Flight simulators

• US 6,634,885 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fidelity Flight Simulation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fidelity Flight Simulation, Inc.
• Inventors: Van Drie, Gary L., Hodgetts, Graham L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/766,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/33, 434/38, 434/40, 434/44, 434/46, 434/55, 434/58, 434/59, 434/60, 434/66, 434/69, 434/307.R, 434/308, 473/130, 273/442, 700/28, 701/300, 703/8
• US Class Current: 434/55
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators

Abstract

A method and apparatus for scaling a large commercial flight simulator into a more compact flight simulator, without losing the look and feel of a corresponding aircraft in-flight, by modifying movement of the motion platform to conform to the recommendations of one knowledgeable of the actual aircraft.

Claims

1. A flight simulator comprising:

a motion base that comprises an electric motor having a rotatable motor shaft, an actuator ratably connected to the rotatable motor shaft, and a motion platform pivotally connected to the actuator;

a simulated aircraft cockpit connected to the motion base; and

computer means connected to the motion base and to the simulated aircraft cockpit, the computer means programmed with flight model simulation software, motion software, and a software program which adjusts an output of the motion software for for controlling the movement of the motion platform.

2. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulated aircraft cockpit further comprises simulated flight instruments, simulated aircraft controls, a pilot seat position, and a video display screen.

3. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the simulation computer is programmed with the flight model simulation software and is connected to the simulated flight instruments, the simulated aircraft controls, and video display screen.

4. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an alternating current variable frequency drive electrically connected to the computer means and the electric motor.

5. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer means comprises a motion computer and a simulation computer.

6. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the motion computer is programmed with the motion software.

7. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the motion computer generates a signal which is recieved by an alternating frequency drive electrically connected to the electric motor.

8. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signal is electrical.

9. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signal is plus of minus 5 volt direct current.

10. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulated cockpit further comprises a second video display screen and the second video display screen is electrically connected to the computer means.

11. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer means further includes a digital/analog card, the digital/analog card connected to an alternating current variable frequency drive.

12. The flight simulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program which adjusts an output of the motion software contains numerical characters which are adjusted help make a preceived movement of the motion base correspond to a preceived movement of an aircraft in motion.