Mechanical Roll-Based Feedback or Recording Mechanism of a Flight Simulator Setup (Updated two months ago)

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A spool-based recording or feedback tracking unit of a flight simulator setup. The metal arm with a central component is likely a pen arm or stylus—used for recording or interpreting the motion of the spools.

Tags: historic technology

Added to SFSU Over the Years on July 31, 2026.

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Information

  • Identifier: TP-ATA-1878
  • Context: <p><strong data-start="1459" data-end="1487">Bottom-Right Components:</strong></p> <ul data-start="1488" data-end="1671"> <li data-start="1488" data-end="1671"> <p data-start="1490" data-end="1561">The group of knobs or terminals at the lower right corner are probably:</p> <ul data-start="1564" data-end="1671"> <li data-start="1564" data-end="1617"> <p data-start="1566" data-end="1617"><strong data-start="1566" data-end="1586">Adjustment dials</strong> for sensitivity or calibration</p> </li> <li data-start="1620" data-end="1671"> <p data-start="1622" data-end="1671"><strong data-start="1622" data-end="1646">Connection terminals</strong> for input/output voltage</p> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong data-start="752" data-end="775">Possible Functions:</strong></p> <h5 data-start="777" data-end="822">1. <strong data-start="788" data-end="822">Data Recorder (Analog Plotter)</strong></h5> <ul data-start="823" data-end="1143"> <li data-start="823" data-end="877"> <p data-start="825" data-end="877">Used to <strong data-start="833" data-end="876">log flight data or user input over time</strong>.</p> </li> <li data-start="878" data-end="1049"> <p data-start="880" data-end="974">May have drawn or marked patterns on the paper as the simulator was used&mdash;tracking motion like:</p> <ul data-start="977" data-end="1049"> <li data-start="977" data-end="1001"> <p data-start="979" data-end="1001">Control stick position</p> </li> <li data-start="1004" data-end="1022"> <p data-start="1006" data-end="1022">Altitude changes</p> </li> <li data-start="1025" data-end="1049"> <p data-start="1027" data-end="1049">Thrust or error margin</p> </li> </ul> </li> <li data-start="1050" data-end="1143"> <p data-start="1052" data-end="1143">The <strong data-start="1056" data-end="1101">stylus could have been moved electrically</strong> to plot readings based on variable input.</p> </li> </ul> <h5 data-start="1145" data-end="1181">2. <strong data-start="1156" data-end="1181">Input Variable Feeder</strong></h5> <ul data-start="1182" data-end="1445"> <li data-start="1182" data-end="1341"> <p data-start="1184" data-end="1341">It&rsquo;s also possible this was part of a <strong data-start="1222" data-end="1247">programmed input loop</strong>, feeding a tape or strip that altered a flight condition (e.g., variable wind, error timing).</p> </li> <li data-start="1182" data-end="1341">Something&nbsp;like a <strong data-start="1363" data-end="1396">primitive mechanical &ldquo;script&rdquo;</strong>&mdash;a timeline of values the simulator responded to.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Credits:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p>Some technical descriptions and historical interpretations were developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI.</p>
  • Geographic Coverage: San Francisco, CA
  • Temporal Coverage: mid-to-late 1960s
  • Type: Still Image
  • Format: Negative
  • Source: San Francisco State University Archives
  • Rights: Public

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Update by DIVA Digitization Team two months ago
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