Frequently Asked Questions

A motion platform is the powered base that moves a simulator cabin so the user feels acceleration, braking, road or flight forces, not just sees them on screen. It sits under the cockpit and drives motion across two to six axes through electric actuators, following telemetry from the simulation software. Motion Systems manufactures the platform and its control software; the complete simulator - cockpit, visuals and controls - is built by an integrator around it.

A motion simulator is a complete training or entertainment system: a cockpit, visual displays, controls and software mounted on a motion platform that moves with the simulation. Motion Systems supplies the motion platform and SDK - the moving foundation - while a verified integrator adds the cockpit, visuals and software to deliver the finished simulator. Defining the application and cabin early is what sizes the platform.

A degree of freedom is one independent direction in which the platform can move. The six axes are three rotations (pitch, roll and yaw) and three translations (heave, sway and surge). A 2DOF base typically gives pitch and roll, 3DOF adds heave, and 6DOF reproduces all six for full cabin movement. The number that matters depends on what the trainee or driver needs to feel.

More axes are not automatically better. The right number depends on what the trainee or driver must feel, and a well-calibrated 3DOF platform with strong motion cueing can outperform a poorly tuned 6DOF one. Specifying 6DOF when the use case does not call for it adds cost without value.

The number of axes follows what the trainee or driver must feel, not a spec-sheet maximum. A 2DOF base gives roll and pitch for entry setups, 3DOF adds heave for most racing and training tasks, and 6DOF adds sway, surge and yaw for full cabin movement and research fidelity. Matching the axes to a single key training scenario avoids paying for movement that goes unused.

Motion cueing translates the simulated forces of a vehicle into platform movements that feel right within a limited range of travel. Because a platform cannot move as far as a real vehicle, a washout filter returns it gently to center after each cue, below the threshold the inner ear notices, so it is ready for the next input. Cueing quality, not raw axis count, is what makes motion convincing, which is why tuning matters as much as hardware.

A hexapod, also called a Stewart platform, uses six actuators arranged in pairs to move a single top frame across all six axes. The geometry gives high stiffness and precise control, which is why it is the standard for demanding flight, driving and research simulators. Motion Systems builds this as the Linear Series (TL) with ball-screw actuators, while lower-profile work uses the geared Low-Profile Series (TM) design.

The two move different things. A Stewart platform moves the whole cockpit - seat, wheel, pedals and screens together - so cues match across the cabin, which suits training and research. A seat mover moves only the seat: compact and affordable, but it can decouple the driver from fixed controls and screens. For VR, where the view travels with the head, a seat mover works well; for fixed displays, a full platform keeps everything aligned.

Motion Systems builds Professional Series platforms on two drive architectures: the Linear Series (TL), with ball-screw actuators in a Stewart-style 6DOF layout, and the Low-Profile Series (TM), with geared drives in a lower-profile, compact form. A Rotary Motor design covers 2DOF setups as a bespoke build. The choice affects footprint, profile height and dynamic character.

Qubic System measures sub-8 ms end-to-end at full payload (sub-10 ms on the USB-direct QS-H13), and the Professional Series measures sub-30 ms end-to-end. Both are an order of magnitude faster than human reaction time (150-250 ms), so motion stays in step with what the user sees on screen.

Latency is the delay between the simulation event and the platform moving, and it should stay well below human reaction time (about 150-250 ms) so motion matches what is on screen. Below roughly 10 ms the response feels immediate, while above about 60 ms the delay grows noticeable and motion falls out of step with the screen. Qubic System platforms measure under 8 ms and the Professional Series under 30 ms end-to-end. The threshold that matters depends on the application, and on the headset for VR setups.

Electric motion platforms have largely replaced hydraulics for simulator use: they run cleaner and quieter, start instantly, and avoid the fluid, pumps and scheduled servicing a hydraulic system carries. Hydraulics still appear in very high-force, large-displacement applications. For most training, research and entertainment cabins, an electric platform delivers the precision and low latency the task needs with lower running cost over its life. The right choice depends on the force and stroke the application demands.

Both pair well with motion, for different reasons. A VR headset gives full immersion and depth, and because the view travels with the head it suits compact and seat-mover setups. The condition is that platform movement is compensated so it is not read as head movement, which ForceSeatPM handles. Triple monitors give a wider shared field of view, easier instructor oversight and no headset fatigue over long sessions. The choice depends on session length, space and audience.

The dominant axis differs. In maritime simulation heave - continuous vertical motion from waves - is the dominant cue, with roll and pitch also significant. Maritime motion is slower (bandwidth below about 5 Hz versus above 10 Hz in flight), bridge-cabin payload is higher, and heave stroke can exceed 500 mm. The qualification standard is DNV-ST-0033 rather than EASA CS-FSTD.

Motion and VR reinforce each other: adding a motion cue to a high-fidelity visual reduces simulator sickness, while high visual fidelity on a fixed base tends to increase it. Researchers call this the Fidelity Paradox. The condition is low latency and head-tracking compensation, so platform movement is not read as head movement. Done well, motion makes a VR simulator more comfortable across longer sessions. Whether it pays off depends on the headset, the content and session length.

The use case sets the priorities. Qubic System platforms suit racing, flight and VR-based applications, including compact training. The Professional Series (Linear and Low-Profile) is built for heavier cabins and demanding R&D, research and defense work. The sales team can map an application to the right family once the cabin and goals are known.

Picking a platform on a rough weight is the most common early mistake, because payload, center of gravity and the moment of a tall cabin all affect what the platform must handle. The safe approach is to size with a payload reserve above the expected weight, not at the limit. Sending cabin weight, dimensions and mounting layout to the sales team lets them recommend a model with headroom.

The model number is the gross moving load - everything the actuators move, including the factory top frame (about 50 kg on the PS-6TL-350, 80 kg on the PS-6TL-800, 150 kg on the PS-6TL-1500). The payload figure is what remains for the build with the frame fitted. Integrators can remove the top frame and bolt the cockpit or cabin floor directly to the mounting points - the frame positions must be reproduced exactly, per the Product Manual - and the full gross figure then becomes available. Motion Systems validates such a setup during scoping. On the PS-6TL-150 and PS-6TL-250 the two figures are the same.

No single platform is best - the right choice follows the task the simulator must reproduce. A compact 3DOF base covers pitch, roll and heave for most racing and training work, while a 6DOF platform adds sway, surge and yaw for fuller cabin movement; payload, cabin center of gravity and duty cycle then narrow the model. Specifying more axes than the use case needs adds cost without value. Mapping the application, cabin and goals to a specific model is a short conversation with the team.

Flight training rewards accurate disturbance cues (turbulence, failures and wind shear), which show the strongest training effect in the research, so motion-cueing quality matters more than raw axis count. Qubic System platforms suit compact and VR-based flight training, while the Professional Series carries heavier flight cabins and demanding research work. Sustained-G is the one cue a motion base cannot hold, which a belt tensioner can partly address. The right model depends on the airframe simulated and the cabin.

A well-tuned platform with low latency and natural cueing reproduces braking, weight transfer and traction loss. Those are the cues that sharpen driver feel. Qubic System platforms are built for high duty cycle, suit both home setups and commercial venues running long hours, and carry vibration effects natively in the actuator. A 3DOF configuration covers most racing tasks, while premium stations move to 6DOF. The best fit depends on the rig, the wheelbase and whether the setup is private or commercial.

Vehicle-dynamics, Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) and ADAS validation reward accurate longitudinal and lateral cues: braking research found static, no-motion conditions produced the worst performance and the poorest match to real-vehicle data, while higher motion levels correlated more closely with reality. The Professional Series suits heavier instrumented cabins and real-time vehicle-dynamics work over MATLAB®/Simulink® and the SDK. The right model follows cabin mass, the dynamics studied and the toolchain.

Qubic System platforms are designed for high duty cycle, which suits commercial venues running long hours. The QS-220 in a 3DOF configuration is the typical choice for busy centers, while QS-S25 and QS-S35 serve premium stations. They run quietly (QS-210, QS-220 and QS-S25 at roughly 54-59 dB(A)), install compactly, and carry vibration effects natively in the actuator, so separate bass-shaker units are not required.

For home sim racing, a compact platform that installs in a room and runs quietly usually fits better than an industrial base. The Qubic System line (qubicsystem.com), the sister brand of Motion Systems, is built for this: compact 2-3DOF and 6DOF platforms with low noise and native vibration effects, plus the QS-BT1 belt tensioner. Commercial venues running long hours stay in the Qubic System line; heavier cockpits and full-cabin trainers move up to the Professional Series. Matching the platform to space, budget and use is the starting point.

The two brands cover different ends of the same technology. Qubic System (qubicsystem.com) is built for sim racing, compact and VR setups, and home-to-commercial entertainment, with quiet, fast platforms and the QS-BT1 belt tensioner. Motion Systems builds the Professional Series for heavier cabins, R&D, training and defense work, plus bespoke high-payload platforms. Both share the same ForceSeatPM software and SDK, so integration carries across. The right brand follows the cabin weight, duty cycle and application.

Heavy-equipment and mining simulators need platforms built to tolerate continuous operator training and reproduce the low-frequency motion of large machines. The Professional Series handles higher payloads and sustained duty cycles for this work, and simulator training removes the cost and risk of using live machinery. The industry solutions page covers heavy-equipment applications in depth.

Research rigs need precise, repeatable motion and open control. ForceSeatMI is the recommended SDK and connects to MATLAB®/Simulink®; for Linux or direct low-level actuator control ForceSeatDI gives the lowest-latency path, and the documented interface avoids a closed black box. The Professional Series and bespoke configurations cover heavier or specialized setups; the academic and research pages outline the software path.

Peer-reviewed studies indicate it can. Adding motion cues to visual cues reduced reported nausea by 43% and disorientation by 46% in a controlled study (n=36). A meta-analysis of 41 studies (Bos et al., 2022) describes the Fidelity Paradox: in a fixed-base simulator higher visual fidelity increases sickness, while a motion base with high visual fidelity produces the lowest sickness.

Research supports it. A 6DOF braking study (CTU Prague, n=24) found static no-motion conditions produced the worst braking performance and the poorest match to reality, with the motion-level effect statistically significant (F=7.337, p=0.00133). Higher motion levels produced more natural braking and better correlation with real-vehicle data, which supports motion for vehicle-dynamics and ADAS validation.

Cueing quality outweighs raw axis count. A study (n=52) found false cues - the platform moving in the wrong direction - produced the most simulator sickness, more than missing cues. A well-tuned 3DOF platform with professional motion cueing can deliver better outcomes than a poorly calibrated 6DOF unit, so supplier evaluation should test cueing quality, ideally in a demo running a scenario the buyer supplies.

Procedural and cognitive skills transfer most strongly: procedures and checklist flows, radio phraseology and instrument scan patterns rank highest, with decision-making and navigation next. The disturbance cues a motion platform provides (turbulence, failures, wind shear) show the strongest training effect in meta-analysis, while sustained-G perception is the weak area that a belt tensioner can partly address.

Motion sharpens consistency more than raw pace. Feeling the onset of understeer, oversteer and braking load through the seat lets a driver sense the limit earlier and repeat inputs more reliably than reading the screen alone. The gain comes from cueing quality, not the number of axes - a well-tuned platform beats a poorly calibrated one with more. The Qubic System line covers this from home rigs to commercial sim-racing centers; heavier cockpits and full-cabin trainers step up to the Professional Series.

Motion platforms are separate models by axis class, so upgrading from a compact 2DOF or 3DOF base to a full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) platform changes the hardware rather than adding axes to the same unit. The software investment carries across, though: every Motion Systems and Qubic System platform runs the same ForceSeatPM software and the same SDK (ForceSeatMI and ForceSeatDI), so integration code, tuned motion profiles and game compatibility move to the new platform. One add-on path exists within the Qubic System line: a 3DOF base can be extended toward 5DOF by fitting a QS-CH2 traction-loss module onto the existing base, while a full 6DOF platform remains a separate model.

A helicopter simulator needs a full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) motion base, because rotary-wing training depends on hover micro-cues across every axis, strong heave for collective and vertical changes, and yaw authority for anti-torque pedal work. For a single-seat helicopter cockpit the PS-6TL-350 (for example with a VR or mixed-reality headset) and the QS-S35 (with its integrated triple-monitor mount or with VR/mixed reality) are an excellent fit, while a full helicopter cockpit moves up to the higher-payload Professional Series platforms: Entrol built an EASA-certified FTD Level 2 for the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane on a PS-6TM-1500. FTD Level 2 / FNPT II is the ceiling Motion Systems platforms reach - they are not full flight simulators (FFS), and the training-device certification is held by the integrator, not the platform.

A forklift or warehouse training simulator is best served by a compact 2-3DOF motion base paired with VR, reproducing mast tilt, braking, turning and uneven-floor cues in a footprint small enough for multi-station training rooms. The Qubic System line fits this: quiet, compact platforms that pair with VR HeadWay motion compensation, so operators can practice load handling, tight-aisle maneuvering and pedestrian awareness for warehouse and intralogistics work before running a real truck. Heavier or full-cab machines move up to the Professional Series.

Negative training transfer - a simulator instilling habits that degrade real-vehicle performance - is a real but avoidable risk. Transfer of training depends on the task and on motion-cueing fidelity: disturbance cues such as turbulence and system failures build the strongest skills, while false or mistimed cues can worsen outcomes, so cueing quality outweighs raw axis count. Motion Systems limits this with ACE motion cueing tuned per platform model, low signal-to-motion latency (Qubic System sub-8 ms end-to-end, Professional Series under 30 ms end-to-end), and demos that validate cueing against the customer's own scenario.

It depends on the line. Qubic System platforms run from an ordinary earthed single-phase wall socket (230V, with neutral) on a standard RCD-protected circuit - no special supply to arrange. Professional Series single-phase models (230V) need a dedicated industrial socket rather than a domestic one, and the higher-payload models run on a 400V three-phase supply. 120V variants are available for the US market on most Qubic SKUs. See the product datasheet for the exact specification.

A Wye (star) network with ground and neutral (TN-S), with the neutral conductor connected. A US 208V or 480V supply needs a transformer to reach 400V ±10%. A qualified electrician confirms the network type and prepares the feed before installation.

It depends on the product and configuration. Qubic System devices must be connected through a protective earth (PE) and a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB). The Professional Series platforms that ship with the full EMC-filter set - PS-3TM-1000, PS-6TM-1500 and PS-6TL-1500 - cannot operate behind an RCD because of filter leakage current; on explicit request they can be built filter-free. Every other Professional Series platform runs on a normal RCD-protected supply. All of them draw high leakage current and need a permanent solid protective earth, per IEC 60364-5-54 and EN 61800-5-1, fitted by a qualified electrician.

That assessment belongs to the integrator: each platform's documentation provides the mounting interface, footprint and technical data, and the integrator evaluates the floor and prepares the site, typically with a structural engineer. Compact Qubic platforms ship free-standing for the lighter payload classes.

The catalog tops out at 1500 kg on the PS-6TM-1500; the PS-6TL-1500 carries 1350 kg, and the compact QS-220 up to 350 kg (Heavy-Duty mode). Custom configurations for heavier loads are available.

Not necessarily - a payload rating is the static weight a platform supports in its neutral position, not a promise that every cabin at that weight will move the same way. A motion platform does not hold the cabin still; it accelerates it through pitch, roll and yaw, which takes turning force, not just lifting force. How hard a cabin resists being turned depends on its moment of inertia - how far the mass sits from the axis of rotation - and that distance counts squared: a 30 kg screen on a 1 m outrigger fights the motion four times as hard as the same screen at 0.5 m. The everyday version is a dumbbell: held close to the chest it is light to support and easy to swing, but the same weight held out far from the body, or waved quickly from side to side, feels far heavier and far harder to control, even though not a gram has been added. So two 550 kg cabins can behave very differently - a low, compact kart rig sits well inside the limits, while a tall VR cabin with screens on outriggers can meet the weight yet exceed the platform limits on center of gravity and inertia, which is what actually decides the right platform, not the weight alone. Sizing around 15% above the static weight keeps full motion authority in reserve; a tall cabin or offset, cantilevered mass is worth a quick check with the team. Sending the cabin weight, dimensions and the location of the heavy parts lets the sales team recommend the right model - and, for a larger cabin, a tuned motion envelope and dynamics agreed up front - so the platform holds that margin.

The top frame of the platform is a mounting interface, not a load-bearing chassis - structural stiffness comes from the floor of the cockpit bolted onto it. The integrator designs the cabin and its floor; the mounting-point layout is provided in the Product Manual, so that structure can be planned before the platform arrives.

The platform ships with technical documentation and the mounting references needed to design the rig around its exact mounting points. For teams that need geometry to model against, simplified 3D models are available on request to business customers only, after a signed NDA - get in touch with the integration details and the team will share what fits the project.

Noise varies by model and duty cycle. Qubic System runs at 54-59 dB(A) in typical operation on the QS-210, QS-220 and QS-S25 - around conversation level - while larger models, and intense sessions, run louder. Professional Series and Linear platforms are louder under industrial duty cycles; contact the sales team for model-specific acoustic data.

Professional Series actuators follow an hours-based service schedule - inspection, lubrication and, on oil-filled models, oil changes at defined running-hour intervals, plus manufacturer service at longer intervals. Qubic platforms need only basic cleaning. A maintenance plan is provided per model.

Each platform runs a guided calibration routine in the ForceSeatPM software after installation. A cold-start reference run aligns the actuators before use.

Standard platforms operate in 5-40 degrees Celsius environments. For installations outside that range, the specific deployment should be discussed with the sales team.

Compact Qubic platforms fit a standard room, while a 6DOF Professional Series cabin needs more floor area and vertical clearance for full heave and tilt. The required ceiling height is driven mainly by the height of the cockpit mounted on the platform plus the heave and tilt travel above it, so it is calculated per cabin. The product datasheet lists the installation envelope per model.

Upper-floor installation is possible; whether a specific floor can take a given platform is for the integrator to verify from the platform documentation, typically with a structural engineer. Compact Qubic platforms are free-standing and far easier to place above ground level.

A Factory Acceptance Test can be arranged on request at the Nadolice Wielkie facility - attended on site or witnessed remotely (a remote FAT), at the cost of the buyer. Separately, the Hardware Imitator M10 lets the SDK integration and communication protocol be verified before the unit ships.

Motion Systems focuses on motion platform mechanics and software. For complete simulator builds, a network of vetted integrators handles cockpit design, visual systems, and controls. The sales team can connect projects with the right partner.

Custom payload and envelope configurations beyond the standard catalog are available as bespoke solutions. The team scopes these per project once the cabin mass, dimensions and motion requirements are defined.

A belt tensioner pulls the harness against the chest and shoulders to simulate the sustained forces a motion platform cannot hold - the steady pull of braking, acceleration or sustained G. Like a G-seat, it addresses the sustained-G limitation a platform reproduces only at onset before it washes out - but it works through harness tension, not movable seat panels. The Qubic System QS-BT1 is a two-channel example, applying up to 200 N per channel through the racing harness.

For cues a motion platform cannot sustain, yes. A platform reproduces the first moment of braking or acceleration and then returns to center, so the steady pull fades; a belt tensioner holds that pull on the body, which research identifies as the weak area of platform motion - sustained-G perception. It is most valuable for braking feel in racing and load cues in flight training. For short transient cues a well-tuned platform already covers, the added value is smaller.

Four things separate a belt tensioner that helps from one that distracts. First, force control: smooth, proportional tension rather than on-off jerks. Second, low latency, so the pull matches the on-screen event. Third, the number of channels, where two channels drive the shoulders independently for directional cues. Fourth, clean integration with the motion software. The Qubic System QS-BT1, for example, is a two-channel direct-drive unit delivering up to 200 N per channel through ForceSeatPM. The right unit depends on the rig and the harness.

In most cases yes, since a belt tensioner mounts to the rig and routes the harness over the shoulders independently of the rest of the setup. On a moving platform it must be fixed to the moving structure so the harness travels with the seat, not against it. Mounting layout and harness type determine the fit, so the configuration is worth confirming for a specific rig. The Qubic System line covers belt-tensioner setups for sim racing.

The number of people a single motion platform seats scales with its payload class and cabin design, so a higher-payload model carries a larger, multi-seat cabin. As reference cabins, the PS-3TM-350 suits a single-seat training cockpit, the 550 kg PS-3TM-550 seats up to an instructor and a trainee in one two-seat cockpit, and the PS-3TM-1000 carries a full cabin of up to four occupants - the real ceiling on any model follows the payload and its center of gravity, not a fixed seat count. For a 4D theater, ride or VR venue, higher-payload models seat several riders on one platform, and additional platforms expand a facility beyond that.

In most cases an existing cockpit can be mounted on a Motion Systems motion platform, once its dimensions and weight are checked against the target model. The rig frame must match the platform's crossbeam spacing (listed as min/max in the product manuals), the combined cockpit and occupant mass must stay within the platform's payload, and there must be clearance beneath the seat for the actuators. Most standard T-slot aluminum-profile sim racing rigs (40 mm series, M8 slot nuts) fit after a dimensional check, and the Hardware Imitator M10 lets integration with the existing simulation be tested before the motion base ships.

ForceSeatPM includes built-in VR HeadWay compensation that cancels platform movement from the VR headset tracking, keeping the VR view aligned with the head of the user.

The ForceSeatMI SDK provides C, C++, C# and Python interfaces, plus Unity and Unreal Engine plugins, for sending telemetry or direct position data, and runs on Windows through ForceSeatPM. Independent Ethernet and multi-platform control belong to ForceSeatDI.

ForceSeatPM ships with built-in profiles for 154+ titles including all major flight and racing simulators. New titles are added regularly via software updates.

The Hardware Imitator M10 runs firmware that emulates the SDK interface of a specific platform (ForceSeatMI/DI protocol and telemetry) over USB, so integration software can be built and tested before the platform ships. It is available free on request with a first platform order - Qubic System or Professional Series - that includes an FSMI/FSDI license, along with a 6-month SDK license for the integration. It does not simulate the physical dynamics of the platform.

Native plugins for both Unity and Unreal Engine are provided, with full documentation and sample projects. The plugins handle telemetry extraction and platform communication automatically.

The SDK provides real-time MATLAB®/Simulink® integration with per-axis control (heave, pitch, roll, yaw, sway, surge), supported by both ForceSeatMI (recommended) and ForceSeatDI for low-level direct control.

ForceSeatPM ships with every platform at no extra cost, including runtime profiles, motion tuning and VR HeadWay. ForceSeatMI and ForceSeatDI are separate, one-time perpetual licenses - ForceSeatMI per device or by AppID, ForceSeatDI on the platform controller. The Hardware Imitator M10 is available free on request with a first platform order that includes an FSMI/FSDI license - not with an SDK license alone - along with a 6-month SDK license so integration can run on the imitator while the platform is built.

ForceSeatPM can drive several platforms over USB, but all receive identical telemetry from one vehicle. Two QS-220 rigs on one PC let a rally driver and co-driver feel the same car; likewise two QS-BT1 units give both crew members the same harness cues from one running simulation. Independent or synchronized per-platform control, and multi-platform control over Ethernet, require ForceSeatDI.

SDK manuals and code examples are available in the Knowledge Hub on the Motion Systems site, so the integration path can be reviewed before purchase. The Hardware Imitator M10 also answers SDK calls like a real platform, so the integration can be tested without owning hardware. Machine manuals are available from the sales team on request.

The SDK is a documented, multi-language interface (C, C++, C#, Python, plus Unity, Unreal Engine and MATLAB®/Simulink®), so the integration uses mainstream tools rather than a closed black box. As the manufacturer, Motion Systems maintains the interface across hardware generations, which protects existing integration code.

ForceSeatMI and ForceSeatDI run across the Qubic and Professional Series, so integration code written once carries to the next platform without a rewrite. The Hardware Imitator M10 can be reprogrammed to emulate different models, so the next project is prepared against the right target in advance.

ForceSeatDI provides low-latency, direct control and supports Linux and Raspberry Pi in addition to Windows, which suits research rigs and embedded installations. ForceSeatMI covers Windows game and simulator integration through ForceSeatPM.

One engineer is enough for most integrations. The ForceSeatMI SDK ships with C, C++, C#, Python and Unity and Unreal Engine plugins, and the Hardware Imitator M10 lets that engineer build and test the integration before the platform arrives. Technical support is available through the ticketing system, so a one- or two-person integrator does not need a full software department.

Titles outside the built-in profile catalog reach the platform through two paths. The Direct Input feature in ForceSeatPM maps a gaming controller - joystick, gamepad or wheel - so the same device steers the in-game vehicle and drives the motion platform (or a belt tensioner) at the same time, with no game telemetry feed and no coding; a built-in mapping wizard handles the axis setup. For full physics-based motion, the ForceSeatMI or ForceSeatDI SDK integrates a title's own telemetry - suited to developers and integrators, and licensed separately.

Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) is the main documented console example, reaching the platform through a PC relay: the console streams vehicle-physics telemetry over the local network to a PC running ForceSeatPM, which drives the motion platform. A wired Ethernet link and an open UDP port keep that telemetry flowing. Console coverage is title-specific and grows as each game's telemetry is integrated, so the live supported-games list is the current source for console titles. The PC stays the primary environment, with the full supported-games catalog available there.

ForceSeatPM ships with click-and-play profiles for 154+ simulation titles across racing, flight and professional training software. Because the catalog grows regularly, the live supported-games list is the authoritative, current source rather than any fixed number. ForceSeatPM serves both the Motion Systems and Qubic System lines from the same profile library, so the supported-games list is identical on either brand.

A modest Windows PC runs ForceSeatPM, the control software that drives the motion platform. ForceSeatPM's own system requirements are light: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a CPU with AVX instruction support, around 1 GB of RAM, and a USB 2.0 or Ethernet connection to the platform. The simulator or game running alongside it sets its own, higher PC and GPU requirements, so the build is sized to the demanding application, not to ForceSeatPM. The PC processes telemetry in real time and sends motion commands to the platform, so it stays in the loop for every session.

Professional Series platforms carry a standard 24-month warranty on parts and labor. Qubic platforms carry a 24-month warranty for retail and consumer buyers, and a 12-month warranty for commercial use. An extended warranty is available under a separate agreement. The warranty is non-transferable.

Payment is by bank transfer, typically 50% on order and 50% before delivery. For established commercial accounts, 40% on order and 60% before delivery is also available; individual cases can be arranged with the sales team.

Professional Series platforms are built to order with a 6-10 week lead time from payment, from the PS-3TM-200 to the PS-6TM-1500 and PS-6TL-1500. Qubic platforms typically ship within 1-3 weeks.

Motion Systems does not offer leasing or financing - the buyer arranges these with their own bank or financing partner. The sales team can provide the quotation and specifications a financier needs to assess the purchase.

Volume orders may qualify for project-specific pricing, and larger programs can be assigned dedicated project management. The sales team can scope a fleet quote.

Motion Systems ships worldwide. Smaller orders go via courier (FedEx) with tracking and insurance; platform orders default to EXW Nadolice Wielkie (Incoterms 2020), with freight arranged by the buyer or by Motion Systems at the cost of the buyer on request.

With the Hardware Imitator M10, software integration starts on day one, in parallel with production. Professional Series platforms are built to order in 6-10 weeks; integration runs alongside, so go-live is not gated by delivery. The team can give a project-specific estimate.

Motion Systems works with a network of integrators ranging from small specialist firms to large defense and research suppliers. The sales team can share references that match a given company size and application, so a smaller integrator sees comparable projects.

Yes. A shared-telemetry setup, such as several seats following one vehicle, runs over USB from a single computer through ForceSeatPM. A multi-station exercise where each cabin needs its own independent or precisely synchronized motion - instructor and trainee stations, or networked crew positions - runs over Ethernet through ForceSeatDI, which is built for per-platform control across a network.

Technical support is handled through a dedicated ticket system: requests are submitted through our support portal (support2.motionsystems.eu), so the team that knows the platform handles each case.

Because platforms are built to order at the in-house facility, components can be reproduced or an equivalent supplied rather than the platform being stranded when a part is discontinued. An extended warranty is available by agreement, and longer-term spares and service can be arranged for projects with a multi-year obligation.

The SDK interface is designed to stay stable across hardware generations, so integration code written today carries forward to a newer platform without a rewrite. The only exception is a platform from ten or more years back - and even then, the team works the upgrade path through with the integrator.

Method beats catalog browsing. The questions that separate suppliers are practical: can the platform be sized from the actual cabin weight and center of gravity, can motion-cueing quality be tested in a demo running a scenario the buyer supplies, are spare parts available for platforms sold years ago, and does the SDK carry integration code across hardware generations. A supplier that holds up on these holds up across the five-year life of the decision, not just the first project.

Motion Systems builds the motion platform and its control software, not the finished simulator. The cockpit, visual systems, controls and final assembly are handled by vetted integrators, who combine the platform with the rest of the build. This division keeps each side focused - engineered motion hardware from the manufacturer, tailored simulators from the integrator. The sales team can introduce a project to a suitable partner.

A professional simulator combines five layers: the motion platform that moves the cabin, the cockpit or cabin shell, the visual system (projectors, monitors or VR), the input controls, and the software that links simulation to motion. Motion Systems supplies the platform and the SDK that drives it; an integrator assembles the other layers and delivers the certified, complete device. Understanding the split early helps a project budget and source each part correctly.

A commercial center needs platforms built for high duty cycle, a layout that fits the floor space, content and booking software, and a maintenance plan for long daily hours. The Qubic System line is the strongest fit here, from compact, high-throughput stations to premium 6DOF setups like the QS-S25, and gives sim-racing centers the best balance of price and motion effects. Beyond hardware, an integrator can handle cockpits, networking and the room build. A short scoping call on space, throughput and budget is the practical starting point.

Both Motion Systems and Qubic System offer ways to feel a platform in person before ordering, because motion is hard to judge from specs or video alone. Qubic System platforms can be tried hands-on at showrooms worldwide (qubicsystem.com/showrooms), where compact sim racing and VR rigs are set up for a test drive. For Professional Series projects, the sales team can arrange a demonstration - running the buyer's own scenario at the Nadolice Wielkie facility, or connecting the buyer with an existing installation nearby.

Qubic devices start from EUR 1390 (the QS-BT1); for the platforms, class, payload and degrees of freedom set the price. The Qubic line is the entry point for compact and training setups, while the Professional Series covers heavier R&D and defense-grade builds. The sales team prepares a quote once the application and cabin are known.

Qubic System platforms are finished products and carry CE marking, including the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU. Professional Series platforms ship as partly completed machinery under Directive 2006/42/EC, so EMC conformity of the complete simulator is established by the integrator that builds it.

An accurate quote needs the application (racing, flight, maritime, research, defense), the cabin mass and dimensions, the required degrees of freedom and the destination for shipping terms. With those, the sales team can recommend a model and prepare pricing and a timeline. If some details are not settled yet, that is fine - the team helps fill the gaps, so it is worth reaching out early rather than waiting.

Purchase price is only the first line. Total cost of ownership also covers integration (largely a one-time effort, reduced when the SDK and code carry across projects) plus scheduled service and downtime over the working life. A platform that integrates once and runs reliably can be cheaper across five years than a lower sticker price.

Prices are quoted net EXW (ex works, Nadolice Wielkie), so at EXW the buyer is responsible for freight and import duties. Depending on the preference of the buyer, a delivered DAP or DDP figure can be prepared per project, since tariffs depend on the country and trade terms. The sales team can quote the options so the landed cost is clear before ordering.

The gap is in what the sticker price hides: motion-cueing quality, low latency that keeps movement in step with the visuals, duty-cycle endurance for daily commercial use, and an SDK plus spare-parts support measured in years. A platform with high latency lags behind the on-screen action and undercuts the realism it was bought to deliver, so the lowest purchase price is not always the lowest total cost of ownership. A configuration quote makes the trade-off concrete.

Building a platform in-house is feasible, but it usually takes twelve to eighteen months and leaves one team owning the mechanics, control electronics, safety system and ongoing maintenance. A documented platform with an SDK lets a small team integrate in days rather than weeks and reuse the code across future projects, while the Hardware Imitator M10 allows that work to start before the platform ships. Build makes sense when motion control is the core product; buy makes sense when the simulator around it is.

Yes. Professional Series platforms ship as partly completed machinery under Directive 2006/42/EC, with a Declaration of Incorporation (Annex II 1B) and Assembly Instructions, so CE marking of the complete simulator is the responsibility of the integrator; Qubic System units are finished products carrying CE marking. Motion Systems is ISO 9001:2015 certified (TÜV SÜD) and ITAR-free, manufacturing in Nadolice Wielkie, Poland (an EU and NATO member state). Most projects need nothing beyond that; where a tender makes component origin a formal criterion, it is handled within the project rather than as paperwork to assemble up front.

Motion Systems supplies a Declaration of Incorporation under the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, since a motion platform is partly completed machinery, together with ISO 9001:2015 documentation. Certifying the complete simulator (EASA, military or maritime) is the responsibility of the integrator, supported by the platform-level technical evidence.

A safety stop on Professional Series (emergency stop or Motion-Lock by model), a Motion-Lock on Qubic System, and software-defined envelope limits keep movement within a safe range. Beyond that, some models add electromagnetic brakes and a control cabinet with safety relays, while others do not. Model-specific safety documentation supports certification of the complete system.

Yes. Motion Systems platforms are training devices, not classified as dual-use, and contain no US-origin controlled components, so there are no re-export restrictions for NATO and partner countries. Platforms are built in-house in Nadolice Wielkie, Poland (EU and NATO member state); the control electronics is designed in-house, and its processors and chips are sourced only from NATO, neutral, or friendly countries. Component origin is a formal criterion only in a small set of tenders; there it is addressed within the project, not paperwork to chase up front.

For a platform classified as partly completed machinery under 2006/42/EC, the supplier provides a Declaration of Incorporation (Annex II 1B) and Assembly Instructions (Annex VI) and retains the technical file for at least 10 years. The integrator issues the EC Declaration of Conformity and CE marking on the completed simulator. A tender clause demanding CE on the platform itself is a specification error. An ISO 9001 certificate and a supply-chain origin declaration typically complete the dossier.

No. Motion Systems supplies the motion platform as partly completed machinery, not a certified simulator. FNPT, FTD and EASA qualification is granted to the complete device and is the responsibility of the integrator. Motion Systems contributes the motion base within its payload range (150-1500 kg) plus the Declaration of Incorporation the integrator needs; Full Flight Simulators with much higher payload are outside the Motion Systems range.

Yes, as the motion component. A Professional Series 6DOF platform with large heave stroke (the PS-6TL-1500 offers over 505 mm of heave) can drive a bridge simulator, and the ForceSeatMI/DI SDK integrates with bridge software stacks. Certification under DNV-ST-0033 applies to the complete simulator, so the system integrator - not the platform supplier - holds it.

The platform integrates through the SDK (ForceSeatMI/ForceSeatDI), and the integrator connects it to the simulation network. Interoperability standards such as DIS and HLA live at the simulation-software layer and are set per program; there is no single NATO standard for motion-platform fidelity. The platform supplies real-time telemetry usable for networked exercises and After-Action Review.

Independent cost studies, including US defense training data, show large gaps. A helicopter simulator hour runs about 260 USD against 605 USD for the real aircraft, and across 38 military simulators the median operating cost is about 88 USD per hour. For fast jets such as the F-35 the simulator is 1000-2000 USD against 34000-42000 USD. A US DoD benefit-cost analysis reported a ratio of 2.52 - each dollar invested returned 2.52.

A motion platform supplied on its own ships as partly completed machinery under EU Directive 2006/42/EC, with a Declaration of Incorporation and Assembly Instructions rather than CE marking on the platform itself. CE marking and the EC Declaration of Conformity apply to the completed simulator and are the responsibility of the integrator. A tender clause demanding CE on the platform alone is a specification error worth correcting early. The platform-level documentation supports certification of the finished system.

Defense training simulators call for platforms with documented supply chains, sustained duty cycles and integration into networked exercises. Motion Systems supplies the platform as partly completed machinery under 2006/42/EC, manufactured in the EU and ITAR-free, while the integrator builds and certifies the complete trainer. The platform feeds real-time telemetry for networked exercises and After-Action Review. Where a tender makes component origin a formal criterion, it is handled within the project.

A complete simulator's price is set mostly by the integrator's scope - cockpit, visual system, controls and integration - with the motion platform as one line of that budget. Motion Systems supplies the motion platform and its control software; Qubic System devices start from EUR 1390, and the class, payload and degrees of freedom set the platform figure from there. A verified integrator scopes the rest, so a full-simulator quote is prepared per project once the application and cabin are defined.