Search and rescue training simulator

• US 7,891,978 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Singer, Brian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUSSELMAN, TIMOTHY A
• Application Number:
  US11/034,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 434 1- 11, 434 21- 69, 434/219, 342169-170, 701/3
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft

Abstract

A search and rescue training simulator and method. The training simulator comprises a first generating means, a second generating means, a third generating means, and a fourth generating means. The first generating means generates a simulated vehicle in motion performing a search and rescue function. The simulated vehicle includes a vehicular control panel. The second generating means generates a simulated environment. The third generating means generates a simulated receiver apparatus within the vehicular control panel. The fourth generating means generates a simulated transmitter apparatus within the simulated environment. The simulated transmitter apparatus is adapted to generate and transmit a signal. The simulated receiver apparatus is adapted to receive the signal and assist a user in locating the simulated transmitter apparatus in the simulated environment.

Claims

1. A computer program product for training simulation, comprising:

a computer readable, tangible storage device;

first program instructions for generating a simulated aircraft in flight performing a search and rescue function, wherein said simulated aircraft in flight performing said search and rescue function is displayed on a computer monitor, and wherein said simulated aircraft in flight comprises a vehicular control panel;

second program instructions for generating a simulated environment, wherein said simulated environment is displayed on said computer monitor;

third program instructions for generating a simulated receiver apparatus within the vehicular control panel, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus is displayed on said computer monitor, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus comprises a simulated aircraft direction finding (DF) apparatus; and

fourth program instructions for generating a simulated transmitter apparatus within the simulated environment, wherein said simulated transmitter apparatus is displayed on said computer monitor, wherein said simulated transmitter apparatus is programmed to generate and transmit a simulated signal, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus is programmed to receive said simulated signal, wherein said simulated transmitter apparatus comprises a simulated emergency locator transmitter (ELT), and wherein said simulated aircraft in flight is programmed to be maneuvered to place said simulated aircraft in flight between said simulated signal and said DF apparatus to block said simulated signal from said DF apparatus to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment, wherein the first program instructions, the second program instructions, the third program instructions, and the fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable, tangible storage device for execution by a central processing unit of a computer.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises signal strength adjustment program instructions for adjusting a signal strength of said received signal.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises frequency selection program instructions for selecting a receiving frequency for said simulated receiver apparatus.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein said frequency selection program instructions are adapted programmed to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment by incrementally adjusting said receiving frequency.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises an audio signal, and wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises audio broadcasting program instructions for broadcasting said audio signal to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment by allowing said user to listen to an audio strength of said audio signal and maneuver said simulated aircraft in flight according to said audio strength in order to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises an indication gauge for indicting to the user a direction of the simulated transmitter apparatus in relation to the simulated aircraft.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said first program instructions, said second program instructions, said third program instructions, and said fourth program instructions are each a software program instructions.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated environment comprises simulated weather conditions.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus comprises a way point mark activation button for updating a current latitude and longitude for said simulated aircraft.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said way point mark activation button increments a search and rescue way point ID number.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus comprises a frequency selection knob for allowing a user to select a broadcast frequency.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said broadcast frequency is selected from a range of about 121 MHz to about 122 MHz.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the simulated transmitter apparatus comprises simulation program code for simulating that said simulated aircraft is located near high voltage power lines.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft in flight is programmed to be maneuvered to enable a wing shadowing process to use a wing of said simulated aircraft to block said simulated signal from said DF apparatus.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft in flight is programmed to be maneuvered to use a fuselage of said simulated aircraft to block said simulated signal from said DF apparatus.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

simulating program code for simulating a partial malfunction of said receiving apparatus.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated receiver apparatus is programmed to receive codes related to various search and rescue conditions associated with simulated missions.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said simulated aircraft in flight is a simulated airplane in flight.

19. A training simulation method, comprising:

a computer displaying a software training simulator on a computer monitor, the software training simulator displaying a simulated aircraft in flight performing a search and rescue function within a simulated environment, the software training simulator comprising;

a simulated transmitter apparatus transmitting a simulated signal, the simulated transmitter apparatus located within the simulated environment, the simulated transmitter apparatus comprising a simulated emergency locator transmitter (ELT);

a simulated receiver apparatus receiving said transmitted simulated signal, the simulated receiver apparatus located within the simulated aircraft, the simulated receiver apparatus comprising a simulated aircraft direction finding (DF) apparatus comprising a DF gauge;

and

said simulated aircraft in flight being maneuvered to place said simulated aircraft in flight between said simulated signal and said DF apparatus to block said simulated signal from said DF apparatus to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

program code within said simulated aircraft DF apparatus, adjusting a signal strength of said received signal in response to user input.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

program code changing a receiving frequency for said simulated receiver apparatus in response to user input.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising incrementally adjusting said receiving frequency to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said signal comprises an audio signal, wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises an audio broadcasting means for broadcasting said audio signal, and wherein the method further comprises:

the user listening to the audio signal; and

the user manuvering the simulated aircraft in flight according to an audio strength of said audio signal in order to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

a gauge indicating to the user, a direction of the simulated transmitter apparatus in relation to the simulated aircraft.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said simulated environment comprises simulated weather conditions.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

a way point mark activation button within said simulated aircraft DF apparatus, updating a current latitude and longitude for said simulated aircraft.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said way point mark activation button increments a search and rescue way point ID number.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

a frequency selection knob within said simulated aircraft DF apparatus, selecting a broadcast frequency.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

said simulated aircraft DF apparatus simulating that said simulated aircraft is located near high voltage power lines.

30. A computer system for implementing a training simulator, said computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a computer readable memory;

a computer readable, tangible storage device;

first program code for providing within a software implemented training simulator, a simulated vehicle in motion performing a search and rescue function within a simulated environment, a simulated receiver apparatus within the simulated vehicle, and a simulated transmitter apparatus within the simulated environment, wherein said simulated vehicle in motion is a simulated aircraft in flight, wherein said simulated transmitter apparatus comprises a simulated emergency locator transmitter (ELT), and wherein said simulated receiver apparatus comprises a simulated aircraft direction finding (DF) apparatus comprising a DF gauge;

second program code for displaying by said processor, said training simulator on a computer monitor associated with said computer system;

third program code for transmitting by the simulated transmitter apparatus, a simulated signal;

fourth program code for receiving by the simulated receiver apparatus, said transmitted simulated signal;

fifth program code for maneuvering by the user, said simulated aircraft in flight to place said simulated aircraft in flight between said signal and said DF apparatus to block said simulated signal from said DF apparatus to enable said user to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus in a simulated environment,

wherein the first program code, the second program code, the third program code, the fourth program code, and the fifth program code are stored on the computer readable, tangible storage device for execution by the central processing unit via the computer readable memory.

31. The computer system of claim 30, further comprising:

program code within said simulated aircraft DF apparatus for adjusting a signal strength of said received signal in response to user input.

32. The computer system of claim 30, further comprising:

program code within said simulated aircraft DF apparatus for receiving frequency for said simulated receiver apparatus in response to user input.

33. The computer system of claim 32, further comprising program code for incrementally adjusting said receiving frequency to assist said user in locating said simulated transmitter apparatus in said simulated environment.

34. The computer system of claim 30, wherein said signal comprises an audio signal, wherein said simulated aircraft DF apparatus comprises audio broadcasting program code for broadcasting said audio signal, wherein the user listens to the audio signal, and wherein the user maneuvers the simulated aircraft in flight according to an audio strength of said audio signal in order to locate said simulated transmitter apparatus.

35. The computer system of claim 30, further comprising:

a gauge indicating to the user, a direction of the simulated transmitter apparatus in relation to the simulated aircraft.