Instructor-lead training environment and interfaces therewith

• US 8,770,977 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cares, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Animation Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Slayton, David A., Lutz, Charles W. Jr., Cope, Delbert, Newcomb, Dale E. Jr., Kobes, Robert J., Young, Robert E., Preisz, Eric A., Ledwith, Christopher M., Mesdaghi, Syrus, Walker, Carl Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSSER, KATHLEEN MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US11/285,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,149 Days
• Field of Search: 434/16, 434 21- 22
• US Class Current: 434/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

An infantry training simulation system comprising at least one firing lane, with at least one display arranged substantially near the end of the firing lane. A trainee experiencing the simulation can carry at least one physical or virtual weapon, which is typically similar to a traditional infantry weapon. To facilitate navigation and other interaction with the simulation, the weapon is preferably outfitted with at least one controller. At least one computer is communicatively coupled to the display and the weapon. The computer can monitor input from the at least one controller, and modifies the training simulation displayed on the display based on the input.

Claims

1. An instructor controlled training simulation system to train teams, comprising:

a computer generated simulated training environment comprising a collaborative immersive virtual environment wherein simulated movements and interactions of each of one or more team members are represented within the simulated training environment;

at least one trainee station, comprising;

a firing area to host a team member, the firing area comprising a first end, a second end, and at least one display arranged substantially near the second end to display the simulated training environment,

at least one weapon, the weapon being substantially similar to an infantry weapon, and

at least one controller, the at least one controller mounted on the at least one weapon, to simulate movement within and interact with the simulated training environment;

at least one computer to generate the simulated training environment, the at least one computer communicatively coupled to the at least one display and communicatively coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one computer monitoring inputs from the at least one controller and modifying the simulated training environment displayed on the display based on the inputs;

a plurality of communication channels to allow communication among the instructor and the one or more team members;

an instructor station to host the instructor, to serve as a simulated training environment server and network host for the at least one computer and the at least one trainee station, and to serve as a simulated training environment control station, the instructor station receiving and propagating inputs from the at least one trainee station and allowing the instructor to control, modify, and record the execution of the simulated training environment, to control and record the communication channels, to create custom simulation scenarios for the simulated training environment, and;

a scenario editor to edit the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation, wherein the scenario editor allows the instructor to take over an entity represented within the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation, and

wherein the at least one display in each trainee station displays a viewpoint of the collaborative immersive virtual environment corresponding to movements and interactions of the at least one controller.

2. The system of claim 1, the at least one controller comprising a plurality of controllers, at least one of the plurality of controllers positioned substantially near a trigger of the weapon.

3. The system of claim 1, the at least one controller comprising a plurality of controllers, at least one of the plurality of controllers positioned along the barrel of the weapon.

4. The system of claim 1, the at least one computer communicatively coupled to the at least one controller via a wireless communication link.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructor station monitors and records actions of the team members within the simulated training environment and wherein the instructor station records and/or disables particular communication channels.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising an observer station to view the training simulation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the entity taken over represents at least one computer controlled entity within the simulated training environment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the entity taken over represents at least one of the one or more team members within the simulated training environment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications channels allows at least one of the instructor and the one or more team members in a first firing area to communicate with one or more team members in a second firing area to coordinate simultaneous simulated movement within the simulated training environment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication channels carry voice commands between the instructor and the one or more team members.

11. The system of claim 1, the weapon configured to fire at least one simulated projectile, the at least one simulated projectile stored in at least one clip.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one clips comprises an identifier, the system determining the type of simulated projectile stored in the clip currently in the weapon based on the identifier and a number of projectiles fired such that the weapon cannot reuse a previously expended clip.

13. The system of claim 12, the system determining the type of projectile stored in the clip currently in the weapon by inventorying the clips associated with the team member and identifying the clip missing from the inventory.

14. The system of claim 13, the system determining whether a clip has been used based on the identifier.

15. The system of claim 1, the system simulating a weapon jam according to at least one of the types of projectiles fired and the number of projectiles fired.

16. The system of claim 15, the system monitoring interactions with the weapon to determine when prescribed steps for clearing the simulated weapon jam are performed.

17. The System of claim 1, wherein the instructor controlled training simulation system comprises two or more trainee stations, and wherein the computer represents the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in every trainee station in the same collaborative immersive virtual environment, and the at least one display in each trainee station also displays a representation of the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in the other trainee stations.

18. A training simulation system, comprising:

a trainee station, comprising;

a plurality of firing areas to host at least one trainee, each firing area having associated therewith at least one display, and

at least one weapon mounted with detachable and adjustable controllers;

at least one computer, the at least one computer communicatively coupled to the at least one display and the at least one weapon, the at least one computer generating a collaborative immersive training environment displayed by the at least one display wherein simulated movements and interactions of the at least one trainee are controlled by the controllers and represented within the collaborative immersive training environment as an entity, wherein the at least one display in each trainee station displays a viewpoint of the collaborative immersive training environment corresponding to movements and interactions of the controllers; and

at least one instructor station to host an instructor, to serve as the training simulation server and network host for the at least one computer and the trainee station, and to serve as a training simulation control station, the at least one instructor station communicatively coupled to the at least one computer, the at least one instructor station receiving and propagating inputs from the at least one trainee station and allowing the instructor to control, modify, and record the execution of the training simulation and collaborative immersive training environment, to create custom simulation scenarios, and the instructor station further comprises a scenario editor to edit the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation, wherein the scenario editor allows the instructor to take control of the entity represented within the collaborative immersive virtual environment during the training simulation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the training simulation system comprises two or more trainee stations, and wherein the at least one computer represents the movements and interactions of the controllers in every trainee station in the same collaborative immersive training environment as two or more entities, and the at least one display in each trainee station also displays a representation of the movements and interactions of the controllers in the other trainee stations.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein one of the controllers is located substantially near the trigger of the weapon.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein one of the controllers is located along the barrel of the weapon.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of communication channels to allow communication among the instructor and the at least one trainee, the communications channels allowing at least one of the instructor and the at least one trainee in a first trainee station to communicate with one or more trainees in a second trainee station to coordinate simultaneous simulated movement of the trainees in the first and second trainee stations within the collaborative immersive training environment,

wherein the instructor station allows the instructor to record and/or disable particular communication channels, and wherein bookmarks are created during the recording of the training simulation, the creation of bookmarks automatically triggered by specific events in the collaborative immersive training environment or manually created through the instructor station.

23. A method of interacting with a collaborative immersive training environment generated by a training simulation system having at least one trainee station comprising a firing area to host a trainee, at least one controller, a plurality of communication channels, and at least one display corresponding to the firing area, comprising:

displaying a computer generated simulation on the at least one display, the simulation comprising the collaborative immersive training environment wherein simulated movements and interactions of the trainee is controlled by the at least one controller and is represented within the collaborative immersive training environment as an entity, wherein the at least one display displays a viewpoint of the collaborative immersive training environment corresponding to the simulated movements and interactions of the trainee in each trainee station;

equipping a physical weapon with the at least one controller;

communicating through the communication channels to coordinate simultaneous simulated movement of the trainees within the collaborative immersive training environment;

navigating the collaborative immersive training environment displayed on the display via the at least one controller;

monitoring the collaborative immersive training environment for at least one hostile target;

engaging the hostile target using the physical weapon; and

allowing an instructor to observe the collaborative immersive training environment via an instructor terminal of the training simulation system, the instructor terminal allowing the instructor to monitor and record actions of the team members within the collaborative immersive training environment, and to modify the conditions of the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation,

wherein the training simulation system comprises two or more trainee stations, and wherein the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in every trainee station is represented in the same collaborative immersive training environment, and the at least one display in each trainee station also displays a representation of the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in the other trainee stations, and

wherein the training simulation system further comprises a scenario editor to edit the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation, the scenario editor allowing the instructor to take over an entity represented within the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising editing the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation.

25. The method of claim 24, the weapon comprising a projectile weapon similar in size, weight, and feel to a traditional infantry weapon.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising firing a projectile at the hostile target as part of the engaging step.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising calculating the projectile path through the collaborative immersive training environment.

28. The method of claim 26, the weapon simulating the projectile firing.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising monitoring at least one of the number and type of projectiles fired by the weapon and simulating a weapon jam according to at least one of the number and type of projectiles fired.

30. The method of claim 29, the weapon jam simulated at a frequency substantially similar to that associated with the use of the physical weapon in the real world.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising simulating the depletion of projectiles from a clip associated with the weapon for each weapon firing such that the weapon cannot reuse a previously expended clip.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising permitting the instructor to interact with the collaborative immersive training environment.

33. The method of claim 32, the interaction comprising altering environmental characteristics.

34. The method of claim 33, the environmental characteristics comprising wind, time of day, and lighting.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein the instructor takes control of at least one computer controlled entity within the collaborative immersive training environment.

36. The method of claim 23, wherein the instructor takes control of an entity representing at least one trainee within the collaborative immersive training environment.

37. A training simulation system, comprising:

a computer to generate a training simulation comprising a collaborative immersive training environment;

at least one trainee station, comprising;

a firing area to accommodate a trainee and at least one display to display the collaborative immersive training environment, and

at least one controller to interact with the collaborative immersive training environment, the at least one controller mounted on a physical weapon,

wherein the controller controls simulated movement and interaction of the trainee within the collaborative immersive training environment, and wherein the at least one display in each trainee station displays a viewpoint of the collaborative immersive training environment corresponding to movements and interactions of the at least one controller;

an instructor station to host an instructor, to serve as server and network host for the computer and the at least one trainee station, and to serve as a training simulation control station, the instructor station receiving and propagating inputs from the at least one trainee station and allowing the instructor to control, modify, and record an execution of the training simulation, to create custom simulation scenarios for the training simulation, and;

a scenario editor to edit the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation;

wherein the scenario editor allows the instructor to take over an entity represented within the collaborative immersive training environment during the training simulation.

38. The training simulation system of claim 37, further comprising:

a plurality of communication channels to allow communication among the instructor and the trainee, the communications channels allowing at least one of the instructor and the trainee in a first trainee station to communicate with one or more trainees in a second trainee station to coordinate simultaneous simulated movement of the trainees in the first and second trainee stations within the simulated collaborative immersive training environment,

wherein the instructor station allows the instructor to record and/or disable particular communication channels.

39. The training simulation system of claim 37, wherein the trainee uses the at least one controller to engage targets within the training simulation and the controller generates an input according to a firing of the weapon.

40. The training simulation of claim 39, wherein the computer calculates a trajectory of a simulated projectile within the training simulation according to the input corresponding to the firing of the weapon.

41. The training simulation system of claim 39, wherein the training simulation system monitors at least one of a number of projectiles fired and a type of projectile fired by the weapon such that the weapon cannot reuse a previously expended clip and weapons jamming is simulated according to one of the number of projectiles fired and the type of projectile fired.

42. The training simulation system of claim 39, wherein the firing of the weapon comprises firing of blank rounds.

43. The training simulation system of claim 37, further comprising:

a level editor to create and edit the collaborative immersive training environment.

44. The training simulation system of claim 37, wherein the training simulation system comprises two or more trainee stations, and wherein the computer represents the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in every trainee station in the same collaborative immersive training environment, and the at least one display in each trainee station also displays a representation of the movements and interactions of the at least one controller in the other trainee stations.

45. The training simulation system of claim 37, wherein bookmarks are created during the recording of the training simulation, the creation of bookmarks automatically triggered by specific events in the collaborative immersive training environment or manually created through the instructor station.

46. The training simulation system of claim 37, wherein the physical weapon is a traditional infantry weapon or a physical weapon similar in size, weight, and feel to a traditional infantry weapon.