VR emulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11043138-B2
Application number	US-201815928644-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Nov 2, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods include providing a virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator system that simulates control, operation, and response of a vehicle. The flight emulator includes a control interface and a head-mounted display worn by a user. Motion, orientation, and/or forces experienced by the simulated vehicle are imparted to a user through a motion-control seat. Multiple flight emulators can be connected to a communication network, and a master flight emulator may teleport into a slave flight emulator in order to observe, overtake, override, and/or assume control of the slave flight emulator. Inputs made via the control interface of the master flight emulator or during playback of a pre-recorded training exercise or flight mission are translated into the control interface, head-mounted display, and motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator to provide real-time feedback to the user of the slave flight emulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator, comprising:
a pilot control interface;
a head mounted display worn by a user;
an instrument panel comprising at least one sensor; and
a motion-control seat;
wherein the flight emulator is configured to allow the user of the flight emulator to virtually teleport into a slave flight emulator connected through a network; and
wherein the at least one sensor detects a motion of the user for use by the flight emulator in anticipating an input to the pilot control interface.

2. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control interface of the flight emulator is configured to receive feedback in response to an input made via a pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

3. The flight emulator of claim 2 , wherein the motion-control seat is selectively articulated to minimize motion and orientation of a vehicle associated with the flight emulator and impart only the motion and orientation acting on the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

4. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control interface of the flight emulator is configured to assume control of a pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

5. The flight emulator of claim 4 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator are emulated at the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

6. The flight emulator of claim 5 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator for operating a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator are emulated through selective articulation of the motion-control seat of the flight emulator.

7. The flight emulator of claim 6 , wherein the flight emulator comprises a head-mounted display worn by the user of the flight emulator, and wherein the head-mounted display is configured to replicate visual imagery from the slave flight emulator and further configured to adjust the imagery in response to head movement of the user of the flight emulator.

8. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the flight emulator is configured to run a pre-recorded program, wherein the pre-recorded program provides feedback through each of a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator.

9. A virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator system, comprising:
a master flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat;
an instrument panel comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a motion of the user for use by the master flight emulator in anticipating an input to the pilot control interface: and
at least one slave flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat and connected in communication to the master flight emulator through a network;
wherein the master flight emulator is configured to allow a user of the master flight emulator to virtually teleport into the slave flight emulator.

10. The flight emulator system of claim 9 , wherein the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator is configured to receive feedback in response to an input made via the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

11. The flight emulator system of claim 10 , wherein the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator is selectively articulated to cancel motion and orientation of a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator and impart only the motion and orientation acting on the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

12. The flight emulator system of claim 9 , wherein the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator is configured to assume control of the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

13. The flight emulator system of claim 12 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator are imparted to the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

14. The flight emulator system of claim 13 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator that impart motion or orientation to a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator are imparted to the user of the master flight emulator through selective articulation of the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator.

15. The flight emulator system of claim 14 , wherein the master flight emulator comprises a head-mounted display worn by the user of the master flight emulator, and wherein the head-mounted display is configured to replicate visual imagery visible from the slave flight emulator and further configured to adjust the imagery in response to head movement of the user of the master flight emulator detected by a plurality of sensors, emitters, or reflectors.

16. The flight emulator system of claim 9 , wherein the master flight emulator is configured to run a pre-recorded program, wherein the pre-recorded program provides feedback through each of the pilot control interface and the motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator.

17. A method of operating a virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator, comprising:
providing a master flight emulator comprising: a pilot control interface, an instrument panel comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a motion of the user for use by the master flight emulator in anticipating an input to the pilot control interface, and a motion-control seat; and at least one slave flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat, the master flight emulator and the slave flight emulator being connected through a network;
virtually teleporting a user of the master flight emulator into the at least one slave flight emulator; and
receiving feedback through at least one of (1) the pilot control interface and the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator in response to inputs received by the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator and (2) the pilot control interface and the motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator in response to inputs received by the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the receiving feedback is further accomplished via displaying imagery on a head-mounted display worn by the user of the master flight emulator.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: adjusting the imagery displayed on the head-mounted display in response to head movement of the user of the master flight emulator detected by a plurality of sensors, emitters, or reflectors.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: running a pre-recorded program configured to provide feedback through the pilot control interface and the motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Nissen Jeffrey Paul
• Mccall Daniel Brent
• Riccobono Joshua Peter

Classifications

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G09B9/24

  including display or recording of simulated flight path · CPC title

• G09B9/307 Primary

  by helmet-mounted projector or display (G09B9/36 takes precedence; optical parts of head-up displays G02B27/01) · CPC title

• G09B9/12

  Motion systems for aircraft simulators · CPC title