Method for simulating specific movements by haptic feedback, and device implementing the method

A method for simulating the movements of a virtual vehicle, a user being in physical contact with a simulator including a force-feedback haptic interface, wherein said physical contact corresponds to at least one physical point of contact between the haptic interface and the body of the user that is representative of a virtual point of contact between the user and the virtual vehicle, said method comprising at least two steps:

• a first step for determining a linear acceleration vector {right arrow over (a)}lin and a linear velocity vector {right arrow over (v)}lin at the virtual point of contact between the user and the virtual vehicle, said vectors being representative of the movement of the vehicle at said point;
• a second step for deducing a three-dimensional force vector {right arrow over (F)}3D from the linear acceleration vector {right arrow over (a)}lin and linear velocity vector V {right arrow over (v)}lin, said force vector being determined by a linear combination of said linear acceleration and velocity vectors, the corresponding force being applied via the haptic interface substantially at the physical point of contact.

A device for simulating movements of a virtual vehicle, a user being in physical contact with the device comprising a force-feedback haptic interface, said physical contact corresponding to at least one physical point of contact between the haptic interface and the body of the user that is representative of a virtual point of contact between the user and the virtual vehicle, said device comprising means for determining a linear acceleration vector {right arrow over (a)}lin and a linear velocity vector {right arrow over (v)}lin at the virtual point of contact between the user and the virtual vehicle, said vectors being representative of the movement of the virtual vehicle at said point and means for deducing a three-dimensional force vector {right arrow over (F)}3D from the linear acceleration vector {right arrow over (a)}lin and from the velocity vector {right arrow over (V)}, said force vector being determined by linear combination of said linear acceleration and velocity vectors, the corresponding force being applied by the haptic interface substantially at the point of contact.