Portable in-the-vehicle road simulator

• US 20040167761A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konstantin Sizov
• Original Assignee: Konstantin Sizov
• Inventors: Sizov, Konstantin
• Application Number:
  US10/742,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167761A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/14 Traffic procedures, e.g. traffic regulations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/042 providing simulation in a real vehicle G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

The portable simulation system is a computer-based driving simulator, which uses an actual vehicle as an input device, and a portable display to present a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE) to the driver. Vehicle'"'"'s steered wheels are placed atop of the turntables permitting free operation of the steering wheel. The vehicle remains immobile while its engine and power steering can be turned off during the simulation. External non-invasive sensors can be placed under the gas and brake pedals, permitting any vehicle to be used in the simulator, including the driver'"'"'s own vehicle. A digital interface to the vehicle'"'"'s systems, like OBD II, can be used to increase the fidelity of the simulation. A portable computer used for driving simulation and VDE presentation provides a low cost simulation option. A simple configuration of the portable simulator does not require an external power source and can be set-up and operated at any parking space. Possible applications of the simulation system include driver training and testing.

Claims

1. A portable system for simulating operation of a vehicle using an actual vehicle, the portable system comprising:

means for relieving the friction of steered wheels of the actual vehicle with a road surface, enabling the actual vehicle'"'"'s steering to be operated without using excessive force while the actual vehicle is immobile;

computing means for simulating a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE);

audio and visual means for presenting the computer-generated VDE to a user; and

non-invasive means for reading a real-time state of a plurality of vehicle'"'"'s controls configured to send data to said computing means.

2. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the means for relieving the friction comprise a plurality of ramps with turntables positioned under the steered wheels.

3. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the actual vehicle is a car, a truck or a van.

4. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the means for reading comprise an OBD II data bus or other standard interface to on-board sensors of the actual vehicle.

5. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the means for reading comprise a plurality of sensors including a steering sensor, gas pedal and brake pedal sensors.

6. The portable system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors is selected from the groups consisting of a gear shift sensor, including a transfer case control sensor, a differential control sensor, a PTO control sensor, a clutch pedal sensor, a turn signal, switch sensor or a plurality of turn signal photo sensors, a parking brake sensor, a seat belt sensor and combinations thereof.

7. The portable system of claim 5, wherein the computing means is a computer operated by software comprising:

a Simulation Engine Software component for processing signals from the plurality of sensors and generating an output image and sound; and

a plurality of Courseware Software components, each of the components implementing a particular driving lesson in the VDE.

8. The portable system of claim 1, wherein audio and visual means comprise a wearable Head Mounted Display (HMD), a Head Tracking Sensor for indicating the current position of the user'"'"'s head relative to the Computing means to generate a field of view of the VDE, and head phones coupled to the HMD or to a plurality of external speakers.

9. The portable system of claim 1, further comprising a Brake pedal ABS-pulsation actuator providing the simulated anti-lock braking sensation to the user'"'"'s foot.

10. The portable system of claim 1, further comprising a Steering actuator to provide a real-time force-feedback to the user.

11. The portable system of claim 1, further comprising a motion feedback cushion providing physical body cues.

12. A method of simulating operation of a vehicle using an actual vehicle comprising the steps of:

relieving the friction of steered wheels of the actual vehicle with a road surface;

enabling the actual vehicle'"'"'s steering to be operated by a user;

providing computing means simulated a virtual driving environment (VDE);

using real-time state of actual vehicle'"'"'s controls as input for the computing means simulating the VDE; and

computing means generating output to the user using portable audio and visual means.

13. A method of training a driver comprising the steps of:

1) using an actual vehicle, while the actual vehicle is immobile;

2) driving through a VDE, simulated by computer and audio and visual means;

3) providing a real-time audio and visual feedback to the driver; and

4) using a series of lessons to develop driving skills by repeating steps (1) to (3).

14. The method of training of claim 13, wherein the step of using a series of lessons further comprises using Computer Based Training means.

15. A method of assessing driver'"'"'s skills comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual driving simulator generating a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE) in an actual vehicle, while the actual vehicle is immobile;

driving through a VDE, simulated by computer and audio and visual means for the driver in the actual vehicle; and

measuring driver'"'"'s performance characteristics.

16. The method of assessing of claim 15, wherein the actual vehicle is provided by the driver.