ACUTROL(R)3000 Digital Motion Controller Shipments Surpass 200 Unit Milestone

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ - ACUTRONIC USA surpassed the 200 unit milestone for shipments of its ACUTROL(R)3000 digital motion controller for inertial guidance test systems (IGTS) and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) flight motion simulation systems. The first ACUTROL(R)3000 production unit shipped in April 2004. Since then more than 215 units have been successfully installed at customer sites worldwide.

"This is an exciting milestone for us," said Frank Davis, Manufacturing Manager at ACUTRONIC USA. "The popularity of this controller has exceeded even our most optimistic projections."

The ACUTROL(R)3000 is an all-digital precision motion controller specifically designed for optimum performance in single- and multi-axis IGTS motion tables and HWIL flight motion simulation systems. It offers a number of significant improvements over previous motion controllers for these applications:

    -- IGTS and HWIL systems are based on either electric or hydraulic
       actuators.  In the case of hydraulic systems, the ACUTROL(R)3000 is the
       only known controller worldwide that provides all digital servo loops
       (including the hydraulic pressure loop).  When all aspects of the servo
       loop are implemented digitally in software, configuration,
       compensation, and documentation of the control system are greatly
       simplified.

    -- The ACUTROL(R)3000 is based on a flexible servo architecture that
       enables creative solutions for unusual and challenging motion systems.
       For example, closing a digital pressure loop around a pressure sensor,
       implementing electronic plant damping, and/or modeling and canceling
       plant non-linearity all become routine.  Built-in analysis tools are
       used to configure a system and to measure the resultant dynamic
       performance.

    -- In the past, HWIL systems required precise clock synchronization
       between the digital motion controller and the host simulation computer.
       The ACUTROL(R)3000 eliminates this requirement by means of unique,
       proprietary digital algorithms that provide automatic time base
       synchronization with the simulation computer.  This allows the
       simulation computer to slave to the unit-under-test rather than the
       motion controller -- a much preferred architecture for simulation
       engineers.

    -- Budget constraints have forced many facilities to upgrade existing
       equipment rather than purchase new equipment.  ACUTRONIC has designed
       the ACUTROL(R)3000 specifically to be retrofitted on any existing
       Contraves, Benton, Carco, or ACUTRONIC motion tables, as well as many
       of their competitor's products.

"ACUTRONIC continues to push the envelop of digital motion controller technology in order to meet the increasingly demanding performance requirements of tomorrow's inertial guidance systems, missiles and precision guided munition technologies," said Larry Zana, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development. "These market share results illustrate that we have the right controller, with the right technologies, at the right time. The ACUTROL(R)3000 remains the dominant digital motion controller in the HWIL and IGTS market today."

About ACUTRONIC USA:

Established in 1986, ACUTRONIC USA (http://www.acutronic.com) is a recognized world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of motion simulation equipment and inertial guidance test systems for the automotive, defense, space and aerospace markets. ACUTRONIC USA pioneered the development of the first truly digital motion control system for IGTS and HWIL flight motion simulation applications. Today, the ACUTROL(R)3000 digital motion controller is unparalleled for these applications, with more than 215 field- proven units installed worldwide. In 2005, ACUTRONIC acquired the assets of Carco Electronics, thereby consolidating a more than 40-year heritage of motion system technology and products with the ACUTRONIC product line. ACUTRONIC's intellectual property portfolio now represents approximately 99% of the worldwide installed base of HWIL flight motion simulation systems.