Racecar simulator and driver training system and method
First Claim
1. A simulator for simulating a racecar with performance characteristics that depend upon a plurality of different variables, said simulator comprising:
- a cockpit chamber configured to mimic the cockpit of a racecar, wherein said cockpit includes controls for driving said racecar;
at least one display viewable from said cockpit, wherein said at least one display displays images that provide the driver in said cockpit chamber with an Illusion of movement around a racetrack;
at least one mechanism coupled to said cockpit chamber for providing physical movement to said chamber;
an Interface for entering criteria for said racecar including suspension criteria, aerodynamic criteria, engine criteria and gearing criteria; and
a controller, coupled to said interface, for controlling said at least one display and said at least one mechanism to correspond in a predetermined manner to the driver'"'"'s use of said controls, wherein said predetermined manner is dependent upon said criteria entered for said racecar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simulator system for providing a realistic simulation of a racecar. The simulator systems provides a driver with substantially the same visual and auditory stimuli as would a real racecar. The physical forces experienced by the driver include steering wheel movement, chassis movement and large changes in vertical, horizontal and lateral G forces as the racecar corners around turns on sloped racetrack embankments. Since the simulator accurately simulated the forces experienced when driving a real racecar, the present invention simulator can be used to physically train drivers as well as mentally train drivers. Prior to a simulation, a driver selects a type of racecar. Every adjustable feature of the racecar selected that is capable of effecting the driving performance of the racecar is given a default value that the driver may change. As a result, the performance of the simulated racecar can be selectively adjusted to match that of a real racecar for which the driver is accustomed. Similarly, changes can be made to a racecar and the driver can become accustomed to those changes without the expense or danger of experimenting with those changes in a real racecar.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A simulator for simulating a racecar with performance characteristics that depend upon a plurality of different variables, said simulator comprising:
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a cockpit chamber configured to mimic the cockpit of a racecar, wherein said cockpit includes controls for driving said racecar; at least one display viewable from said cockpit, wherein said at least one display displays images that provide the driver in said cockpit chamber with an Illusion of movement around a racetrack; at least one mechanism coupled to said cockpit chamber for providing physical movement to said chamber; an Interface for entering criteria for said racecar including suspension criteria, aerodynamic criteria, engine criteria and gearing criteria; and a controller, coupled to said interface, for controlling said at least one display and said at least one mechanism to correspond in a predetermined manner to the driver'"'"'s use of said controls, wherein said predetermined manner is dependent upon said criteria entered for said racecar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A simulator system for providing a simulation to a driver of a racecar racing on a racetrack, comprising:
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a cockpit chamber configured to mimic the cockpit of a racecar, wherein said cockpit includes controls for driving the racecar; at least one display viewable from said cockpit, wherein said at least one display displays images that provide the driver in said cockpit chamber with an illusion of movement around a racetrack; at least one mechanism coupled to said cockpit chamber for providing physical movement to said chamber, wherein said at least one mechanism is capable of subjecting the driver in said cockpit chamber to a force of up to four G'"'"'s for the duration of said simulation; and a controller for controlling said at least one display and said at least one mechanism to correspond to the driver'"'"'s use of said controls. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of controlling a racecar simulator, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a type of racecar to be simulated; selecting values for suspension criteria, aerodynamic criteria, engine performance criteria and gearing criteria for the type of racecar selected; determining the performance characteristics of the racecar selected depending upon the values entered for the adjustable features; monitoring a driver'"'"'s use of controls within the racecar simulator; and subjecting the driver to forces indicative of a real racecar having said performance characteristics and responding to said driver'"'"'s use of the controls. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification