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Hovermatic

 Maxar had a 7 DOF arm so suited to orbital operations that it would snap in half cantilevered in Earth Gravity. It was eventually tested on an offloader that's more impressive than the arm, but first they wanted to start tuning motors. Hovermatic allowed the arm to operate in simulated weightlessness in a horizontal plane.

A similar concept was utilizing a very expensive smooth and flat poured epoxy floor. It coasted on Nu-Way air bearings. I like New-Way air bearings, but I used AirCasters instead. They are COTS mini C-skirt hovercraft used to move heavy equipment. They work on the epoxy but also concrete and linoleum tile. Sliding friction was about μ=0.02.

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Smooth Constant Upforce

To simulate zero g, the competing concept used a clock spring and cam to create nearly constant upforce. I do not remember how the force was adjusted.

Airpel cylinders are designed to leak slighlty through gapped seals. I'd used them before and they are virtually frictionless.

Add a COTS McMaster linear ball stage and an air pressure regulator and boom, adjustable constant upforce over a 5 inch range.

Supplied with full documentation (all drawings, procedures and BOM), the courageous Maxar technicians who endured pandemic policies on-site were able to get this thing together with only my remote help. /s.
Honestly not my favorite way to work but there you go.
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