Dynamically controlled vehicle simulator system, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

• US 6,361,321 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FAAC Incorporated (Greenbriar Equity Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: FAAC Incorporated (Greenbriar Equity Group LLC)
• Inventors: Thompson, Scott, McClelland, Thomas, Huston, Genevieve, Dibbs, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/603,757
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/62, 434/63, 434/64, 434/65, 434/69, 434/71, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 434/373, 348/61, 273/148.R, 463/1, 463/7, 463/40, 463/43, 345/118, 345/121, 345/145, 345/473, 700/9, 703/6
• 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

A system for simulating the operation of a vehicle, comprising a monitor for displaying a sequence of visual images; a plurality of control devices for the simulated vehicle for manipulation by an operator of the simulated vehicle; a computer, responsive to manipulation of the simulated vehicle control devices, for presenting a temporal sequence of visual images to the operator on the monitor which depicts the operation of the simulated vehicle along a roadway in a simulated environment; a mechanism for dynamically controlling weather effects in the simulated environment; and a mechanism for creating a traffic event in the simulated environment on demand during a simulation session and presenting the traffic event to the operator substantially immediately thereafter.

Claims

1. A system for simulating the operation of a simulated vehicle, comprising:

a video means for displaying a sequence of visual images;

a plurality of control devices for said simulated vehicle for manipulation by a first user of said system;

memory for storing data relating to a simulated environment;

a computing device, responsive to manipulation of said simulated vehicle control devices and in communication with said memory, for presenting a sequence of visual images on said video means which depicts said simulated vehicle traveling in said simulated environment; and

said computing device allows a second user of the system to select a type of traffic condition for said simulated vehicle during said presenting of said sequence of visual images, and said computing device automatically presents a traffic condition for said simulated vehicle corresponding to said type of traffic condition selected by the second user in said sequence of visual images following said selection of said type of traffic condition.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said computing device allows said second user to select a type of traffic condition from a list having a plurality of predetermined types of traffic conditions.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises a simulated object positioned forwardly of the simulated vehicle stopping suddenly in the path thereof.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, said simulated roadway including a plurality of lanes; and

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises a simulated object, heading in an opposite direction relative to the direction of travel of said simulated vehicle, veering into a lane in which said simulated vehicle is traveling, forwardly of said simulated vehicle.

5. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, said simulated roadway including a plurality of lanes; and

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises a simulated object, heading on said simulated roadway in the same direction as said simulated vehicle, merging into the lane in which said simulated vehicle is traveling.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said selecting of a simulated object is based upon a location of the simulated object in said simulated environment relative to said simulated vehicle therein.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said selecting of a simulated object is based upon an orientation of the simulated object in said simulated environment relative to said vehicle therein.

8. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said simulated environment includes a plurality of simulated roadways on which said simulated vehicle travels, and a simulated traffic light; and

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises said traffic light, positioned along a roadway on which said simulated vehicle is traveling forwardly of said simulated vehicle, changing states.

9. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, a plurality of simulated objects and at least one simulated object having a siren and emergency lights positioned on a roof thereof; and

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises said simulated object having said siren traveling on said simulated roadway and activating said siren and said emergency lights, and other of said simulated objects traveling on said simulated roadway and failing to respond to said activated siren and emergency lights.

10. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein:

a type of traffic condition appearing on said list comprises a simulated object crossing a path of said simulated vehicle forwardly thereof.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said computing device selects a simulated object from among a plurality of simulated objects in already in existence in said simulated environment at the time said second user selects said type of traffic condition, and utilizes said selected, simulated object in presenting said traffic condition corresponding to said type of traffic condition selected by said second system user.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein:

said computing device

selects a simulated object in said simulated environment for presenting said traffic condition corresponding to said type of traffic condition selected by said second system user, based upon distances between said simulated objects and said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment.

13. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein:

said computing device selects a simulated object in said simulated environment for presenting said traffic condition corresponding to said type of traffic condition selected by said second system user, based upon an orientation of said simulated objects relative to an orientation of said simulated vehicle.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said simulated environment includes a plurality of simulated objects and at least one roadway on which said simulated objects travel; and

said computing device includes a set of rules for traveling on said roadway by said simulated objects, and allows said second user to specify, during said presenting of said sequence of visual images, an extent of conformance of at least some of said simulated objects in said simulated environment to said set of rules for traveling on said roadway.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein:

in response to said second user specifying said extent of conformance to said set of rules, said some of said simulated objects perform individual acts of nonconformance to said set of rules substantially randomly during said presenting of said sequence of visual images.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein:

said computing device allows said second user to select any of a plurality of individual traffic laws that said some of said simulated objects are to have a tendency to violate; and

said some of said simulated objects substantially randomly violate said individual traffic laws selected by said second user.

17. A method of simulating the operation of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving operator data corresponding to manipulation of control devices of said vehicle;

presenting a temporal sequence of visual images depicting a view of travel in a simulated environment; and

dynamically controlling at least one traffic condition for said vehicle during said sequence presenting step, comprising the steps of;

receiving information, in real time during said step of presenting a temporal sequence, of a selected type of traffic condition to be presented in said simulated environment;

selecting a simulated object for performing a traffic condition of said selected type of traffic condition; and

presenting said traffic condition of said selected type in said simulated environment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said step of selecting a simulated object comprises the step of selecting a simulated object from a plurality of simulated objects in said simulated environment for performing said traffic condition of said selected type.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said step of selecting a simulated object comprises the step of selecting a simulated object already existing in the simulated environment at the time of said selecting.

20. A system for simulating the operation of a simulated vehicle, comprising:

a video means for displaying a sequence of visual images;

a plurality of control devices for said simulated vehicle for manipulation by a user of said system;

computing means, responsive to manipulation of said simulated vehicle control devices, for presenting a sequence of visual images on said video means which depicts at least one view of travel of said simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

memory, in communication with said computing means, for storing data relating to a simulated environment;

said video means comprises at least one video projector;

said at least one view of travel comprises a forward view of travel having a rear view mirror therein so as to present a rearward view of said simulated vehicle; and

said computing means allows said user to control an orientation of said rear view mirror so as to select an orientation of said rearward view of travel.

21. A system as recited in claim 20, wherein:

said computing means allows said user to specify a size of said rear view mirror in said forward view of travel.

22. A system for simulating the operation of a simulated vehicle, comprising:

a video display device for displaying a sequence of visual images;

a plurality of control devices for said simulated vehicle for manipulation by a first user of said system;

memory for storing data relating to a simulated environment;

a computing device, responsive to manipulation of said simulated vehicle control devices and in communication with said memory, for presenting a sequence of visual images on said video display device which depicts said simulated vehicle traveling in said simulated environment; and

said computing device allows a second user of the system to select a type of weather condition for said simulated vehicle during said presenting of said sequence of visual images, and said computing device automatically presents a weather condition for said simulated vehicle corresponding to said type of weather condition selected by the second user in said sequence of visual images following said selection of said type of weather condition.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the weather condition is wind;

the control devices includes a steering wheel; and

the system includes a device for applying a rotational force to said steering wheel based upon the selected type of weather condition.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

an audio device for audibly simulating said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment based upon the selected type of weather condition.

25. A computer program product embodying program instructions for execution by a computer device, for simulating the operation of a simulated vehicle, the computer program product comprising program instructions for:

receiving operator data corresponding to manipulation of control devices of said simulated vehicle;

presenting a temporal sequence of visual images depicting a view of travel in a simulated environment;

receiving information, in real time during said presenting of said temporal sequence, of a selected type of traffic condition to be presented in said simulated environment;

selecting a simulated object for performing a traffic condition of said selected type of traffic condition; and

presenting said traffic condition of said selected type in said simulated environment.

26. A system for simulating the operation of a simulated vehicle, comprising:

a video display device for displaying a sequence of visual images;

a plurality of control devices for the simulated vehicle for manipulation by a first user of the system;

memory for storing data relating to a simulated environment; and

a computing device, responsive to manipulation of the simulated vehicle control devices and in communication with the memory, for presenting a sequence of visual images on the video display device depicting the simulated vehicle traveling in the simulated environment;

the computing device being capable of allowing a second user to initiate a traffic condition for the simulated vehicle during the presenting of the sequence of visual images, and in response automatically presenting the traffic condition in the sequence of visual images on the video display.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the computing device is capable of receiving from the second user a request to present a traffic condition for the simulated vehicle in the sequence of visual images on the video display of a selected type.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the computing device is capable of receiving a request from the second user to present a traffic condition of any of a plurality of types of traffic conditions.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

a type of traffic condition comprises a simulated object positioned forwardly of the simulated vehicle stopping suddenly in the path thereof.

30. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, said simulated roadway including a plurality of lanes; and

a type of traffic condition comprises a simulated object, heading in an opposite direction relative to the direction of travel of said simulated vehicle, veering into a lane in which said simulated vehicle is traveling, forwardly of said simulated vehicle.

31. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, said simulated roadway including a plurality of lanes; and

a type of traffic condition comprises a simulated object, heading on said simulated roadway in the same direction as said simulated vehicle, merging into the lane in which said simulated vehicle is traveling.

32. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

said simulated environment includes a plurality of simulated roadways on which said simulated vehicle travels, and a simulated traffic light; and

a type of traffic condition comprises said traffic light, positioned along a roadway on which said simulated vehicle is traveling forwardly of said simulated vehicle, changing states.

33. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

said simulated environment includes at least one simulated roadway on which said simulated vehicle travels, a plurality of simulated objects and at least one simulated object having a siren and emergency lights positioned on a roof thereof; and

a type of traffic condition comprises said simulated object having said siren traveling on said simulated roadway and activating said siren traveling on said simulated roadway and activating said siren and said emergency lights, and other of said simulated objects traveling on said simulated roadway and failing to respond to said activated siren and emergency lights.

34. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein:

a type of traffic condition comprises a simulated object crossing a path of said simulated vehicle forwardly thereof.

35. A computer program product for a simulator which simulates the operation of a simulated vehicle, including instructions stored on a computer medium which, when executed by a processor of the simulator, operate to:

receive operator data corresponding to manipulation of control devices of said simulated vehicle;

present a temporal sequence of visual images depicting a view of travel in a simulated environment based upon the received operator data;

receive information, during said presenting of said sequence of visual images, to initiate a traffic condition for the simulated vehicle during the presenting of the sequence of visual images; and

in response to receiving the information, automatically present the traffic condition in the sequence of visual images.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein:

the received information is a selected type of traffic condition to be presented in said simulated environment.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the instructions to automatically present the traffic condition comprise instructions which, when executed by the processor of the simulator, operate to:

select a simulated object for performing a traffic condition of said selected type of traffic condition; and

present said traffic condition of said selected type in said simulated environment.