Simulator with fore and aft video displays

• US 20040146840A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Interactive Systems, Inc. (Cubic Corporation)
• Inventors: McLean, David, Haynes, George W.T., Hoover, Steven G., Martin, Scott E., Halley, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/21
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

A simulated real-time environment employs a plurality of computer controlled video projectors and screens at least fore and aft of a participant-trainee to present life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view looking in a different direction. In response to a participant'"'"'s actions, the computer seamlessly changes a projected video to match the participant'"'"' actions and maintain a scenario consistent between the two screens. The participant uses a light-emitting simulated firearm or his own firearm loaded with a light-emitting cartridge and/or other equipment with which he is familiar, such as a modified or simulated flashlight, taser, chemical spray container or the like, tethered or untethered by a communication wire, to respond to a simulated situation, which response detected and interpreted by the computer to direct a branch in the projected videos and even shoot back a simulated bullet. He may also use verbal commands.

Claims

1. A training simulator in which a participant engages in an environment simulated through projected videos about the participant, comprising,

a database of videos,

a plurality of screens, including at least a screen fore and aft of the participant,

a plurality of projectors adapted to project a video on the respective screens presenting life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view looking in a different direction, including fore and aft,

a detector adapted to detect participant actions within the training simulator,

a computer directing and controlling videos projected by the projectors, the videos mutually time-synchronized and situationally coordinated, the computer receiving input from the detector and programmed to logically branch as a result of user input through the detector to direct a different video from the database to at least one of the projectors, representing situational changes caused by participant action.

2. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a detector located at at least one screen.

3. The training simulator of claim 2 further comprising said detector configured to detect a projectile and locate it within the screen.

4. The training simulator of claim 2 further comprising said detector configured to detect and locate light directed at the screen.

5. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a microphone connected to the computer and adapted to detect verbal input from the participant.

6. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a chemical detector connected to the computer and adapted to detect chemical spray directed by the participant.

7. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising an acoustical speaker introducing sound into the simulated environment coordinated with the projected videos.

8. The training simulator of claim 1 in which the computer is programmed to interpret participant actions as recognized or unrecognized events, the computer directing a change in a video only for a recognized event.

9. The training simulator of claim 1 in which the computer receiving input from a detector at one screen directs a change in video projected at that screen and at a second screen consistent with maintaining situational integrity in the simulated environment.

10. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a physical target introduced into the environment on computer command.

11. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising an input device employable by the participant to communicate with the simulated environment.

12. The training simulator of claim 11 further comprising an input device tethered between the participant and the simulated environment.

13. The training simulator of claim 12 further comprising a wireless data-transmitting device in the input device that communicates with the simulated environment.

14. The training simulator of claim 12 in which said input device comprises a light-directing device.

15. The training simulator of claim 11 further comprising an input device untethered between the participant and the simulated environment.

16. The training simulator of claim 15 in which said light-directing device comprises a firearm loaded with nonprojectile bullets configured to emit light from the firearm.

17. The training simulator of claim 11 in which said input device comprises a participant'"'"'s firearm loaded with live ammunition.

18. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a gun adapted to shoot a projectile at the participant in response to a participant action or by direction of a simulator operator.

19. The training simulator of claim 1 further comprising a floor pad that tracks and communicates participant foot movement to the computer, which adjusts video sequences to reflect a simulated new position of the participant while the participant actually remains on the footpad, the footpad absorbing participant motion.

20. An interactive training simulator in which a participant engages in an environment simulated through projected videos about the participant with the participant communicating input to the simulated environment in response with the simulated environment changing in response to participant input, comprising,

a data base of videos,

a participant input device adapted to interactively communicate with the training simulator,

at least one detector adapted to detect participant actions directed at the training simulator,

a plurality of screens, including screens fore and aft of the participant with one of said at least one detector at each fore and aft screen adapted to detect participant actions, the detectors adapted to detect and locate light directed by the participant at the screen from said input device,

a plurality of projectors adapted to project a video on the respective screens presenting life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view looking in a different direction, including fore and aft,

a computer directing and controlling videos projected by the projectors, the videos being mutually time-synchronized and situationally coordinated, the computer receiving input from one of said at least one detector at one screen and programmed to logically branch as a result of user input through the detector to direct a different video from the data base to at least one of the projectors, representing situational changes caused by a detected participant action, the computer directing a change in video projected at that screen and at a second screen only upon recognizing an event that requires a change in video, consistent with maintaining situational integrity in the simulated environment between the screens,

an acoustical speaker controlled by the computer introducing sound into the simulated environment and coordinated to correspond with changing situations represented in the simulated environment.

21. A training simulator in which a participant engages in an environment simulated through projected videos about the participant, comprising,

a database of videos,

a plurality of screens,

a plurality of projectors adapted to project a video on the respective screens presenting life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view looking in a different direction,

a plurality of rooms with at least one of said screens and at least one of said projectors located in each of at least two of said plurality of rooms,

a detector adapted to detect participant actions within the training simulator,

a computer directing and controlling videos projected by the projectors, the videos mutually time-synchronized and situationally coordinated, the computer receiving input from the detector and programmed to logically branch as a result of user input through the detector to direct a different video from the database to at least one of the projectors, representing situational changes caused by participant action.

22. A training simulator presenting an environment simulated through projected videos about a participant, comprising,

a database of videos,

a plurality of screens, including at least a screen fore and aft of the participant,

a plurality of projectors adapted to project a video on the respective screens presenting life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view of his surroundings looking in a different direction, including fore and aft.

23. The method of presenting a simulated environment about an interactive participant comprising the following steps:

(a) Receiving video projections on separated screens fore and aft of the participant from coordinated projectors projecting videos, respectively, in presenting a consistent scenario to the participant, said videos presenting life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant'"'"'s perspective, each screen representing the participant'"'"'s view looking in a different direction;

(b) Detecting a participant'"'"'s action in response to the projections as a first event;

(c) Causing a first video to change in response to the event;

(d) Causing a second video to change to maintain a consistent scenario between the two videos.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the following steps:

(a) Detecting a subsequent action of said participant in response to video projections as a subsequent event;

(b) Causing one of said first and second videos to change in response to the subsequent event;

(c) Causing the other of said first and second videos to change to maintain a consistent scenario between the two videos;

(d) Repeating steps (a) through (c) until reaching a stopping event.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of introducing sound into the simulated environment in response to the participant'"'"'s action.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the participant using verbal commands as input to interact with the simulated environment.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the participant using light as input to interact with a video projector.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the participant using chemical spray to interact with a video projector.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of introducing a physical target in the simulated environment in addition to the projected videos.

30. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the participant using an input device untethered to the participant to interact the simulated environment.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of the participant employing a firearm to interact with the simulated environment.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of loading the firearm with nonprojectile bullets emitting light from the firearm.

33. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing an environmental response physically interacting with the participant in response to participant'"'"'s action.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of shooting a projectile at the participant in response to a participant'"'"'s action.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of the simulated environment causing a projectile to be at the participant.

36. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of employing detectors about the participant as input devices.

37. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of introducing an override event into the simulated environment other than by action of the participant.

38. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of a computer selecting videos projected by the video projectors from a video database.

39. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of the computer selecting a video based on a change in situation.

40. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of (1) recording participant actions as participant videos and (2) reprojecting the participant videos in synchronization with a previously video projected when the participant videos were recorded.

41. The method of claim 23 wherein said screens substantially provide a full circumferential projection around the participant.

42. The method of claim 23 further comprising coordinating a screen in a first room coordinated in time and situation with another screen in a second room.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of the participant moving between said first and second room with the videos branching to adapt to the changing location of the participant.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of a tracking and absorbing participant foot movement on a footpad and communicating that motion to the computer which directs a change in video sequence based on participant foot movement to reflect a simulated new position of the participant, the participant actually remaining on the footpad.

45. The method of presenting a simulated environment about an interactive participant comprising the following steps:

(a) A computer selecting videos for projection by video projectors from a video database;

(b) Receiving first and second video projections on separated first and second screens fore and aft of the participant from coordinated first and second video projectors projecting first and second videos in presenting a consistent scenario to the participant;

(c) The participant using an input device to interact with a video projection;

(d) Detecting a participant action at a first screen in response to the projections as a event;

(e) Said computer interpreting said event;