GB2301326A

GB2301326A - Driving simulator

Info

Publication number: GB2301326A
Application number: GB9601765A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Phillip Tomlinson
Original assignee: DRIVING CONSULTANCY SERVICES L
Current assignee: DRIVING CONSULTANCY SERVICES L
Priority date: 1995-01-31
Filing date: 1996-01-30
Publication date: 1996-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-30
Also published as: GB2301326B; GB9601765D0; GB9501899D0

Abstract

A driving simulator comprises a model of a terrain carried on a magnetic plate 24 movably supported on a table top. Nylon spring-loaded ball bearings mounted in, or flow of air through holes in, the table top provide low-friction support for the plate 24. Two wheels 40, 56 extend through apertures in the table to engage the plate. The wheels are magnetisable enabling variation in their frictional engagement with the plate. Wheel 40 is rotatable about an axis normal to the plate and drives the plate in translation at a rate determined by the user. The second wheel 56 acts as a pivot for the plate converting translational motion into rotational motion. The relative positions of the wheels is variable and the second is carried on a beam with a moveable counterweight so that the force biasing it is against the plate is variable. Optical probes coupled to video cameras above the model provide a view of the model surface to a user.

Description

DRIVING TRAINING SIMULATORS DESCRIPTION The invention relates to driving training simulators, in particular to arrangements which permit the simulation of high speed driving. Such simulators are of intended use for training professional drivers in, for example, high speed pursuit techniques and for testing the reactions of drivers in emergency situations.

At present the arrangements available for simulating the driving of a vehicle comprise, for the main part, the projection on a screen of a film or video tape which is presented to a user of the simulator at a rate or speed determined by the amount that the user depresses an accelerator pedal in the simulator. The user's view of the projected film or video tape is varied depending upon the extent to which he turns a steering wheel associated with the simulator.

More advanced arrangements presently available provide a plurality of different film or video tracks and a user may cause the simulator to switch presentation between them by turning the steering wheel.

Such arrangements are of little versatility and are not readily adapted to take account of different terrains which it might be desired to simulate in the simulator, of different driving conditions (for example weather or road surface conditions) or of different vehicle types (for example vehicles of different power to weight ratios or having front, rear or four wheel drives).

A particular need is seen for a driving simulator which may readily be adapted to take account of these different driving conditions and which, moreover, allows a user to simulate high speed driving, for training purposes such as might be required of a professional driver, e.g. a Police driver, engaged in motor vehicle pursuit.

Furthermore, the need is seen for a driving simulator which, if desired, may be used to simulate particular emergencies which can arise when driving.

In achieving these objects the present invention provides a driving simulator comprising in combination; a model the surface of which is representative of a predetermined terrain, means enabling a portion of that surface to be viewed by a user of the driving simulator and means controllable by the user to cause movement of the model such that the portion of the model surface viewed by him is varied.

The means controllable by the user preferably comprises a plate upon which the model rests, the plate being movably supported above the surface of a table top and frictionally engageable by a wheel drivable under the control of the user to rotate and cause movement of the plate and model.

The wheel is, desirably, rotatable about axes extending generally parallel to and normally of said plate to enable both transitional and rotational movement of the plate and of the model thereon.

The plate may be rotatable about an axis spaced from said wheel. The location of the axis of rotation of the plate relative to said wheel may be variable.

The degree of frictional engagement of said wheel and said plate is, desirably, variable. The plate may be of a magnetic material and the wheel be magnetisable to a lesser or greater extent.

The axis of rotation of the plate is, preferably, determined by a member frictionally engaging the plate.

This member may comprise a further wheel frictionally engaging said plate. The further wheel may be movable towards or away from the first mentioned wheel.

The further wheel is, with advantage, mounted on an axle at one end of a beam pivotally supported along its length on a pillar, the beam having a balance weight provided thereon spaced from said one end. The position of said balance weight may be adjustable axially of said beam so as to vary the force with which said further wheel is biased against said plate. The further wheel is, preferably, magnetisable to a greater or lesser extent.

The plate is, desirably, constrained to move within a predetermined area of said table top.

With advantage, the first mentioned and further wheels contact said plate via apertures in said table top.

The means enabling a portion of the surface of the model to be viewed preferably comprises one or more television cameras the or each having associated with it an optical probe pivotally supported to rest on the surface of the model and follow the contours thereof, said cameras being connected to television screens viewable by a user of the simulator.

Desirably, there are provided four television cameras each having an individually associated fibre optic probe resting on the surface of the model so as to provide, using four television screens, a 3600 view of a portion of the surface of the model to a user of the simulator.

Desirably, the probes are provided adjacent the surface of the model with means enabling them to follow the contour of the surface of the model. The means enabling the probes to follow this contour of the surface of the model may comprise a wheel or skid individually associated with each probe.

The model mountable on the plate is, preferably, selectable from a plurality of models each representative of a different form of terrain with which the simulator may be used. The surface of the or each model usable in the simulator is, with advantage, provided with a series of tracks representative of streets and/or roads.

The plate is, preferably, supported above the surface of the table top by means reducing the frictional contact between the two. The plate may be supported above the surface of the table top by means of a plurality of ball bearings pivotally mounted in the surface of the table. Alternatively, the plate may be supported above the surface of the table top by the flow of air from a pressurised plenum chamber coupled to the upper surface of the table top by a plurality of apertures.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof now made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the operational parts of a simulator embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a more detailed view of part of the simulator of Figure 1 in particular showing the way the plate is driven, Figure 3A is a plan view of a table forming part of the simulator of Figure 1 and Figure 3B is a scrap view of a detail drawn on the line B-B of Figure 3A, Figure 4 is a more detailed view of part of the simulator of Figure 1 in particular showing means for viewing a portion of the model surface, Figure 5 is a plan view of a model for use within the simulator of Figure 1, Figure 6 illustrates highly schematically parts of the driving simulator viewable and operable by a user of the simulator, and Figure 7 is a scrap sectional view showing an alternative way of supporting the plate above the surface of the table top.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the simulator to comprise a table 10 having legs 12 and a top 14 the upper surface of which is provided with an upstanding rim 16 defining a circular area on the upper surface of the table top 14.

The circular area defined by the rim 16 is provided with a plurality of nylon balls 18 located in respective sockets 20 (see detail Figure 3B)in the table top 14 and biased upwardly in its associated socket 20 by a spring 22. Conveniently this arrangement may be as provided by ALWAYSE of Warner Street, Birmingham B12 0JG, England under the name of ALWAYSE INTERFACE.

Within the area defined by the rim 16 there is located a circular metal plate 24. It will be noted that plate 24 has an area less than that defined by the rim 16 on table top 14 but which is sufficiently great so that, in any position of plate 24 on table 10 the central portion of the area defined by the rim 16 is overlain by the plate.

Plate 24 is made of a magnetisable material. The plate rests on the upper parts of the nylon balls 18 above the upper surface of table top 14 so that there is little frictional resistance to movement of the plate across the table (within the area bounded by the rim 16).

Conveniently plate 24 may be a low weight metal construction, having a central core which is empty or filled with a foamed low-density polymer material.

There is provided beneath the table top 14, supported by the table legs 12, a tray 26 on which are mounted two pillars 28 and 30.

Pillar 28 is mounted on bearings 32 so that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis 34 under the control of a motor 36 connected to a linear potentiometer (not shown) coupled to a vehicle steering wheel 38 (see Figure 6) provided in the simulator. Under the control of the steering wheel 38 pillar 28 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis through an angle not exceeding 1800, and preferably not exceeding 92".

The upper end of the pillar 28 supports a wheel 40 drivable in rotation by a shunt wound motor 42 via a worm wheel 44. Worm wheel 44 is spring mounted at 46 on the pillar 28. The rotational speed of the motor 42 (and wheel 40) is controllable in response to the position of a linear potentiometer (not shown) coupled to an accelerator pedal 50 (again, see Figure 6) provided in the simulator.

The other pillar 30 is fixed in position on tray 26 and its upper end supports a bearing 52 for a beam 54.

One end of the beam carries a wheel 56 mounted on an axle 58 running in a plane parallel to the table top 14. Axle 58 is carried by an adjuster member 60 and is movable towards and away from the pillar 28, so carrying wheel 56 closer or further away from wheel 40 carried by pillar 28.

As can be seen, particularly from Figure 2, the end 62 of the beam 54 remote from wheel 56 is of reduced cross section and carries a balance weight 64 the axial position of which, on the end 62, is adjustable remotely by means 66 axially of the beam.

Again as can be seen from Figure 2 in particular the wheels 40 and 56 extend through respective apertures 68 and 70 provided in the table top 14 to bear against the under surface of plate 24 supported thereabove. Brh of the wheels 40 and 56 is electrically magnetisable to a greater or lesser extent to increase or decrease the attraction of the magnetic material of plate 24 to them and so to vary the degree of frictional engagement of plate 24 with those wheels.

Again, it will be appreciated that by moving the balance weight 64 along the end 62 of the beam 54 the force with which the wheel 56 is biased against the under surface of plate 24 may be increased or decreased.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the plate 24 is movable within the circular area defined by the rim 16 on the table top 14 under the action of the wheels 40 and 56.

In particular rotational movement of the wheel 40, which frictionally engages the plate 24 under the influence of the magnetic forces established in that wheel and its attraction to the material of the plate, causes translational movement of plate 24 across the table top.

Rotation of pillar 28 about its axis 34 will alter the direction of the translational movement imparted to the plate 24 by wheel 40.

When pillar 28 is in any position other than that in which the axes of rotation of the wheels 40 and 56 are parallel to one another the translational movement imparted to plate 24 by the wheel 40 will be converted into rotational movement of plate 24 about the point of contact between wheel 56 and plate 24.

The force of the frictional engagement between plate 24 and the wheels 4d and 56 may be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the level of the magnetisation of those wheels and, for the wheel 56, by varying the position of balance weight 64 on end 62 of beam 54.

In use the plate 24 carries a model 90 (see Figures 4 and 5) which is representative of a particular form of terrain it is desired to simulate within the arrangement described. This model is coterminous with the plate 24 and may be contoured (see Figure 4) to mimic or simulate rising and falling terrain across which a vehicle is to be driven in simulation.

The table top 14 carries, at one edge, a tower 92 which pivotally supports at 94, adjacent its upper end, a counterbalanced swinging arm 96. The outermost end of the swinging arm 96 overlies the model 90, in use, and pivotally supports at 98 one or more television cameras 100. The or each television camera 100 has depending therefrom an optical probe 102 which in use rests upon the upper surface of the model 90 on the table 24. The probe(s) 102 may be rigid devices, for example as sold as Borescopes by KeyMed Industrial of Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 5QH, England or be simply fibre optic links supported on a rigid bar. Associated with the lower end of the or each probe is a wheel or skid 104 which is operable, as the model moves beneath the probe to allow the probe to track along the surface of the model.

The weight of the camera(s) 100 is counter balanced by control of swinging arm 96 such that the probe(s) 102 rest upon the surface of the model.

The pivotal mounting of the camera(s) 100 on the swinging arm 96 and of that arm on tower 92 accommodates vertical movement of the or each probe 102 resting on the surface of the model 90 in following the contours of the model.

The output of the or each camera 100 is fed to a, or to a respective, television screen 110 provided in the simulator (see Figure 6).

As can be seen from Figure 5 the model may be formed with a plurality of tracks 110 simulating roads or streets and further be provided with upstanding portions 114 of relatively flexible material to simulate, for example, hedges; and upstanding portions 116 of less flexible material to simulate, for example, walls, trees and buildings.

To simulate the effect of a driver of the simulator applying a breaking force to the vehicle a break pedal is provided at 120 (Figure 6) to which is connected a linear potentiometer (not shown) operable to provide a breaking force to the rotation of wheel 56 thereby effectively acting as a drag on plate 24 tending to decrease movement of the plate and the model carried thereon - Figure 7 illustrates an way of supporting plate 24 above table top 14 which is alternative to the way described above.

In particular this Figure shows the table top 14 to be formed with a plenum chamber 150 to which air is fed under pressure via an inlet 152. The uppermost surface of table top 14 within the area bounded by rim 16 is pierced with a plurality of small apertures 154 through which air in the plenum chamber 150 is allowed to escape. The air passing from the plenum chamber 150 directly beneath plate 24 will lift the plate slightly above the table top 14. In this way a very low friction air bearing is provided between the table top 14 and the undersurface of the plate 24.

It is envisaged that the simulator as described will be used to train and/or test the skills of professional drivers engaged for example in high speed pursuit work.

In such a situation an instructor would be present who could make certain alterations to various of the settings in the simulator - preferably remotely.

Amongst these would be an increase or decrease in the degree of magnetisation of the wheels 40 and 56 to mimic or simulate different road surface conditions - a greater degree of magnetisation of these wheels being provided to simulate good driving conditions and a lower degree of magnetisation to simulate driving in wet or icy conditions.

By means of the adjuster member 60 the axle 58 of wheel 56 may be moved closer to or further from wheel 40 to affect the way the simulator reacts to being driven by a user and so simulate front or rear or four wheel drive vehicles.

Again, movement of the counter weight 64 along the end 62 of beam 64 will alter the degree of contact between the wheel 56 and the plate 24 thus altering the characteristics of the simulator in responding to the actions of a user. By adjustment of the position of the balance weight 64, and of the position of wheel 56 relative to the wheel 40, different vehicles may be simulated.

The use of gears may be simulated, if desired, by for example providing a gear box including a number of selectable gears in the drive connecting the motor 42 to the worm wheel 44.

It is possible, if desired, to vary the extent by which the pillar 28 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to accommodate within the simulator the option of cars having different turning circles.

In order to enhance the verisimilitude of the simulator in high speed pursuit chases the simulator may optionally be provided with means enabling a replica of a vehicle to follow the tracks provided on the surface of the model 90. Such an arrangement may be provided, for example, by a driven mechanism within the model attached to a replica carried along the tracks and supported by the mechanism via a slot in those tracks.

Alternatively, if the surface of the model 90 is of a non-magnetic material, it is possible to provide that the replica is magnetically coupled to a device beneath the surface of the model and driven to move thereunder by an instructor - the device magnetically towing the replica across the model surface.

Means may be provided enabling an instructor to vary, whilst a simulation exercise is under way, the degree of magnetisation of the wheels 56 and 40, of the position of axle 58 relative to wheel 40, of the position of the balance weight 64 on the end 62 of beam 54 and of the position and speed of any replica associated with the model - in order that the user of the simulator might have his or her reactions tested to the change in circumstance.

It will be further seen that by appropriately varying lighting and shading of the model it is possible to simulate different times of day and that by shrouding the model (to keep out ambient light) and using low-power lamps associated with the ends of the probes 102 to simulate night time driving.

The television camera may comprise or be coupled to video recording equipment enabling the results of the training session to be recorded for review by the user of the simulator, an instructor or others.

Various other modifications may be made to the arrangements described, which will be apparent to the skilled reader, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driving simulator comprising in combination; a model the surface of which is representative of a pre-determined terrain, means enabling a portion of that surface to be viewed by a user of the driving simulator and means controllable by the user to cause movement of the model such that the portion of the model surface viewed by the user is varied.

2. A simulator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said means controllable by the user comprises a plate upon which the model rests, the plate being movably supported above a table top and frictionally engageable by a wheel drivable under the control of the user to rotate and cause movement of the plate and model.

3. A simulator as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the wheel is rotatable about axes extending generally parallel to and normally of said plate to enable both transitional and rotational movement of the plate and of the model thereon.

4. A simulator as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the plate is rotatable about an axis spaced from said wheel.

5. A simulator as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the location of the axis of rotation of the plate relative to said wheel is variable.

6. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the degree of frictional engagement of said wheel and said plate is variable.

7. A simulator as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said plate is of a magnetic material and said wheel is magnetisable to a lesser or greater extent.

8. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the axis of rotation of the plate is determined by a member frictionally engaging the plate.

9. A simulator as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said member frictionally engaging said plate comprises a further wheel frictionally engaging said plate.

10. A simulator as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said further wheel is movable towards or away from said first mentioned wheel.

11. A simulator as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said further wheel is mounted on an end of a beam pivotally supported along its length on a pillar, said beam having a balance weight provided thereon spaced from said one end.

12. A simulator as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the position of said balance weight is adjustable axially of said beam so as to vary the force with which said further wheel is biased against said plate.

13. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, when said further wheel is magnetisable to a greater or lesser extent.

14. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein said plate is constrained to move within a predetermined area of said table top.

15. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein said first mentioned and further wheels contact said plate via apertures in said table top.

16. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said means enabling a portion of the surface of the model to be viewed comprises one or more television cameras each having associated with it an optical probe pivotally supported to rest on the surface of the model and follow the contours thereof, said cameras being connected to television screens viewable by a user of simulator.

17. A simulator as claimed in Claim 16, in which there are provided four television cameras each having an individually associated fibre optic probe resting on the surface of the model so as to provide, using four television screens, a 360C view of a portion of the surface of the model to a user of the simulator.

18. A simulator as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein said probes are provided adjacent the surface of the model with means enabling them to follow the contour of the surface of the model.

19 A simulator as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said means enabling the probes to follow the contour of the surface of the model comprise a wheel or skid individually associated with each probe.

20. A simulator as claimed in any one af claims 2 to 19, wherein said model mountable on the plate is selectable from a plurality of models each representative of a different form of terrain with which the simulator may be used.

21. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 20, wherein the surface of the or each model usable in the simulator is provided with a series of tracks representative of streets and/or roads.

22. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 21, wherein the plate is supported by means reducing the frictional contact between the plate and table top.

23. A simulator as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the plate is supported above the surface of the table by a plurality of ball bearings pivotally mounted in the surface of the table.

24. A simulator as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the plate is supported above the surface of the table by the flow of air from a pressurized plenum chamber coupled to the surface of the table by a plurality of apertures.

25. A simulator as claimed in Claim 1, and substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.