Abstract: A compact, cascaded three degrees of freedom (DOF) motion system for providing roll, pitch and heave movement to a cockpit of a flight simulator. The cockpit is nested within a rotatable roll frame which is gimbaled within a pitch frame. The pitch frame is pivotally connected at its rear to a vertically disposed and translatable heave frame. A pair of heavy, torsionally rigid, horizontally disposed, torque tubes in a four-bar parallelogram linkage arrangement serve to connect the heave frame to a fixed base frame and to ensure parallel movement of said heave frame. Servo actuators connected to each of the roll, pitch and heave frames permit simultaneous, independent three-axis motion. Balance actuators, frame locking mechanisms, as well as other safety features, ensure failsafe operation of the improved motion system.

Abstract: A "G" seat for providing kinesthetic (sensation of motion) cues to a pilot of a simulated aircraft. The seat is designed specifically to stimulate elements of the haptic sensory system and is capable of independently producing desired skeletal attitude shifts, area of flesh contact changes and flesh pressure gradient variations and coordinating same to simulate acceleration effects. The seat contains two mosaics of air cells forming a seat cushion and a back cushion, respectively. The air cells comprise tension spring loaded bellows having rigid top plates. The top plates of the cells in each mosaic form a body supporting surface of the corresponding cushion. The cells may be individually driven under computer control to vary the elevation, attitude and shape of these body supporting surfaces. In addition, clam-shell shaped air cells are positioned on either side of the seat cushion to provide thigh pressure and area of contact variations and a lap belt is driven to provide ventral area pressure variation.

Abstract: Optical fibers which protrude through a base plate to simulate airfield lights in a closed-circuit television visual display are accurately and securely yet removably positioned with a desired angular orientation and a desired protrusion by means of attached keying or aligning pins which register with a key plate. The key pins are attached to the optical fibers using heat-shrinkable tubing. The other ends of the fibers also may be accurately positioned using heat-shrinkable tubing.