System, Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Driver Training

• US 20110076649A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Training Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Training Systems LLC
• Inventors: Stahlman, Nathan P., Voorhees, James W., Havell, David J, Welles, Reginald T., Turpin, Aaron J., Best, Aaron M., Price, Camille B., Barton, J. Ken, Purvis, Aaron M., Kearney, John E., Turpin, Darrell R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,770,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/69
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

An application for an adaptive training system includes a computer interfaced to one or more graphics displays, one of more input/output devices and having access to a plurality of training segments. The input/output devices are in communication with a trainee. Software of the computer selects a first segment of the training segments and operates on the current segment by presenting the current segment on the graphics displays and input/output devices, thereby simulating an operation of the target vehicle. The software collects data from the one or more input/output devices and analyzes the data to determine a level of competency of the trainee. The software adaptively determines one or more next segments from the training segments based upon the level of competency.

Claims

1. An adaptive training system comprising:

a computer, the computer having a storage device;

a plurality of training segments stored on the storage device and accessible by the computer;

one or more graphics displays, at least one of the graphics displays simulates a windshield of a target vehicle, the computer generates images on the graphics displays;

one of more input/output devices, the input/output devices corresponding to control/indicator devices of the target vehicle, the input/output devices are in communication with a trainee;

a first set of software runs on the computer, selects a first segment of the training segments as the current segment;

a second set of software runs on the computer and operates on the current segment by presenting the current segment on one or more of the graphics displays and/or input/output devices, thereby simulating an operation of the target vehicle;

a third set of software runs on the computer and collects data from the one or more input/output devices while the second set of software presents;

a fourth set of software runs on the computer and analyzes the data to determine a level of competency of one or more aspects of the current segment;

a fifth set of software runs on the computer and determines one or more next segments from the training segments based upon the level of competency, the next segments corresponding to either one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated abilities or one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated lack of abilities; and

a sixth set of software runs on the computer, selects one of the next segments as the current segment and repeats the second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth set of software.

2. The adaptive training system of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphics displays include a touch screen dashboard display.

3. The adaptive training system of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphics displays include one or more rear-view displays.

4. The adaptive training system of claim 1, wherein the one or more graphics displays includes an information display and whereas the forth set of software also displays status after the forth set of software performs the analysis.

5. The adaptive training system of claim 1, wherein the one or more input/output devices is selected from a group consisting of a gas pedal, a brake pedal, a clutch pedal, a simulated transmission position detector, a simulated transmission force detector, a simulated transmission touch detector, a simulated transmission pressure sensor, a simulated transmission transducer, a steering wheel rotation detector, a steering wheel touch detector, a biometric sensor, and a trainee position detector.

6. A method of training a trainee on a training system, the training system comprising a computer that includes a storage device and a plurality of training segments, the training segments are stored on the storage device and accessible by the computer;

the computer is operatively interfaced to one or more graphics displays, at least one of the graphics displays simulates a windshield of a target vehicle, the computer generates images on the graphics displays;

the computer is operatively interfaced to one of more input/output devices, the input/output devices corresponding to control/indicator devices of the target vehicle, the input/output devices are in communication with a trainee;

the method includes;

(a) selecting a first segment of the training segments as the current segment;

(b) presenting the current segment on one or more of the graphics displays and/or input/output devices, thereby simulating an operational scenario of the target vehicle;

(c) collecting data from the one or more input/output devices;

(d) analyzing the data to determine a level of competency of one or more aspects of the current segment;

(e) determining one or more next segments from the training segments based upon the level of competency, the next segments corresponds to either one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated abilities or the next segments corresponds to either one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated lack of abilities; and

repeating steps b-e until a session is complete.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more graphics displays includes a touch screen dashboard display.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more graphics displays includes one or more rear-view displays.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more graphics displays includes an information display and whereas the forth set of software also displays status on the information display after the forth set of software performs the analysis.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more input/output devices is selected from a group consisting of a gas pedal, a brake pedal, a clutch pedal, a simulated transmission position detector, a simulated transmission force detector, a simulated transmission touch detector, a simulated transmission pressure sensor, a simulated transmission transducer, a steering wheel rotation detector, a steering wheel touch detector, a biometric sensor, and a trainee position detector.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of determining if a severe training issue has occurred.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of notifying administrative staff after the severe training issue has occurred.

13. An adaptive training system comprising:

a computer, the computer having means for storing data;

a plurality of training segments stored in the means for storing the data, the training segments accessible by the computer;

one or more graphics displays, at least one of the graphics displays simulates a windshield of a target vehicle, the computer has means for generating images on the graphics displays;

one of more input/output devices, the input/output devices corresponding to control/indicator devices of the target vehicle, the input/output devices are in communication with a trainee;

means for selecting a first segment of the training segments as a current segment;

means for executing the current segment including displaying content of the current segment on one or more of the graphics displays and input/output devices, thereby simulating an operation of the target vehicle;

means for collecting data from the one or more input/output devices while the current segment is executing;

means for analyzing the data and determining a level of competency of one or more aspects of the current segment;

means for determining one or more next segments from the training segments based upon the level of competency, the next segments corresponding to either one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated abilities or one or more aspects of the current segment of which the trainee demonstrated lack of abilities; and

means for selecting one of the next segments as the current segment and continuing using the selected segment as the current segment.

14. The adaptive training system of claim 13, wherein the one or more graphics displays include a touch screen dashboard display.

15. The adaptive training system of claim 13, wherein the one or more graphics displays include one or more rear-view displays.

16. The adaptive training system of claim 13, wherein the one or more graphics displays includes an information display and the adaptive training system includes means for displaying at least part of the data on the information display.

17. The adaptive training system of claim 13, wherein the one or more input/output devices is selected from a group consisting of a gas pedal, a brake pedal, a clutch pedal, a simulated transmission position detector, a simulated transmission force detector, a simulated transmission touch detector, a simulated transmission pressure sensor, a simulated transmission transducer, a steering wheel rotation detector, a steering wheel touch detector, a biometric sensor, and a trainee position detector.

18. The adaptive training system of claim 13, further comprising means for simulating shifting, the means for simulating shifting having a hand touch sensor, the hand touch sensor signaling the computer to indicate a hand of the trainee in contact with a handle of the means for simulating shifting.