How Sim Configuration Works

The Sim Config tab is where you tell DR Sim Manager exactly what motion hardware you have. DRSM uses this information to calculate how each actuator needs to move to achieve the desired platform motion — a process called inverse kinematics.

What Is a Sim Component?

A sim component is a virtual representation of a physical piece of motion hardware. It defines:

What type of hardware it is (hexapod, quad post, seat mover, bass shaker, etc.)
Physical dimensions — actuator positions, lengths, and mounting geometry
Travel ranges — how far each axis or actuator can move

When motion cues request “tilt 5° to the right,” DRSM uses the sim component’s geometry to calculate exactly how much each individual actuator needs to extend or retract to achieve that tilt. This calculation happens automatically — you just need to enter your rig’s measurements accurately.

Supported Platform Types

DRSM supports a wide range of motion hardware. Each type has different degrees of freedom (DoF) and axis capabilities.

Full 6-DOF Platforms

Linear Hexapod — Six linear actuators arranged in a Stewart platform configuration. Provides motion on all six axes: surge, sway, heave, pitch, roll, and yaw. This is the most versatile platform type and the most common for high-end motion simulators.
Rotary Hexapod — Same hexapod geometry, but using rotary servos instead of linear actuators. Same six-axis capability.
4-DoF, Linear Actuators — Four linear actuators providing roll, pitch, yaw, and heave.

Multi-DOF Platforms

Quad Post — Four actuators at the corners of the platform, providing roll, pitch, and heave (3 DoF). Common in racing simulator setups.
3-DoF, Rotating Actuators — Three rotary actuators providing roll, pitch, and yaw.
Double TL + Surge — Dual traction loss actuators plus a surge actuator (3 DoF).
YawVR — Supported in 2-DoF and 3-DoF configurations for YawVR motion simulators.

Seat and Motion Layers

Seat Mover (Linear or Rotary) — Moves the seat laterally for sway and surge effects (2 DoF). Available with either linear or rotary actuators.
Double TL — Dual traction loss actuators (2 DoF).
Surge Layer — A single-axis fore/aft motion stage (1 DoF). Often stacked on top of another platform to add dedicated surge motion.
Traction Loss — A single-axis actuator that simulates wheel slip or traction loss feedback (1 DoF).

Peripheral Devices

Bass Shaker — Subwoofer-driven tactile transducers mounted to the rig. Driven by the Bass Shaker Cue to produce low-frequency haptic effects.
Belt Tensioner — Harness tensioning system that tightens seat belts based on G-forces. Available in single-belt and dual-belt configurations.
Wind Simulator — Fan-driven wind effect system. Controlled by the Wind Simulator Cue based on vehicle speed and direction.

Specialty Platforms

Yaw Platform — A dedicated yaw-only rotation stage, often used as an add-on to platforms that lack yaw capability.

Dimensions and Setup

Each sim component type requires specific physical measurements to calculate inverse kinematics correctly. The exact parameters vary by type, but typically include:

Pivot distances — The spacing between actuator mounting points on the base and platform
Actuator length — The neutral (mid-travel) length of each actuator
Travel distance — The total stroke of each actuator
Travel limits — Maximum allowed motion on each axis (in mm for linear axes, degrees for rotational axes)

Enter these values as accurately as possible. Incorrect dimensions mean the inverse kinematics calculations won’t match your physical rig, resulting in motion that looks or feels wrong.

Presets

Many popular simulator manufacturers have preset configurations built into DRSM. Selecting a preset automatically fills in all the geometry values for that hardware, so you don’t need to measure anything yourself.

Presets are available for:

DOF Reality simulators (H2, H3, H6, P2, P3, P6, and more)
Departed Reality DIY layouts
Other popular platforms as they are added

To use a preset, select it from the dropdown menu on your sim component’s tab. If your hardware isn’t listed or you’ve made modifications, select Custom to enter your own measurements.

See DOF Reality Simulators for preset details.

Multiple Sim Components

You can add multiple sim components to represent a complex rig. For example:

A Linear Hexapod for your main 6-DOF motion platform
A Bass Shaker for tactile haptic feedback
A Wind Simulator for speed-based airflow
A Belt Tensioner for G-force harness effects

Each component operates independently on its own set of axes and outputs. Click the + tab in the Sim Config window to add additional components.

Overallocation Factor

Some sim component types include an Overallocation Factor setting. This controls what happens when the combined motion across multiple axes exceeds what the hardware can physically deliver.

For example, if your quad post platform is asked to do full pitch and full roll simultaneously, the actuators might not have enough travel to achieve both at 100%. The Overallocation Factor manages this by proportionally scaling back all axes so they fit within the available travel.

With an Overallocation Factor of 1.0, the system distributes motion proportionally — if full pitch and full roll are requested at the same time, each axis is scaled to approximately 50% to keep everything within safe limits.

When the overallocation limit is reached, it can be noticeable and may break immersion. The goal is to tune your motion profiles so that the overallocation limit is rarely triggered during normal gameplay.

For more details, see Overallocation Factor.