Vehicle crew training system for ground and air vehicles

• US 20070287133A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raydon 2, LLC
• Original Assignee: Raydon Corporation (By Light Professional IT Services, LLC)
• Inventors: Hubbard, Jerry R., Schubert, Kevin, Moran, Sean, Wieboldt, Greg, Klein, Donnie, Haack, Mark, Lay, Sharon, Howard, Chris, Dineen, Michael, Araki, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,777,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A computer based simulation system for virtual training for vehicle crews is disclosed. The Vehicle Crew Training System (VCTS) simulates crew positions for different military ground and air vehicles. Two or more crewman modules are networked together to support a partial or full vehicle crew. The crewman modules are self-contained devices that are modular in hardware and software design, easily reconfigurable, and require minimal facility space, allowing use in restricted environments such as trailers. The VCTS is modular at the crew position level; crewman modules are added or deleted as required to meet a particular training need.

Claims

1. A computer-based simulation system for training vehicle crew member trainees, the simulation system representing a virtual vehicle and comprising:

(a) two or more crewman modules connected by a network, said crewman modules comprising at least one of an air vehicle crewman module and a ground vehicle crewman module;

(b) where each said crewman module is a self-contained system that provides a position for a crew member of the virtual vehicle;

(c) where each said crewman module is modular in hardware and software design such that it may be reconfigured to support different vehicle or weapon types;

(d) where said network provides for communication between dedicated computers in each of said crewman modules such that crewman modules of similar or different types may be added or deleted from said simulation system by means of attaching to or detaching from the network;

(e) and where the simulation system provides a common virtual environment to the trainees by means of common simulation software configured uniquely for each crewman position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said crewman modules is comprised of a crewman station, a computational system, a display system, a sound system, and one of a weapon system and a vehicle control system which collectively comprise:

(a) rendering means for visual rendering of the virtual environment by means of said computational system and presentation of resultant imagery to a trainee by means of said display system;

(b) communicating means for communicating with other crewman modules and with external simulation systems over said network by means of said computational system; and

(c) sound simulation means for generating aural cues in response to actions and events that occur in the virtual environment by means of said computational system and for outputting said cues to said trainee by means of said sound system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said crewman modules are networked together such that:

(a) the trainees operating each of the crewman modules are associated with, move with, and interact with the virtual vehicle in the virtual environment;

(b) each crewman module communicates with other crewman modules via standard protocols;

(c) all trainees observe said common virtual environment independently, such that each trainee has the ability to view completely different, partly overlapping or the same portions of said virtual environment;

(d) all trainees hear sounds representative of actions occurring in said common virtual environment such that said actions are apparent to the trainees even if said actions are not visible to each trainee;

(e) an instructor station can interface with said crewman modules to perform exercise control functions, to monitor trainee actions, to collect training data for individual crewman modules, or to act as a surrogate crewman module;

(f) a second simulation system can interface with said crewman modules via said network to participate in simulation activity as a second virtual vehicle;

(g) a simulated radio system can interface crew positions and can interface the simulation system to external systems; and

(h) at least one of said crewman modules is attachable to an external simulated vehicle, such that said at least one crewman module moves with said external simulated vehicle through said common virtual environment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein all crewman modules collectively fit into a portable structure approximately eight feet wide or less.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each module is constructed in a modular manner that permits reconfiguration to simulate an alternative vehicle, and wherein said crewman modules present said common virtual environment to any of said trainees at one of a plurality of levels of fidelity.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said alternative vehicle is one of:

(a) a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle;

(b) a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck;

(c) a cargo truck;

(d) a five-ton tactical truck;

(e) a UH-60 helicopter;

(f) a UH-1 helicopter;

(g) a CH-53 helicopter;

(h) a CH-47 helicopter; and

(i) a CH-46 helicopter.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said crewman modules comprise a ground vehicle gunner module that is tabletop mounted and that presents a simulated environment to a ground vehicle gunner trainee at a relatively low level of fidelity, wherein:

(a) the rotation of the weapon is simulated in software, where said rotation is controlled by foot pedals depressed by said ground vehicle gunner trainee; and

(b) said ground vehicle gunner module comprises a seat for said ground vehicle gunner trainee in front of a simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said crewman modules comprise a ground vehicle gunner module from which a ground vehicle gunner trainee can aim and fire a simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said ground vehicle gunner module allows said ground vehicle gunner trainee and said simulated vehicle mounted weapon to collectively rotate in a horizontal plane through an unrestricted angular displacement.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said ground vehicle gunner module comprises a traverse ring and a slip ring that permits said rotation.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon is cradle/pintle-mounted to said traverse ring, and can be made by said ground vehicle gunner trainee to pivot about two axes so as to pitch and yaw independently from said rotation.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a view resulting from said pivoting is observable to said ground vehicle gunner trainee.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said ground vehicle gunner module is constructed in a modular manner that permits reconfiguration to simulate use of an alternative vehicle mounted weapon.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said alternative vehicle mounted weapon is one of:

(a) a 0.50 caliber machine gun;

(b) a 7.62 -millimeter machine gun;

(c) an MK-19 grenade launcher;

(d) an M249 squad automatic weapon;

(e) a TOW missile launcher; and

(f) a non-lethal crowd control device.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon is one of:

(a) a 0.50 caliber machine gun;

(b) a 7.62 -millimeter machine gun;

(c) an MK-19 grenade launcher;

(d) an M249 squad automatic weapon;

(e) a TOW missile launcher; and

(f) a non-lethal crowd control device.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon has substantially realistic controls, weight, and feel to said ground vehicle gunner trainee, relative to a weapon being simulated.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon simulates weapon recoil in response to simulated weapon firing;

18. The system of claim 8, wherein said ground vehicle gunner module comprises a gunner station which in turn comprises:

(a) a weapon system;

(b) a display system;

(c) a sound system; and

(d) a computational system in communication with said weapon, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said computational system comprises:

(a) network software; and

(b) weapon simulation software,

wherein said weapon simulation software receives pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data, computes a trajectory and position data for virtual ordinance, outputs said ordnance position data to said network software, and receives own vehicle state data from said network software to compute a weapon position.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said computational system further comprises visual simulation software that receives tracker data and renders an image based on said tracker data, vehicle state data received from network software, and own-weapon projectile data.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said weapons system comprises:

(a) a traverse ring encoder that creates ring-position data based on the orientation of a traverse ring;

(b) a slip ring that permits unrestricted rotation of the traverse ring;

(c) a calibration mechanism that can be manually activated to generate a calibration signal;

(d) said simulated vehicle-mounted weapon, wherein said weapon generates pitch, yaw, and firing data based on manipulation of said weapon by said ground vehicle gunner trainee; and

(e) an interface device that receives and forwards to said computational system, said ring position data, said calibration signal, and said pitch, yaw, and firing data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said gunner station comprises a physical enclosure, such that:

(a) said ground vehicle gunner trainee experiences, in said physical enclosure, space constraints that would be experienced operating a real weapon in a real vehicle, and

(b) said ground vehicle gunner trainee moves said simulated vehicle-mounted weapon around said traverse ring by means of his back and feet.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said ground vehicle gunner module comprises a head-mounted display system that comprises:

(a) a tracker system that detects the orientation of the head of said ground vehicle gunner trainee and sends resulting tracker data to said computational system, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said ground vehicle gunner trainee.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said image is presented to said ground vehicle gunner trainee through said display system, which comprises a head-mounted display, represents a view of said virtual environment, and is independent of the orientation of said simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said head-mounted display provides the gunner trainee with a full spherical field of regard.

26. The system of claim 5, wherein said crewman modules comprise one or more of a commander module or an observer/rifleman module, both of which are comprised of the following:

(a) a crewman station;

(b) a weapon system;

(c) a display system;

(d) a sound system; and

(e) a computational system in communication with said weapon, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said weapons system comprises

(a) a hand-held weapon mockup that may be aimed and fired into said virtual environment by a commander/observer/rifleman trainee;

(b) wherein hand-held said weapon mockup represents one of an M-16 rifle or an M-4 rifle;

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said display system comprises:

(a) a head mounted display that provides a full spherical field of regard to said commander/observer/rifleman trainee based on the orientation of his head.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said system supports virtual dismounting of said commander/observer/rifleman trainee, such that said commander/observer/rifleman trainee can virtually exit the virtual vehicle while maintaining the ability to interact with said virtual from the vantage point of a dismounted position.

30. The system of claim 5, wherein said crewman modules comprise a driver module comprising:

(a) a driver station;

(b) a driving control system;

(c) a display system;

(d) a sound system; and

(e) a computational system in communication with said driving, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to a driver trainee.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said driving system comprises a driver interface, comprising:

(a) a steering wheel;

(b) a transmission selector;

(c) a brake pedal; and

(d) an accelerator pedal,

(e) wherein inputs by said driver trainee to said driver interface are received by said computational system and control movement of the virtual vehicle.

33. The system of claim 5, wherein the crewman modules comprise an air vehicle gunner module from which an air vehicle gunner trainee can aim and fire a simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said air vehicle gunner module allows said air vehicle gunner trainee to accurately aim said simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon is cradle/pintle-mounted to one of a floor mounted fixture, or an articulating arm mounted to a base of a vehicle opening, such that said simulated vehicle mounted weapon is able to pivot horizontally and vertically.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein a view resulting from said pivoting is observable to said air vehicle gunner trainee.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein said air vehicle gunner module is constructed in a modular manner that permits reconfiguration to simulate use of an alternative vehicle mounted weapon.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said alternative vehicle mounted weapon comprises one of:

(a) a 0.50 caliber machine gun; and

(b) a 7.62 -millimeter machine gun.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon comprises one of:

(a) a 0.50 caliber machine gun; and

(b) a 7.62 -millimeter machine gun.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon has substantially realistic controls, weight, and feel to said air vehicle gunner trainee, with respect to a weapon being simulated.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said simulated vehicle mounted weapon simulates weapon recoil, such that said simulated vehicle mounted weapon physically moves in response to firing;

42. The system of claim 33, wherein said air vehicle gunner module comprises a gunner station which in turn comprises:

(a) a weapon system;

(b) a display system;

(c) a sound system; and

(d) a computational system in communication with said weapon, display, and sound systems, and in communication with a data network.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said computational system comprises:

(a) network software; and

(b) weapon simulation software,

wherein said weapon simulation software receives pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data, computes a trajectory and position data for virtual ordinance, outputs said ordnance position data to said network software, and receives own vehicle state data from said network software to compute a weapon position.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said computational system comprises visual simulation software that receives tracker data and renders an image based on said tracker data, vehicle state data received from network software, and own-weapon projectile data.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein said weapons system comprises:

(a) a calibration mechanism that can be manually activated trainee to generate a calibration signal;

(b) a simulated vehicle mounted weapon that generates pitch, yaw, and firing data based on manipulation of said simulated vehicle mounted weapon by said air vehicle gunner trainee; and

(c) an interface device that receives and forwards to said computational system, said calibration signal, and said pitch, yaw, and firing data.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein said display system of said air vehicle gunner module comprises a head-mounted display system that comprises:

(a) a tracker system that detects the orientation of the head of said air vehicle gunner trainee and sends resulting data to said computational system, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said air vehicle gunner trainee.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said image is presented to said air vehicle gunner trainee through said head-mounted display, represents a view of said virtual environment, and is independent of the orientation of said simulated vehicle mounted weapon.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein said head-mounted display provides said air vehicle gunner trainee with a full spherical field of regard.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein said gunner station comprises a physical enclosure, that comprises a seat and harness for said air vehicle gunner trainee, and an opening in the side of said enclosure such that:

(a) said air vehicle gunner trainee experiences, in said physical enclosure, the same space constraints that would be experienced operating a real weapon in a real air vehicle, and

(b) said opening permits said air vehicle gunner trainee to stand and lean out of said opening as he would operating said real weapon in said real air vehicle.

50. The system of claim 5, wherein said crewman modules comprise a pilot module comprising:

(a) a pilot station;

(b) a flying control system;

(c) a display system;

(d) a sound system; and

(e) a computational system in communication with said flying, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to a pilot trainee.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein said flying control system comprises a pilot interface, comprising a flight control module, wherein inputs by said pilot trainee to said pilot interface are received by said computational system and control movement of a virtual air vehicle.