Universal hands-on trainer (uhot)

A training simulator, comprising:

• an interactive training simulator comprising a host computer, an environment simulator that runs on the host computer for one or more single or multi-user training scenarios to generate a training simulation video signal that is displayed on a direct-view display, said environment simulator comprising at least an equipment module that simulates the use of a piece of equipment having a form, fit and function in the training scenario, said equipment provided with tactical handgrips that provide the equipment's fit, said handgrips having one or more buttons that allow the user to operate the equipment, said piece of equipment having an assembled shape and structure that provides the equipment's form, and an input device for user interaction with the simulation;
• a universal hands-on trainer (UHOT) comprising:
• a direct-view display;
• a pair of the tactical handgrips that provide the UHOT with the fit of the piece of equipment;
• and
• a docking station, said docking station comprising:
• a video in port for receiving the training simulation video signal and displaying it on the display;
• a pair of connectors for electro-mechanically attaching the pair of tactical handgrips, said connectors responsive to electrical button pushes from the handgrips in response to user interaction with the simulation video signal;
• one or more sensors for detecting user instigated motion of the docking station via the handgrips to generate electrical sensor signals of a changing viewpoint within the simulation;
• a microcontroller that converts electrical button pushes and electrical sensor signals to binary data;
• and
• a bi-direction port for transmitting and receiving the binary data;
• said UHOT having a different and scaled-down assembled shape and structure than said piece of equipment, and
• a software plug-in that resides with the interactive training simulator on the host computer, said plug-in translating the binary data into button pushes and viewpoint data to provide connectivity to the equipment module to simulate the function of the piece of equipment in the environment simulator,
• wherein said UHOT and training simulator provide the fit and function of the piece of equipment but not the form.

A universal hands-on trainer (UHOT) for training a user to operate different pieces of equipment provided with different tactical handgrips having one or more buttons that allow the user to operate the equipment, said different tactical handgrips having different electro-mechanical connectors, said UHOT comprising:

• a direct-view display for displaying a training simulation video signal for a specific piece of equipment;
• multiple pairs of the different tactical handgrips;
• multiple pairs of electro-mechanical adapters for the respective tactical handgrips, each adapter comprising an equipment-specific connector configured to mate with the handgrip connector and a universal mating connector;
• and
• a docking station that supports said display, said docking station comprising:
• a pair of universal connectors for electro-mechanically mating with the pair of adapters' universal mating connectors to attach and detach any of the different tactical grips, said universal connectors responsive to electrical button pushes from the handgrips in response to user interaction with the displayed training simulator video signal;
• one or more sensors for detecting user instigated motion of the docking station via the handgrips to generate electrical sensor signals of a changing viewpoint within the simulation;
• and
• a microcontroller that converts the electrical button pushes and the electrical sensor signals to binary data, said training simulation video signal responsive to said binary data.