Motion Simulator

A motion simulator or motion platform is a mechanism that encapsulates occupants and creates the effect/feelings of being in a moving vehicle. Motion simulators fall into two categories (described below) based on whether the occupant is controlling the vehicle, the more common case for a system described as a simulator; or if the occupant is a passive rider, also referred to as a simulator ride or motion theater.

• Examples of a typical (occupant controlled) motion simulator are flight simulators and car/truck vehicle simulators. However, motion applications have moved beyond auto racing and flight sim to include boats, motorcycles, rollercoasters, tanks, ATVs, and spaceships among many other craft types.

• Examples of passive ride simulators are theme park rides where an entire theater system; with a projection screen in front of the seats, is in motion on giant actuators. An Enhanced motion vehicle moves the motion base along a track in a show building. See simulator ride and the Ride Simulator section of this article for more details of passive motion simulators.

A motion simulator can also be called a motion base, motion chassis or a motion seat. The movement is synchronous with visual display and is designed to add a tactile, or sense of touch, element to video gaming, simulation, and virtual reality. When motion is applied and synchronized to audio and video signals, the result is a combination of sight, sound, and touch. All full motion simulators move the entire occupant compartment and convey not only a change in orientation but also produces the effect of false gravitational forces. These motion cues trick the mind into thinking it is immersed in the simulated environment and experiencing kinematic changes in position, velocity, and acceleration. Failure of the mind to accept the experience can result in motion sickness. Motion platforms can provide movement on up to six degrees of freedom: three rotational degrees of freedom; roll; pitch; yaw; and three (3) translational or linear degrees of freedom; surge; heave; sway. Motion is being applied to an increasing variety of video gaming applications, a visit to a modern video game arcade reveals that gaming in motion is everywhere.