IP Library Granted Patent US 11,587,456
Granted Patent B2
US 11,587,456 · App. 17/354,999 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

VR emulator

Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen (Alba, TX); Daniel Brent McCall (Keller, TX); Joshua Peter Riccobono (Arlington, TX)
Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
G09B9/307G02B27/0172G06T19/006G09B9/085G09B9/12G09B9/24G02B27/017
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,587,456
App. No.
17/354,999
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods include providing a virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator system that simulates control, operation, and response of a vehicle. The flight emulator includes a control interface and a head-mounted display worn by a user. Motion, orientation, and/or forces experienced by the simulated vehicle are imparted to a user through a motion-control seat. Multiple flight emulators can be connected to a communication network, and a master flight emulator may teleport into a slave flight emulator in order to observe, overtake, override, and/or assume control of the slave flight emulator. Inputs made via the control interface of the master flight emulator or during playback of a pre-recorded training exercise or flight mission are translated into the control interface, head-mounted display, and motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator to provide real-time feedback to the user of the slave flight emulator.

Claims (36)

1. A virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator, comprising:

a pilot control interface;

a head mounted display worn by a user; and

a motion-control seat;

wherein the flight emulator is configured to allow the user of the flight emulator to virtually teleport into a slave flight emulator connected through a network; and

wherein the motion-control seat is selectively articulated to minimize motion and orientation of a vehicle associated with the flight emulator and impart only the motion and orientation acting on the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

2. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control interface of the flight emulator is configured to receive feedback in response to an input made via a pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

3. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control interface of the flight emulator is configured to assume control of a pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

4. The flight emulator of claim 3 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator are emulated at the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

5. The flight emulator of claim 4 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator for operating a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator are emulated through selective articulation of the motion-control seat of the flight emulator.

6. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the flight emulator comprises a head-mounted display worn by the user of the flight emulator, and wherein the head-mounted display is configured to replicate visual imagery from the slave flight emulator and further configured to adjust the imagery in response to head movement of the user of the flight emulator.

7. The flight emulator of claim 1 , wherein the flight emulator is configured to run a pre-recorded program, wherein the pre-recorded program provides feedback through each of a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator.

8. A virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator system, comprising:

a master flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat; and

at least one slave flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and connected in communication to the master flight emulator through a network;

wherein the master flight emulator is configured to allow a user of the master flight emulator to virtually teleport into the slave flight emulator; and

wherein the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator is selectively articulated to cancel motion and orientation of a vehicle associated with the master flight emulator and impart only the motion and orientation acting on the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

9. The flight emulator system of claim 8 , wherein the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator is configured to receive feedback in response to an input made via the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

10. The flight emulator system of claim 8 , wherein the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator is configured to assume control of the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

11. The flight emulator system of claim 10 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator are imparted to the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

12. The flight emulator system of claim 11 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the master flight emulator that impart motion or orientation to a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator are imparted to the user of the master flight emulator through selective articulation of the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator.

13. The flight emulator system of claim 8 , wherein the master flight emulator comprises a head-mounted display worn by the user of the master flight emulator, and wherein the head-mounted display is configured to replicate visual imagery visible from the slave flight emulator and further configured to adjust the imagery in response to head movement of the user.

14. The flight emulator system of claim 8 , wherein the master flight emulator is configured to run a pre-recorded program, wherein the pre-recorded program provides feedback through each of the pilot control interface and a motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator.

15. A method of operating a virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator, comprising:

providing a master flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface and a motion-control seat and at least one slave flight emulator comprising a pilot control interface, the master flight emulator and the slave flight emulator being connected through a network;

virtually teleporting a user of the master flight emulator into the at least one slave flight emulator;

selectively articulating the motion-control seat of the master flight emulator to cancel motion and orientation of a vehicle associated with the master flight emulator and impart only the motion and orientation acting on the slave flight emulator when the user of the master flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

communicating to the pilot control interface of the flight emulator feedback in response to an input made via the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

using the pilot control interface of the flight emulator to assume control of the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator are emulated at the pilot control interface of the slave flight emulator when the user of the flight emulator is virtually teleported into the slave flight emulator.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein inputs made via the pilot control interface of the flight emulator for operating a vehicle associated with the slave flight emulator are emulated through selective articulation of the motion-control seat of the flight emulator.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

providing a head-mounted display worn by the user of the flight emulator; and

replicating imagery visible from the slave flight emulator and adjusting the imagery in response to head movement of the user of the flight emulator.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2022
From: BELL TEXTRON INC.
To: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
Reel/Frame 062238/0123 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2022
From: BELL TEXTRON RHODE ISLAND INC.
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 062238/0138 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2022
From: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
To: BELL TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 061784/0413 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2021
From: NISSEN, JEFFREY PAUL; MCCALL, DANIEL BRENT; RICCOBONO, JOSHUA PETER
To: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 057645/0438 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15928644 · Mar 22, 2018
Provisional Application 62581012 · Nov 2, 2017
Related Publication 20210343178A1 · Nov 4, 2021