Yep, that's a thing. It's called "hardware in the loop". There are indeed control surface servo motors plugged in, and they move around to wherever the flight c

Yep, that's a thing. It's called "hardware in the loop". There are indeed control surface servo motors plugged in, and they move around to wherever the flight computer commands them to based on what the simulated vehicle is doing. Unlike a real vehicle, though, the boards and wire harnesses are quite a bit messier. All the important wires run through additional equipment so that folk can automate tests where things break. One thing that we don't have plugged in normally is the propulsion motors. The noise would be rather obnoxious considering the HIL setups are in the office. Also, I believe we still omit the wing tip LEDs; not only would they be obnoxiously bright, but they would melt themselves for lack of actual airflow!