PORTABLE IN-THE-VEHICLE ROAD SIMULATOR

• US 20110131026A1
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konstantin Sizov
• Original Assignee: Konstantin Sizov
• Inventors: Sizov, Konstantin
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,499 B2
• 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. An in-vehicle driving simulation system comprising:

a simulation computer with software simulating a virtual driving environment, the simulation computer being coupled to an audio-visual device serving to present the virtual driving environment to a user;

an on-board electronic computer-to vehicle interface of a drive-by-wire vehicle, the computer-to-vehicle interface coupled to the simulation computer via a vehicle onboard interface bus;

wherein when the in-vehicle driving simulation system is in operation, the vehicle is immobilized;

a torque-of a steering wheel of the vehicle is mechanically disconnected from the wheels of the vehicle, and wherein the embedded vehicle sensors are used for reading a real time state of vehicle'"'"'s controls.

2. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, wherein the audio-visual device comprises a head mounted display.

3. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 2, where the simulation computer is incorporated into the head mounted display.

4. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, where the simulation computer is integrated in the vehicle or an entertainment system of the vehicle and the virtual driving environment is generated by an embedded software application running on the simulation computer.

5. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, further employing electronic suspension actuators of the vehicle to achieve a simulated limited tilt motion effect during driving simulation.

6. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, where the simulation computer is an on-board computer of the vehicle integrated into the vehicle for mapping, gaming, entertainment or other purposes.

7. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, where a stereo system and a heads-up display integrated in the vehicle comprise the audio-visual device.

8. The in-vehicle driving simulator system of claim 1, wherein a stereo system and a heads-up display integrated in the vehicle comprise the audio-visual device and wherein the simulation computer is an on-board computer of the vehicle integrated into the vehicle, thereby reducing the driving simulator to a software application.