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US 9,004,921 B2Granted
Motion and vibration cuing system
AssigneeIndustrial Smoke & Mirrors, Inc.
InventorsAndrew W. Garvis, Dennis P. Wilhelm, Richard E. Johnson, Steven G. Lansrud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motion and vibration cuing system for use with a motion simulator provides vibratory, impulse, onset and sustained motion cuing, independently or simultaneously, by operation of a frame assembly capable of producing vibration and six degrees-of-freedom of motion in coordination with one or more motion seats, mounted to the frame assembly, which produce surge, sway, heave and roll motions.
Claims26
A motion and vibration cuing apparatus, comprising:
- a frame assembly;
- at least one motion seat mounted to said frame assembly, said at least one motion seat being operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- a number of frame actuators each having a shaft mounted to said frame assembly, each of said frame actuators being operated to extend and retract said shaft thereof in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation said frame actuators being effective in said first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly, said frame actuators being effective in said second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- a controller coupled to said frame actuators and to said at least one motion seat;
- said controller being effective to operate said frame actuators in said first mode of operation in order to simulate vibratory motion which is transmitted by said frame assembly to the user seated in said at least one motion seat;
- said controller being effective to operate said frame actuators in said second mode of operation in coordination with the operation of said at least one motion seat using acceleration onset cuing to simulate surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw motions for the user seated in said at least one motion seat.
3 more elements
A motion and vibration cuing apparatus, comprising:
- a frame assembly;
- at least one motion seat mounted to said frame assembly, said at least one motion seat being operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- a number of frame actuators each having a shaft mounted to said frame assembly, said frame actuators being operated to extend and retract said shaft thereof in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation, said frame actuators being effective in said first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly, said frame actuators being effective in said second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- a controller coupled to said frame actuators and to said at least one motion seat;
- said controller being effective to operate said frame actuators in said first mode of operation in order to provide vibratory cues and impulse cues to the user seated in said at least one motion seat;
- said controller being effective to operate said frame actuators in said second mode of operation in coordination with the operation of said at least one motion seat using acceleration onset cuing to provide onset cues to the user seated in said at least one motion seat, said vibratory cues, impulse cues and onset cues being provided individually or simultaneously by operation of said frame actuators and said at least one motion seat.
3 more elements
Apparatus for simulating the motion of a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame assembly;
- at least one motion seat mounted upon said frame assembly, said at least one motion seat including a number of seat actuators which are operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- a number of frame actuators each having a shaft connected to said frame assembly, each of said frame actuators being operated to extend and retract said shaft thereof in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation, said frame actuators being effective in said first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly, said frame actuators being effective in said second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- a host computer, said host computer being effective to output a host command signal which is representative of a maneuver that may be performed by the vehicle;
- a control computer coupled to said host computer;
- a number of frame drive controllers each coupled to said control computer and to one of said frame actuators, said control computer being effective in response to said host command signal to cause said frame drive controllers to operate said frame actuators in said first mode of operation in order to simulate vibratory motion which is transmitted by said frame assembly to a user seated within said at least one motion seat;
- a number of seat drive controllers each coupled to said control computer and to one of said seat actuators, said control computer being effective in response to said host command signal to cause said seat drive controllers to operate said seat actuators and to cause said frame drive controllers to operate said frame actuators in said second mode of operation in coordination with said seat actuators using acceleration onset cuing in order to simulate surge, sway, heave roll, pitch and yaw motions for the user seated in said at least one motion seat, whereby the tactile and visual sensations of the user while performing the maneuver are substantially replicated.
4 more elements
A method of imparting motion and vibration cues to a user, comprising:
- (a) providing a frame assembly;
- (b) providing at least one motion seat which is mounted to said frame assembly, said at least one motion seat being operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- (c) providing a number of frame actuators each having a shaft mounted to said frame assembly, said shafts of said frame actuators being extendable and retractable in a first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly and in a second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- (d) operating said frame actuators in said first mode of operation in order to simulate vibratory motion which is transmitted by said frame assembly to the user seated in said at least one motion seat;
- (e) coordinating said second mode of operation of said frame actuators with the operation of said at least one motion seat using acceleration onset cuing to simulate surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw motions for the user seated in said at least one motion seat.
2 more elements
A method of imparting motion and vibration cues to a user, comprising:
- (a) providing a frame assembly;
- (b) providing a motion seat which is mounted to said frame assembly, said motion seat being operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- (c) providing a number of frame actuators each having a shaft mounted to said frame assembly, said shafts of said frame actuators being extendable and retractable in a first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly and in a second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- (d) operating said frame actuators in said first mode of operation in order to provide vibration cues and impulse cues to the user seated in said motion seat;
- (e) coordinating said second mode of operation of said frame actuators with the operation of said at least one motion seat using acceleration onset cuing to simulate surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw motions for the user seated in said at least one motion seat, said vibratory cues, said impulse cues and said acceleration onset cues being provided to the user individually or simultaneously by operation of said frame actuators and said motion seat.
2 more elements
A method of imparting motion and vibration cues to a user, comprising:
- (a) providing a frame assembly;
- (b) providing a motion seat mounted to said frame assembly, said motion seat including a number of seat actuators which are operative to impart surge, sway, heave and roll movements to a user seated therein;
- (c) providing a number of frame actuators each mounted to said frame assembly, said frame actuators being effective in a first mode of operation to produce repetitive movements of said frame assembly in order to simulate vibratory motion, said frame actuators being effective in a second mode of operation to move said frame assembly in six degrees-of-freedom of motion;
- (d) providing a controller coupled to said seat actuators and to said frame actuators;
- (e) operating said frame actuators in said first mode of operation, said simulated vibratory movement produced by said frame actuators in said first mode of operation being transmitted by said frame assembly to the user seat in said motion seat;
- (f) transmitting a signal from said controller to said seat actuators and to said frame actuators in order to coordinate said second mode of operation of said frame actuators with the operation of said motion seat using acceleration onset cuing thereby simulating surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch and yaw motions for the user seated in said at least one motion seat.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.