METHOD FOR TRAINING A PERSON WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE

• US 20140377719A1
• Filed: 09/04/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: JOHNSSON, Thomas, LUNDBLADH, Anders, RING, Dan, HANNIUS, Olof
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/48 Analogue computers for specific processes, systems or devices, e.g. simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/165 Control of aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/44 providing simulation in a real aircraft flying through the atmosphere without restriction of its path

Abstract

In a method for training a person while operating a vehicle, the vehicle has a control system for receiving vehicle operating commands from the person for controlling the vehicle. A calculation unit is provided for simulating a state of the vehicle and/or the environment to which the vehicle is subjected, the simulated state being a possible real state of the vehicle and/or the environment which is different from the actual state of the vehicle and/or the environment. The vehicle operating commands and the calculation unit are used for calculating vehicle command signals. The vehicle command signals are used for controlling the vehicle so as to cause the vehicle to respond to the vehicle operating commands in a way that corresponds to the state simulated by the calculation unit instead of the actual state of the vehicle and/or the environment.

Claims

1. A method of simulating an operating state of a vehicle, the method comprising:

operating the vehicle via a control system, the control system being arranged to receive vehicle operating commands from a person for controlling the vehicle and to create vehicle operating command signals,

selectively operating the vehicle in a normal state of operation of an actual vehicle having an actual vehicle load,

selectively operating the vehicle in a simulated state of operation, the simulated state of operation being different from the normal state of operation of an actual vehicle,

wherein in a simulated state of operation the vehicle operating command signals are transformed so as to simulate operation of a simulated vehicle carrying a simulated vehicle load that is different from an actual vehicle load.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulated vehicle load is selected from one of simulated passengers, simulated fuel, simulated weaponry or simulated cargo.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the simulated vehicle load is arranged to change over a period of time.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of an actual vehicle model and the vehicle operating commands that are input to the actual vehicle model.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of at least one of key data for the simulated state of the vehicle and key data for the actual vehicle.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of a model with a calculated motion of the simulated vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals using a load database.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising using the load database to calculate at least one of key data for the simulated state of the vehicle and key data for the actual state of the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising calculating the key data for the simulated state of the vehicle by using vehicle operating commands as input to the load database.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising calculating the key data for the actual state of the vehicle by using vehicle response as input to the load database.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising calculating the at least one of the key data for the simulated state of the vehicle and the key data for the actual state of the vehicle by using load configuration for at least one of the simulated state and an actual vehicle state as input to the load database.

18. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of vehicle response.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of vehicle response.

21. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals in order to simulate transient effects on vehicle motion relating to load release.

22. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using pre-calculated data for calculating the vehicle operating command signals, the pre-calculated data defining a relation between certain vehicle operating commands and the vehicle operating command signals.

23. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling at least one actuator of the vehicle.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling at least one actuator of an engine of the vehicle.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling power or thrust of the engine.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling at least one control surface of the vehicle.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling a position of the control surface.

28. A method according to claim 23, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling at least one wheel of the vehicle.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising using the vehicle operating command signals for controlling at least one wheel brake actuator of the vehicle.

30. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a simulated state of the vehicle wherein the weight of the vehicle is different from the real weight of the vehicle.

31. A method according to claim 1, further comprising switching between a training mode operation in which behavior of the vehicle in the simulated state of the vehicle is arranged to be obtained and a normal mode operation during the same operation of the vehicle.

32. A method according to claim 1, further comprising switching between different simulated states of the vehicle during a same flight of the vehicle, the vehicle being an air vehicle.

33. A method according to claim 1, further comprising training a person while operating an air vehicle which is adapted to be flown in either one of a first configuration or in a second configuration, the first and second configurations being selectable by the operator during a flight, and using a simulated state for simulating a transition from the first configuration to the second configuration.

34. A method according to claim 1, further comprising training a person while operating an air vehicle.

35. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating command signals are used for controlling at least one of the propulsion system and one or more control surfaces of the vehicle while it is operated in the actual state so as to cause the vehicle to respond to the vehicle operating commands in a way that corresponds to operation of the vehicle under the simulated state instead of the actual state of the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals using a vehicle model.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising calculating, in a first step, motion of the vehicle in the simulated state by using the vehicle model and the vehicle operating commands as input, and then calculating, in a second step, the vehicle operating command signals by using the calculated motion of the vehicle in the simulated state as input to the calculation unit.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising using the key data for the simulated state of the vehicle as input to the vehicle model.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising transmitting the key data for the simulated state of the vehicle to the vehicle model during operation of the vehicle.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals by using the vehicle operating commands as input in the second step.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals by using the key data for the actual vehicle as input in the second step.

20. A method according to claim 12, further comprising calculating the vehicle operating command signals as a function of vehicle response.

37. The training system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the simulated vehicle load is selected from one of simulated passengers, simulated fuel, simulated weaponry or simulated cargo.

38. The training system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the simulated vehicle load is arranged to change over a period of time.

36. A training system for training a person to operate a vehicle under a simulated operating state of a vehicle, the training system comprising:

a control system for operating the vehicle, the control system being arranged to receive vehicle operating commands from a person for controlling the vehicle and to create vehicle operating command signals,

means for selectively operating the vehicle in a normal state of operation of an actual vehicle having an actual vehicle load,

means for selectively operating the vehicle in a simulated state of operation, the simulated state of operation being different from the normal state of operation of an actual vehicle,

wherein in a simulated state of operation the vehicle operating command signals are transformed so as to simulate operation of a simulated vehicle carrying a simulated vehicle load that is different from an actual vehicle load.

39. The training system according to claim 36, wherein the means for selectively operating the vehicle in the simulated state of operation transmits the vehicle operating command signals to at least one controllable component of the vehicle for controlling at least one of the propulsion system and one or more control surfaces of the vehicle so as to cause the vehicle to respond to the vehicle operating commands in a way that corresponds to operation of the vehicle in the simulated state instead of the normal state.