Synchronized video and synthetic visualization system and method
First Claim
1. A synchronized video and synthetic visualization system for a mobile object comprising an aircraft traversing a flight path, which system comprises:
- a mobile video recorder associated with the aircraft and adapted to record video images from different camera angles along the flight path;
a data recording device associated with the aircraft and adapted to record navigational and flight information;
a secondary computer system adapted for creating a 3-D recreation of a flight path of the aircraft based on the navigational and flight information;
a digital terrain model stored onto the data recording device and including an area of the Earth'"'"'s surface including at least a portion of the flight path;
a graphics software engine on the secondary computer system;
a first 3-D display of a 3-D recreation including;
the terrain model;
a representation of the aircraft superimposed on the terrain model; and
a data ribbon representing the flight path superimposed on the terrain model;
altitude readings computed from the navigational and flight information at pre-defined intervals along the flight path;
a second 3-D display comprising a vertical synthetic flight wall extending downwardly from the flight path data ribbon to a ground level on the terrain model computed using the altitude readings and the navigational and flight information;
the flight wall being subdivided graphically into a vertically-oriented checkerboard configuration comprising multiple rectangular segments separated by multiple, horizontally-spaced vertical striations each representing a pre-defined horizontal distance and multiple, vertically-stacked horizontal striations each representing a pre-defined vertical distance, the pre-defined vertical and horizontal distances corresponding to altitude and distance of travel flight along the flight path respectively;
a display device adapted for dynamically displaying in 3-D with the graphics software engine the flight wall including the vertical and horizontal striations below the flight path data ribbon;
wherein the display device is adapted for dynamically displaying in 3-D with the graphics software engine the progress along the flight path of the aircraft on top of the flight wall and over the terrain model; and
dynamically displaying aircraft altitudes at respective rectangular segments along the flight path;
a synchronizer connected to the video recorder and the secondary computer system, the synchronizer being adapted for synchronizing video images from the video recorder with the 3-D recreation of a flight path; and
the simulator adapted for analyzing the vehicle flight path.
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Abstract
The present invention presents a flight training and synthetic visualization system, which comprises a fully mobile, self-contained data recording unit including a desktop graphics software engine for creating a virtual model of the flight capable of playing back the recorded trip, synchronized with a real-time video or imagery recording of the actual flight with a view from the cockpit of the aircraft as a pilot would actually view the flight, along with ambient audio of the cockpit. This allows for the user of the simulation to view both modeled data of the flight, as well as actual time-sequenced still images or video of the flight. The two sources of data are synched in time so that real video images of the aircraft as it is flying at a specific point in time is displayed in the simulation at the same moment as the rendered visualization of the flight.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A synchronized video and synthetic visualization system for a mobile object comprising an aircraft traversing a flight path, which system comprises:
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a mobile video recorder associated with the aircraft and adapted to record video images from different camera angles along the flight path; a data recording device associated with the aircraft and adapted to record navigational and flight information; a secondary computer system adapted for creating a 3-D recreation of a flight path of the aircraft based on the navigational and flight information; a digital terrain model stored onto the data recording device and including an area of the Earth'"'"'s surface including at least a portion of the flight path; a graphics software engine on the secondary computer system; a first 3-D display of a 3-D recreation including;
the terrain model;
a representation of the aircraft superimposed on the terrain model; and
a data ribbon representing the flight path superimposed on the terrain model;altitude readings computed from the navigational and flight information at pre-defined intervals along the flight path; a second 3-D display comprising a vertical synthetic flight wall extending downwardly from the flight path data ribbon to a ground level on the terrain model computed using the altitude readings and the navigational and flight information; the flight wall being subdivided graphically into a vertically-oriented checkerboard configuration comprising multiple rectangular segments separated by multiple, horizontally-spaced vertical striations each representing a pre-defined horizontal distance and multiple, vertically-stacked horizontal striations each representing a pre-defined vertical distance, the pre-defined vertical and horizontal distances corresponding to altitude and distance of travel flight along the flight path respectively; a display device adapted for dynamically displaying in 3-D with the graphics software engine the flight wall including the vertical and horizontal striations below the flight path data ribbon; wherein the display device is adapted for dynamically displaying in 3-D with the graphics software engine the progress along the flight path of the aircraft on top of the flight wall and over the terrain model; and
dynamically displaying aircraft altitudes at respective rectangular segments along the flight path;a synchronizer connected to the video recorder and the secondary computer system, the synchronizer being adapted for synchronizing video images from the video recorder with the 3-D recreation of a flight path; and the simulator adapted for analyzing the vehicle flight path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of synchronizing a simulation of a flight path of a mobile object comprising a vehicle with images from object positions along said flight path, which method comprises the steps of:
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providing a processor associated with said object; providing as input to said processor simulation data corresponding to a simulation of said object'"'"'s path along said flight path; providing the object with an image-recording device; recording images from different camera angles associated with said object'"'"'s path along said flight path; providing as input to said processor said recorded images; synchronizing with said processor said simulation with said images; providing a display device connected to and receiving output from said processor; simultaneously displaying on said display device said synchronized simulation and images; analyzing said flight path with said processor; wherein said simulation data comprises a digital terrain model for an area of the Earth'"'"'s surface including at least a portion of the flight path;
a representation of the aircraft superimposed on the terrain model;
a data ribbon representing the flight path superimposed on said terrain model; and
a vertical synthetic flight wall extending downwardly from said flight path data ribbon to a ground level on said terrain model;wherein said flight wall is graphically subdivided into a vertically-oriented checkerboard configuration comprising multiple rectangular segments separated by multiple, horizontally-spaced vertical striations each representing a pre-defined horizontal distance and multiple, vertically-stacked horizontal striations each representing a pre-defined vertical distance, said pre-defined vertical and horizontal distances corresponding to altitude and distance of travel flight along said flight path respectively; wherein said flight wall is displayed dynamically in 3-D on said display device with said graphics software engine; and wherein the progress along said flight path is displayed dynamically in 3-D on said display device on top of said flight wall and over said terrain model. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification