA / EASA qualification statement

CSCMotion does not claim that a motion platform alone is an FAA- or EASA-certified flight simulation training device. Any qualification statement applies to the complete simulator and the applicable evaluation process. We can provide platform documentation and test evidence within the agreed project scope.

One platform work package from definition to evidence

From Requirements to Loaded Platform FAT

The project sequence is designed to close the moving-load, workspace, host and acceptance assumptions before manufacture. Each stage produces a reviewable output for the next decision.

1 Requirement Review

Confirm the simulator objective, moving assembly, cue set, site, customer role and unresolved inputs.

2 Feasibility & Configuration

Review load cases, CG, inertia, reference point, combined workspace, dynamics and installation envelope.

3 Interface Freeze

Approve mounting, power, coordinate system, commands, states, faults, safety chain and responsibility matrix.

4 Build & Integration Test

Manufacture and assemble the platform, configure platform-side control, and close production inspection records.

5 Loaded Platform FAT

Run the approved representative load, command profiles, state transitions and acceptance evidence before release.

Change control matters: after the moving assembly and interfaces are frozen, changes to mass, CG, mounting, visual arrangement, commands or safety states must be reviewed for their effect on platform capability and delivery.

Show the product, project stage and test context

Motion Platform Project Evidence

Replace these placeholders with permission-cleared CSCMotion material. Every image or video should identify the platform configuration, what was being built or tested and which result the evidence can actually support.

Manufacturing

Platform Architecture in Assembly

Show the actual structure, actuators and joints before covers or customer equipment obscure the mechanism.

Platform FAT

Verification Under an Agreed Load

Identify the representative load, commanded test, measurement method and contracted acceptance scope.

OEM integration

Platform Beneath Customer Equipment

State what CSCMotion supplied, what the customer supplied and which mechanical or control interfaces were coordinated.

Related Motion Platform Options

These pages explain platform architecture, controls and integration support. This application page remains responsible for the flight-simulator requirement, system boundary and platform validation context.

Defined three-axis cue set

3DOF Motion Platform

Review custom three-axis configurations after the required cues and moving assembly are known.

View 3DOF platforms →

Coupled six-axis motion

6DOF Motion Platform

Review six-axis workspace, load, dynamics, control and customization.

View 6DOF platforms →

Large moving assembly

High-Payload Motion Platform

For heavy or offset cockpit assemblies requiring a complete mass-property review.

View Stewart platforms →

Platform-side controls

Motion Platform Control System

Review controller, cabinet, host commands, I/O, safety and commissioning scope.

View high-payload platforms →

OEM work package

Motion Platform Integration Support

Define how the platform connects to the customer-owned mechanical, host, electrical and safety architecture.

Review integration support →

Answers from our engineering team

Flight Simulator Motion Platform FAQ

These answers describe our normal project approach. Your approved technical specification and written proposal define the actual capability, documents and supply scope.

What does CSCMotion supply for a flight simulator project?

Our normal scope is the motion-platform subsystem: mechanical platform, electric actuation, servo drives, controller, electrical cabinet, platform-side configuration, interface documentation and agreed FAT. The final equipment, software, documents and support are listed in our written proposal.

Does CSCMotion supply the cockpit, visual system or avionics?

Not as our standard overseas scope. The simulator OEM or system integrator normally supplies the cockpit or cabin, visual system, avionics, flight model, training content, instructor functions and complete-system integration. We review their effect on the platform where the interfaces meet.

Can CSCMotion add a motion platform beneath an existing flight simulator cockpit?

Possibly, after a feasibility review. We need the complete moving assembly, structure, mounting interface, mass, CG, inertia, available space, cable routing, host interface, safety system and required motion. We do not confirm retrofit suitability from cockpit weight or photographs alone.

How do we choose between a 3DOF and 6DOF flight simulator motion platform?

Choose the axes from the training or research objective and required motion cues. A 3DOF platform can suit a defined three-axis cue set. A 6DOF platform is considered when coupled surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw are required. Moving load, workspace, dynamics, interface and acceptance must also be reviewed.

What is included in platform factory acceptance testing?

The agreed FAT may include configuration inspection, homing, limits, safety and fault functions, representative-load motion, single-axis and combined-axis commands, interface behavior, duty testing and documented results or open items. The method and acceptance criteria are agreed before testing.

Start with the complete moving assembly

Start with the Moving-Assembly Definition

You do not need to select a platform model first. Send the simulator purpose, moving assembly, required cues and host information you already have. We will identify the missing inputs before proposing a 3DOF or 6DOF architecture.

Moving-assembly drawings, mass, CG and inertia

Required axes, cues, reference point, workspace and dynamics

Fixed or moving visual arrangement

Flight model, cueing owner and command interface

Site, safety, FAT/SAT, destination and schedule