Weight-shift flight control transducer and computer controlled flight simulator, hang gliders and ultralight aircraft utilizing the same
First Claim
1. In a suspended-pilot environment that includes a mechanical support structure for suspending a pilot so that the pilot is provided with freedom of weight-shift movement of the type used to control a hang glider or ultralight aircraft, a weight-shift flight control transducer associated with said mechanical support structure including means for transforming the weight-shift movements of the suspended pilot into electrical signals representative of the weight-shift movements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The weight-shift movements of a suspended pilot are transformed into electrical signals representative of the movements. The signals may be used as the pitch and roll input information in an interactive computerized flight simulation system. The signals may also be generated by an actual pilot of a hang glider or ultralight aircraft and used on board to control ailerons, elevators, rudders, or the like, so as to enhance the performance potentials of these types of aircraft.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. In a suspended-pilot environment that includes a mechanical support structure for suspending a pilot so that the pilot is provided with freedom of weight-shift movement of the type used to control a hang glider or ultralight aircraft, a weight-shift flight control transducer associated with said mechanical support structure including means for transforming the weight-shift movements of the suspended pilot into electrical signals representative of the weight-shift movements.
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3. A weight-shift flight control transducer as claimed in claim wherein said suspended pilot environment is a computerized flight simulation system including a computer, flight simulation software and a video monitor positioned in view of the suspended pilot, and said computerized flight simulation system is operable in response to the signals generated by the weight-shift flight control transducer.
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9. A computer system for permitting a trainee in the art of suspended pilot aircraft flight to suspend himself in a suspended pilot harness in a controlled training environment and interact with a computerized flight simulation system so that his actual weight-shift movements cause the computer to recalculate flight parameters and continuously present flight conditions simulating those that would be produced in an actual flight by a pilot'"'"'s weight-shift movements, said system comprising:
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a mechanical support for suspending the trainee in a harness with the trainee having freedom of weight-shift movement of the type used to control a hang glider or ultralight aircraft; a weight-shift flight control transducer associated with said mechanical support for generating electrical signals representative of the weight-shift movements of the trainee; and a computer system comprising a computer, a video monitor positioned in sight of a suspended pilot trainee and flight simulation software loaded into the computer, said computer system permitting input of the signals representative of the weight-shift movements of the trainee and generating a video image of flight conditions that is continuously recalculated by the computer. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An aircraft flown by a suspended pilot comprising:
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wings; a harness for a suspended pilot; a mechanical support associated with said wings for suspending said harness and providing the suspended pilot with freedom of weight-shift movement of the type used to control the aircraft; a weight-shift transducer associated with said mechanical support for generating electrical signals representative of the movements of the suspended pilot; at least one electromechanical moveable control surface on the aircraft; and processor control means for receiving the signals from said weight control transducer and controlling the motion of said control surface in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of tracking the weight-shift movement of a suspended pilot in an interactive computerized flight simulation system or an actual aircraft such as a hang glider or ultralight aircraft and generating signals representative of the suspended pilot'"'"'s weight-shift movements in at least one of the pitch, roll, yaw axes, said method comprising:
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suspending a pilot from a mechanical support structure so as to provide the pilot with a freedom of weight-shift movements of the type used to control a hang glider or ultralight aircraft; providing moveable means associated with the mechanical support that is moveable in response to the weight-shift movements of the suspended pilot; and transforming the motion of the moveable means into electrical signals representative of at least one of the pitch, roll, yaw movements of the suspended pilot. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification