12/25/2025
Quantum Leap™ – 16-bit TMR Sensors
Precision in flight simulation begins with how accurately physical motion is converted into digital data. With Quantum Leap™, we are introducing 16-bit TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistance) sensors, a sensing technology rooted in quantum physics and used in demanding industrial and aerospace applications.
WHAT IS QUANTUM TUNNELING, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
At the core of TMR technology is quantum tunneling. In classical physics, electrons cannot pass through an insulating barrier. In quantum mechanics, electrons behave as probability waves and can tunnel through an ultra-thin insulating layer.
A TMR sensor is built from:
• Two magnetic layers
• A nanometer-scale insulating barrier between them
As a magnetic field changes, the alignment of the magnetic layers shifts. This directly affects how easily electrons tunnel through the barrier, resulting in a highly precise and extremely low-noise change in electrical resistance, even for very small movements.
WHY TMR OUTPERFORMS HALL-EFFECT SENSORS
Most flight-sim hardware today relies on Hall-effect sensors, which measure voltage changes in a semiconductor exposed to a magnetic field. While reliable and cost-effective, Hall sensors are limited in resolution and noise performance, particularly around center and during very small inputs.
TMR sensors provide:
• A much higher signal-to-noise ratio
• True 16-bit resolution
• Excellent linearity within a controlled magnetic range
• Superior thermal stability and long-term consistency
USING THE RIGHT SENSOR FOR EACH AXIS
TMR sensors deliver their full advantage where magnet-to-sensor distance remains tightly controlled. On axes with very long mechanical travel, magnetic field strength drops too much over distance to fully exploit TMR’s precision.
That is why Quantum Leap™ is deployed selectively and deliberately:
• Horizon Plus Flight Controls
• Roll axis (yoke): 16-bit TMR sensor
• Pitch axis (yoke): 16-bit Hall-effect sensor
• Optimized for long travel
• Latitude Plus Throttle Quadrant:
• All six throttle axes use TMR
• Trim wheel uses TMR
ENGINEERING-LED, NOT SPEC-DRIVEN
Quantum Leap™ is not about chasing buzzwords. It is about applying advanced physics where it delivers tangible benefits, and proven solutions where they make more sense.
WHY SENSOR RESOLUTION MATTERS IN A SIMULATOR
In a real aircraft, control inputs are transmitted through cables, linkages, and aerodynamic loads. In a simulator, we are doing something fundamentally different. We are measuring pilot input, converting it into digital data, and letting the simulator determine how the aircraft responds.
For that reason, the sensor’s job is not to simulate cables.
Its job is to measure position and motion as accurately, smoothly, and repeatably as possible.
Real pilot inputs are continuous, not stepped. They are often very small, especially near center, and they are constantly corrected rather than held perfectly still. When sensor resolution is too low, these micro-inputs are quantized or lost. When resolution is high, they are preserved, resulting in smoother control response and greater precision.
This is why higher-resolution sensing improves center tracking, fine control precision, and overall feel, making the system feel more “connected” to the pilot. These benefits are especially noticeable during hand flying on approach, trim adjustments, and long sessions where noise or drift becomes more apparent over time.
This is where TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistance) sensors provide a clear advantage. Their low noise, high linearity, and excellent stability allow very small changes in position to be captured cleanly and consistently.
That is why TMR sensors are used where precision matters most:
• Roll axis on the yoke
• All throttle axes on the Latitude Plus Throttle Quadrant
• Trim wheel, where continuous micro-adjustments are critical
Where TMR is not physically possilbe, such as on the pitch axis with long mechanical travel, we use high-quality 16-bit Hall-effect sensors, carefully selected and tuned to deliver performance as close as possible to the Quantum Leap™ standard.
The goal is not to apply one technology everywhere, but to use the best sensing solution for each axis, based on physics and real-world performance.
What we are simulating are not cables. We are simulating what the pilot does and feels while interacting with a control system that, in the real world, happens to use cables.
That distinction matters.
Quantum Leap™
Built on quantum physics.
Applied with engineering discipline.
Built by pilots and simmers, for pilots and simmers.
