Simulator Systems

Within Aerospace Engineering this business group is responsible for the Company’s range of motion cueing products supplied around the world for both fast jet and helicopter applications. These systems provide “g” cues to the pilot under training through the seat itself and are therefore particularly suitable for integration into fixed base simulation without the need for 6 DOF motion. We have supplied Motion Cueing Seat systems and g-suit systems for Department of Defence programmes in the United States, the majority of US primes in the simulation industry, the majority of Europe’s Fast Jet programmes, and a number of customers in the Asia Pacific region. The Motion Cueing technology provided by Cranfield Aerospace Limited has been derived over many years of effort in Research and Development undertaken by both the Company and Cranfield University. The Company’s reputation is second to none in providing high quality, high fidelity g-cueing for simulator based training in the military sector.

Additional Cueing Devices

Differential seat cushion module, port & starboard, positive ‘G’ cueing and roll accelerations.

Independent port & starboard, lap harness cueing – Roll acceleration + Negative ‘G’ cueing.

Arrested landings, both land and carrier and Catapult launch sensations are achieved using a ‘CatLander’ system which consists of a torque motor mounted in the seat headbox giving a horizontal pull on the shoulder straps.

Additional Cueing Devices

G-Suit System

The G-Suit System is designed to complement the G Seat responding to demands sent by the host computer and proportional to vertical G. The system comprises a combination of electronics and pneumatics, the electronic element will be integrated within the G-seat EEC. The pneumatic element requires housing within 2 metres of the user. Inflation and deflation of Suit will be implemented by low-pressure regulated air supply.

G-Suit Systems

Motion Cueing Systems

Over a period of more than two decades Cranfield Aerospace (CAe) has supplied Motion Cueing Seats and other simulation products to a worldwide market. The evolutionary development of the CAe Motion Cueing Seat system has contributed to and benefited from CAe’s lead participation in various UK MOD / DERA motion cueing simulation studies. CAe has recently worked with NAVAIR in the US to develop state-of-the-art motion cueing solutions. The result is a company (CAe) with unsurpassed experience and skills in providing high fidelity motion cueing seat system design, and a cost-effective robust technical approach for both fast jet and helicopter training requirements.

Because of the compact, form-fit nature of the CAe motion cueing system, flight simulators can now be truly portable to provide ‘in Theatre’ training, any time, any place. The CAe ‘G-Seat’ can be operated simply by connecting to a domestic level power supply.

Motion Cueing Systems

Multi Axis Seat

The Motion Cueing Seat (MCS) system comprises the seat itself, a separately sited Electrical Equipment Cabinet (EEC), control systems and cable looms to connect to the input power supply, to the host simulator and between the EEC and the seat. The design will be incorporated into a real or replica ejection seat. Installation methods will be as per a real aircraft.

Multi-Axis Seat

Single Axis Seat

The Cranfield Aerospace G-Seat can provide realistic motion cueing for the complete flight envelope of a modern fighter aircraft. This is achieved by a combination of lowering the seat slightly, (which changes the eye height) whilst raising the seat pad. The pilot feels ‘squashed’ into his seat. The visual cue coupled with the ‘G’ force effect can be sustained throughout a manoeuvre or varied as more ‘G’ is pulled.

Single Axis Seat

Rotary Wing Aircraft Cueing Systems

The Cranfield Aerospace (CAe) motion cueing system for helicopters uses the features of a multi-axis G-seat, with the vibration element enhanced to provide a continuous cue.

The CAe motion seat system is designed to provide acceleration cues in the vertical (heave), longitudinal (surge) and lateral (sway) directions and vibration cues. These accelerations cues are provided by three methods.