A computer based simulation system for virtual training for vehicle crews is disclosed. The vehicle crew training system (VCTS) simulates crew positions for different military vehicles. Two or more crewman modules are networked together to support a partial or full vehicle crew. The crewman modules
A computer based simulation system for virtual training for vehicle crews is disclosed. The vehicle crew training system (VCTS) simulates crew positions for different military vehicles. Two or more crewman modules are networked together to support a partial or full vehicle crew. The crewman modules are self-contained devices that are modular in hardware and software design, easily reconfigurable, and that require minimal facility space, allowing use in restricted environments such as trailers. The VCTS is modular at the crew position level; crewman modules are added or deleted as required to meet a particular training need. One of the crewman modules can be a gunner module, which provides an unrestricted view of the simulated environment to the gunner by means of a display and a simulated vehicle-mounted weapon.
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1. A computer-based simulation system for training vehicle crew members for operation of a multi-crew member vehicle, the simulation system comprising: a plurality of self-contained modules of the multi-crew member vehicle configured to be connected to one another by a network, wherein each module c
1. A computer-based simulation system for training vehicle crew members for operation of a multi-crew member vehicle, the simulation system comprising: a plurality of self-contained modules of the multi-crew member vehicle configured to be connected to one another by a network, wherein each module comprises:a self-contained physical structure configured to provide a position for only an individual crew member of the multi-crew member vehicle, dedicated to a simulation of a single distinct crew station of the multi-crew member vehicle, and configured to operate while geographically separated from at least one other of the plurality of self-contained modules; anda mechanical mockup within the self-contained physical structure, configured to dedicate the module to the simulation of the single distinct crew station,wherein the self-contained modules are modular in hardware and software design and reconfigurable for simulation of different vehicles, weapon types, control elements or subsystem types, the hardware modularity including modularity of the mechanical mockup. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each said module is comprised of a crew station, a computational system, a display system, and a sound system, which collectively perform: reception of signal data from the mechanical mockup, said signal data to be analyzed to yield a simulated effect, on the common virtual environment, of actions performed by the individual crew member using the mechanical mockup;visual rendering of said common virtual environment using said computational system;presenting resultant imagery to the individual crew member through said display system;enabling communication with other crewman modules and with external simulation systems over the network by means of said computational system; andsound simulation, wherein aural cues are generated in response to actions and events that occur in the virtual environment, said events including actions and events resulting from actions performed by the individual crew member using the mechanical mockup, are generated using said computational system, and are output to the individual crew member using said sound system;wherein said module provides a physical position for the individual crew member to operate the crew station including the mechanical mockup. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said modules are networked together such that: crew members operating said modules are associated with, move with, and interact with the same vehicle in the virtual environment;each module communicates vehicle state, weapon state, and parameters as necessary to others of said modules;crew members observe the common virtual environment independently, such that they may view completely different, partly overlapping or the same portions of said virtual environment;crew members hear sounds representative of actions occurring in the common virtual environment such that said actions are apparent to the crew members even if said actions are not viewable on a crew member's individual display system;an instructor station can be interfaced with said crewman modules through said network to perform exercise control functions, to monitor crewman actions, to collect training data for individual crewman modules and for system operation, or to act as a module for a surrogate crewman;a second simulation system can be interfaced with the crewman modules via said network to participate in simulation activity as a second virtual vehicle; anda simulated radio system can be interfaced through the network to communicate messages between crew positions and to external systems. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said crewman modules comprise a gunner module from which a gunner trainee can aim and fire a simulated vehicle mounted weapon, wherein said gunner module is implemented as the mechanical mockup. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said gunner module allows said gunner trainee and said simulated weapon to collectively rotate in a horizontal plane through an unrestricted angular displacement. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said gunner module comprises a traverse ring and slip ring that permits said rotation. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein said simulated weapon is cradle/pintle-mounted to said traverse ring, and can be made by said gunner trainee to pivot about two axes so as to pitch and yaw independently from said rotation. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein a view resulting from said rotation and pivoting is observable to said gunner trainee. 9. The system of claim 4, wherein said gunner module is constructed in a modular manner that permits physical and software reconfiguration to simulate use of an alternative vehicle mounted weapon. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said alternative weapon is a non-lethal crowd control device. 11. The system of claim 4, wherein said simulated weapon is a non-lethal crowd control device. 12. The system of claim 4, wherein said simulated weapon has substantially realistic controls, weight, and feel to said gunner trainee, relative to the weapon being simulated. 13. The system of claim 4, wherein said gunner module comprises a gunner station which in turn comprises: a weapon system implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;a display system;a sound system; anda computational system in communication with said weapon, display, and sound systems, and in communication with a data network. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said computational system comprises: network software; andweapon simulation software,wherein said weapon simulation software receives pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data, computes a trajectory and position data for virtual ordinance, outputs said ordnance position data to said network software, and receives its own vehicle state data from said network software to compute a weapon position. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein said computational system further comprises visual simulation software that receives tracker data and renders an image based on said tracker data, vehicle state data received from network software, and own-weapon projectile data. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein said weapons system comprises: a traverse ring encoder that creates ring-position data based on the orientation of a traverse ring;a slip ring that permits unrestricted rotation of the traverse ring;a calibration mechanism that can be activated by said crewman trainee to generate a calibration signal;said simulated vehicle-mounted weapon, wherein said weapon generates pitch, yaw, and firing data based on manipulation of said weapon by said crewman trainee; andan interface device that receives and forwards to a computational system, said ring position data, said calibration signal, and said pitch, yaw, and firing data. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein said gunner module further comprises a head-mounted display system that comprises: a tracker system that detects the orientation of the head of said gunner trainee and sends resulting data to a computational system, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said gunner trainee. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said image available to said gunner trainee is presented to said gunner trainee through said head-mounted display system, represents a view of a virtual environment, and is independent of the orientation of said simulated weapon. 19. The system of claim 17, wherein said head-mounted display provides the gunner trainee with a full spherical field of regard. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein all modules collectively fit into a portable structure approximately eight feet wide or less. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein each module is constructed in a modular manner that permits physical and software reconfiguration to simulate an alternative vehicle. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said alternative vehicle is one or: a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle;a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck;a standard cargo truck; anda five-ton tactical truck. 23. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said modules comprises a commander module or an observer/rifleman module, comprising: a crew station implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;a weapon system implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;a display system;a sound system; anda computational system in communication with said weapon, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said weapons system comprises a hand-held weapon mockup configured to be aimed and fired into the virtual environment by a crew member. 25. The system of claim 23, wherein said display system comprises a head-mounted display configured to provide a full spherical field of regard to the crew member based on a head orientation of the crew member. 26. The system of claim 1, wherein said crewman module is a driver module comprising: a driver station implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;a driving system implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;a display system;a sound system; anda computational system in communication with said driving, display, and sound systems, and in communication with said network;wherein said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to a driver crew member. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein said display system receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said driver crew member. 28. The system of claim 26, wherein said driving system comprises a driver interface, comprising: a steering wheel;a transmission selector;a brake pedal; andan accelerator pedal;wherein inputs by said crew member to said driver interface are received by said computational system and control movement of said multi-crew member vehicle. 29. The system of claim 1, wherein said module is configured to present said common virtual environment to a crew member at one of a plurality of levels of fidelity, the plurality of levels of fidelity representing varying amounts of relative functional realism of vehicle or weapon controls in the virtual multi crew member vehicle. 30. The system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical mockup comprises at least one of a mechanical mockup of: a weapon, a weapon support element, a weapon control element, a defensive device, a sensing device, a control element of the vehicle, a navigational element of the vehicle, or a physical structure that contains and/or supports the individual crew member. 31. The system of claim 1, wherein said software design comprises a memory configured with a layered software system, said layers comprising: a first layer of application specific software;a second layer of reusable simulation components coupled to said first layer; anda third layer of hardware-specific drivers and application programming interfaces (APIs), said drivers and APIs coupled to said second layer and at least one computer system of said one or more dedicated computer systems. 32. A self-contained crewman module for use in a simulation system simulating operation of a multi-crew member vehicle, comprising: a self-contained physical structure configured to provide a position for only an individual crew member of the multi-crew member vehicle, dedicated to a simulation of a single distinct crew station of the multi-crew member vehicle, and configured to operate while geographically separated from at least one other crewman module; anda mechanical mockup within the self-contained physical structure, configured to dedicate the module to the simulation of the single distinct crew station,wherein the self-contained crewman module is modular in hardware and software design and reconfigurable for simulation of different vehicles, weapon types, control elements or subsystem types, the hardware modularity including modularity of the mechanical mockup, andwherein the self-contained crewman module is configured to communicate vehicle state and weapon state parameters with a second self-contained crewman module. 33. The self-contained crewman module of claim 32 wherein said mechanical mockup comprises: a gunner module for training a gunner crew member, from which the gunner crew member can aim and fire a simulated vehicle-mounted weapon, the gunner module comprising a hardware and software design that is reconfigurable to simulate a plurality of vehicle-mounted weapons; anda head-mounted display with a full spherical field of regard that permits the gunner trainee to look in any direction independent of the direction in which the weapon is pointed. 34. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein the gunner module allows said gunner trainee and said simulated weapon to collectively rotate in a horizontal plane through an unrestricted angular displacement. 35. The self-contained crewman module, of claim 34, wherein the gunner module comprises a traverse ring and slip ring that permit said rotation. 36. The self-contained crewman module of claim 35, wherein said simulated weapon is cradle/pintle-mounted to said traverse ring, and can be made to pivot in two axes by said gunner trainee independently from said rotation, so as to allow said simulated weapon to pitch and yaw. 37. The self-contained crewman module of claim 36, wherein a view resulting from said rotation and pivoting is observable to said gunner trainee. 38. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein the gunner module is constructed in a modular manner that permits physical and software reconfiguration of the mechanical mockup and a computer to which said mechanical mockup is linked to simulate use of an alternative vehicle mounted weapon. 39. The self-contained crewman module of claim 38, wherein said alternative vehicle mounted weapon is a non-lethal crowd control device. 40. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said simulated weapon is a non-lethal crowd control device. 41. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said simulated weapon has substantially realistic controls, weight, and feel to said gunner trainee, relative to the weapon being simulated. 42. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein an image available to said gunner trainee via said head-mounted display represents a view of a simulated environment, and is independent of the orientation of said simulated weapon. 43. The self-contained crewman module of claim 42, wherein said head-mounted display comprises: a tracker system that detects the orientation of the head of said gunner trainee and sends resulting data to a computational system, wherein said head-mounted display receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said gunner trainee. 44. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said gunner module further comprises a sound system to provide aural cues to said gunner trainee, wherein the aural cues are synchronized with and represent actions and events in a common virtual environment. 45. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said gunner module comprises a gunner station which in turn comprises: a weapon system implemented as the whole of or a part of the mechanical mockup;the head-mounted display;a sound system; anda computational system in communication with said weapon, head-mounted display, and sound systems, and in communication with a data network. 46. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said network allows communication with a second training, module configured to receive a second respective trainee, such that said gunner trainee and said second trainee participate in a common virtual environment. 47. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said network allows communication between the gunner module and an instructor station that allows an instructor to perform exercise control, monitor trainee actions, collect training data, and act as a surrogate crewman. 48. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said network allows communication between the gunner module and a simulation system, such that a trainee in said simulation system participates with said gunner trainee in a common virtual environment. 49. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said network allows simulated radio communication between said gunner trainee and other individuals that are equipped with simulated radios. 50. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said weapons system comprises: a traverse ring encoder that creates ring-position data based on the orientation of a traverse ring;a slip ring that permits unrestricted rotation of the traverse ring;a calibration mechanism that can be activated by said gunner trainee;a weapon mockup that generates pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data based on manipulation of said mockup by said gunner trainee; andan interface device that receives and forwards to said computational system, said ring position data, said calibration signal, and said pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data. 51. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said computational system comprises: network software; andweapon simulation software,wherein said weapon simulation software receives said pitch, yaw, and trigger pull data, computes a trajectory and position data for virtual ordinance, outputs said position data to said network software, and receives own vehicle state data from said network software to compute a weapon position. 52. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said computational system further comprises visual simulation software that receives head-tracker data and renders an image based on said Lead-tracker data, vehicle state data received from network software, and own weapon projectile data. 53. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said head-mounted display comprises: a head-tracker system that detects the orientation of the head of said gunner trainee and sends resulting data to said computational system, wherein said head-mounted display receives video data from said computational system and presents an image based on said video data to said gunner trainee. 54. The self-contained crewman module of claim 45, wherein said computational system comprises sound simulation software, and said sound system receives audio that is generated by sound I/O software on the basis of sound data from said sound simulation software, wherein said sound data is determined by said sound simulation software on the basis of weapon and vehicle data received from network software. 55. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said gunner module presents a simulated environment to said gunner trainee at one of a plurality of levels of fidelity, the plurality of levels of fidelity representing varying amounts of relative functional realism of vehicle or weapon controls in the virtual multi-crew member vehicle. 56. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein said gunner module fits into a portable structure approximately eight feet wide or less. 57. The self-contained crewman module of claim 33, wherein the gunner module is tabletop mounted and presents a simulated environment to said gunner trainee at a relatively low level of fidelity, wherein: rotation of the weapon is simulated in software, where said rotation is controlled by foot pedals operated by the gunner trainee; andthe gunner trainee is seated in front of the weapon mock-up. 58. The self-contained crewman module of claim 32, further comprising: a network communications module configured to connect the self-contained crewman module to a communications network,wherein the self-contained crewman module is configured to be connected via the network communications module to the structurally self-contained second crewman module,wherein crewman modules of similar or different types may be added or deleted from the simulation environment by connecting to or disconnecting from, respectively, the communications network,wherein the simulation environment is common to the self-contained crewman module and the structurally self-contained second crewman module, communications between the modules being communicated via the communications network, andwherein the self-contained crewman module is further configured to customize the virtual environment by the use of the simulation software so that the virtual environment remains representative of the shared simulation environment, and the virtual environment can be configured uniquely for the crewman position of the self-contained crewman module. 59. The self-contained crewman module of claim 32, wherein said mechanical mockup comprises at least one of a simulated sensing device, a simulated control device of the vehicle, or a simulated navigational device of the vehicle.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Becker Wilfried (Celle DEX) Kilfitt Dirk (Velbert DEX) Desgranges Hans-Ulrich (Celle DEX), Apparatus for aiming a weapon of a combat vehicle.
Duselis, Uldis; Eyster, Jeffrey Scott; DeHerdt, Jesica Renee; Hampton, Michael Frederick, Dynamic pointing accuracy evaluation system and method used with a gun that fires a projectile under control of an automated fire control system.
Wilkinson Robert M. (Romeo MI) Davies Ann L. (Lake Orion MI) Davies Henry C. (Lake Orion MI) Osbon Barbara A. (Auburn Hills MI), Method and system for exclusively assigning a vehicle duty position in a computerized vehicle simulator.
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