more reading material here:
http://www.we-at-sea.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/RL5-1-2006-008-Ampelmann-demonstrator.pdf

and

http://proceedings.ewea.org/ewec2006/allfiles2/594_Ewec2006fullpaper.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIjQNcHGv_E
more videos, a bit of info here: http://www.ampelmann.nl/products/

>>30128 The electronics and software for something like this has become hugely simplified in the last decade or so. The smartphone in most peoples pocket has both the sensors and processing power to control those actuators.

>>30127 Not gonna totally agree with your input on this one. I've worked with the syncro/servo systems and there is as much 'telling' as there is 'duty'.

>>30123 The electronics are the least of it, finding actuators that can be so precisely and quickly operated was the biggest issue with devices like this. Which is why those crappy simulators that were about in the 90's were so bad.

>>30116 Computer controlled hydraulics...wow! Can you imagine the sensors involved to compensate for the tossing seas and the particular craft their attached to?

>>30117 A ship launching equated with J.C.'s bowels... I see nothing wrong with that metaphor.

>>0 This reminds me of the time I went to the toilet after eating too much bran

>>30116 Love it!

relevant and amazing is this hydraulic platform on a offshore ship, the opposite of a flight simulator ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9IFSF_TTe8

it's pretty common. a friend works on a offshore ship similar to this one. Can stay at one place without the use of anchor(s).

Impressive! I was going to ask about the name (Arabic markings) but looked it up and saw the UAE did the purchasing from the Dutch shipbuilder.
Did you notice the props?; they do the turning(no rudder).

A bit more dramatic: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/6640219/cacb39ab/tewaterlating_esnaad_221,_in_foxhol,_groningen.html