Abstract: A motion simulator for vehicle driver training, which includes at least three actuators placed at the vertices of a triangle, connected to at least three connecting points, arranged in a triangle, for the fastening of a platform of a cabin by lever arms, one end of each of these arms being connected to a corresponding actuator by a joint with two degrees of freedom, the other end of one of the lever arms being connected to a point for fastening the platform by the joint with two degrees of freedom, and the other end of the other lever arms being connected, at all times, to one of the other platform fastening points by a joint with at least four degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An interactive game includes a housing with a first part and a second part. The first part is moveable with respect to the second part and carries a liquid crystal display. Switches provide electrical signals indicating the position of the first part with respect to the second part. A microcomputer connected to both the display and the switches is programmed to generate electrical signals to produce a moving image on the display. Movement of the first part of the housing with respect to the second part moves the display and the images thereon in a consistent fashion. A manually operable switch is provided to generate hit indicating events under operator control. When the images enter a target region they may be obliterated from the display by a manually generated hit indicating event.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved facility for training personnel for aircraft carrier flight operations. The invention provides a solution to problems caused by flight training operations in populated areas. The invention provides an aircraft carrier simulator that includes a land-based full scale flight deck. The simulator includes apparatus for moving the deck to simulate the motion of a carrier in the ocean. The deck may be moved up and down and rotated to simulate the pitching and rolling motion of a carrier floating in the ocean. The deck may also be rotated 360.degree. about its vertical centerline so that flight operations may be conducted at any desired angle to the wind. The simulator is capable of providing all training for pilots and aircraft crews and deck training for fire, crash, battle station, flight mechanics, flight, R&D AIMD, fuel and LOX crews.

Abstract: A spinning and rotating seating amusement device is disclosed. It is comprised of a support stand having a base with pivotably mounted wheels, a crowd control barrier adapted to be removably secured to the support stand, a pair of upright members mounted on the support stand and at opposite ends thereof, a first ring supported by said upright members for rotation on an horizontal axis, a pair of support rings forming a frame and bisecting each other at right angles, the frame being supported by said first ring for rotation on a second axis at right angles to the horizontal axis, a pair of bisecting crossbars centrally positioned in the frame for receiving a seat, the seat having a securing system, bearings connecting the frame to the first ring and the first ring to the upright members, and hydraulic driving assemblies located at one of the upright members for rotating a first ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for training aircraft pilots wherein the apparatus includes a boom defined by a central bracket, a large rigid arm and a small rigid arm collectively supported on a vertical mast for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes. The large and small arms extending outwardly from the mast along a common longitudinal axis, the outward end of the small arm being provided with an adjustable balance weight and the outward end of the big arm being provided with a sling for suspending an aircraft at its center of gravity.

Abstract: A dynamic flight simulator control system for enhancing flight realism to a ilot with regard to his perception and response to the linear forces and angular motions generated by a gimballed force and motion platform at the end of a rotating arm. Flight commands generated by controls identical to those in a specified aircraft and operated by the pilot as if flying are converted to the forces and motions predetermined for the aircraft and translated into simulator command signals which regulate the angular velocity of the arm and the roll and pitch of the platform. The perceived angular motions for both the aircraft pilot and the simulator pilot are predicted by computers pre-programmed with mathematical models of their human angular sensor responses and any difference is minimized by iteratively adjusting coefficients in the simulator command signals for predetermined weighting factors based on the individual pilot's preference.

Abstract: Spatial disorientation trainer-flight simulator wherein a cockpit is gimballed on three independently-controlled axes, i.e., pitch, roll and yaw, which revolve about a planetary axis. Rotation of the cockpit about the planetary axis is controlled by a remote console computer. Rotation of the cockpit about the pitch and roll axes is controlled by an on board cockpit computer alone or in combination with the console computer. Rotation of the cockpit about the yaw axis is controlled by the console computer alone or in combination with the cockpit computer. Slip rings are employed at the planetary and yaw axes so as to provide 360.degree. cockpit rotation about each axis. Rotation about each of the pitch, roll and yaw axes is effected by a high torque direct drive dc motor under control of the computers. Smooth, continuous motor operation is possible over a wide range of speeds, including sub-threshold speeds not detectable by the pilot.

Abstract: A simulation device which comprises a cabin mounted for movement in one or more senses, apparatus for control such as a joystick, in the cabin to at least in part control cabin movement produced by one or more motors, display apparatus in the cabin producing a window-type and/or radar-type display, sensors for sensing cabin movement, and one or more CPUs responsive to the sensors for causing the display to change at least in part in synchronized relationship to the cabin movements.

Abstract: A multiple axis pivot movement control mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected between the relatively pivotable elements at positions spaced laterally from the pivotal axis. The actuator preferably includes a threaded shaft, a threaded collar received on the threaded shaft and pivotably connected to one of the relatively pivotable elements, a bearing assembly connected to the other relatively pivotable element and rotationally supporting the other end of the shaft and transferring axial forces to its connected relatively pivotable element and a motor which operatively rotates the shaft to create pivoting movement. At least one spring or other force inducing element may be connected between the relatively pivotable elements to apply force to counteract the torque effect created when the center of gravity of the object shifts laterally during pivoting movement.

Abstract: In a simulator for training airplane pilots comprising a base positioned on he ground (24), a platform supporting an airplane equipment station of which the interior reproduces the interior of a real cockpit (17) and an assembly of jacks (15) and scissors (16) disposed between the base (24) and the platform and actuated by means of a hydraulic control system, the platform is replaced by a cross-braced self-supporting structure in the form of a basket (18), the base of which coincides with the base of the simulated cockpit (17) and the upper edge of which is located approximately at the height of the lower edges of the windows of the simulated cockpit (17), the jacks (15) and the scissors (16) connecting the base to the structure (18) being fixed in at least three places in proximity to the upper edge of the said structure (18) and being directed toward the base (24), mounted on the ground, in spaced apart relationship from said structure.

Abstract: Amusement apparatus is disclosed comprising a spherical passenger-holding body, and a vertical tube having a diameter sufficient to receive the body in a vertical path of motion. A turbine for moving air through the tube is located at the upper end of the tube for raising the body from the lower inlet end toward the upper end of the tube. To change the attitude of the body in its raised position, two sets of controls are utilized which are both manipulated by the passenger. Louver members externally mounted permits revolution of the body about its vertical axis by reaction to the air. Two U-shaped members in perpendicular planes are rotatably mounted at their ends in the body. Each has a weight slidable along its member, with the weights pivotally joined to each other.

Abstract: An enclosure generally shaped to simulate the appearance of a flight vehicle is provided with a seat facing a video display and is supported on a parabolic dish for freedom of angular motion in the pitch and roll modes. Included in the enclosure may be a weighted control stick which, according to its angular displacement, displaces the effective center of gravity, thus moving the enclosure in the pitch and roll modes. A set of orthogonal resolvers deployed in the enclosure and pendulum articulated provide binary signals of the pitch and roll angles achieved to the video display, simulating the flight vehicle attitude while a program is cycled through a microprocessor and superposed onto the pitch and roll inputs to generate on the video screen images simulating flight.

Abstract: A flight simulator utilizes dual visual probes to simulate multisensor imry from a modelboard data base. The probes are mounted on a common gantry at a fixed relation to one another corresponding to their aircraft relation. One probe provides a wide angle visual presentation to the simulator cockpit, while the other provides a narrow field of view presentation modified and presented on a small screen CRT as a Forward Looking Infrared or other type display.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a spherical body for holding a passenger, a ground supported base having a semi-spherical seat for supporting the body in a lower position, a source of air under pressure connected to the base beneath the body for raising it to predetermined position supported solely by air, and an upright tube mounted on the base for guiding the body as it is being raised above the base. Movable control members mounted externally and internally of the body permit the passenger to revolve the body in any direction.

Abstract: A motor-driven, cam-operated, rod-supported swingable platform for providing horizontal and vertical movement to video games and their users, comprising a rectangular support frame having mounted at each corner thereof a vertical post from which a suspension rod is swingably attached at one end. The other end of each suspension rod is swingably attached to a corner of a rectangular platform upon which are mounted a video game and an operator's seat. A cam follower is provided on the bottom of the platform, and the cam follower is driven by a cam that is attached to one end of a drive arm that is attached at its other end to the shaft of a vertically positioned electric motor. Operation of the motor causes the platform to swing on its four suspension rods thereby giving a sense of motion and pleasure to persons who operate the video game while seated in the operator's seat on the platform.

Abstract: A combined spinning and rotating amusement device is disclosed herein for simulating weightlessness which includes a circular base having upright spaced apart stanchions between which is rotatably and spinably mounted, a seat intended to be occupied by the user. The spinning and rotating means includes a rotatable portion mounted between the stanchions by joints intended to permit rotation about a horizontal axis while the spinable portion is rotatably mounted on the rotating portion so as to rotate via joints about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of the rotatable portion. An adjustable brake mechanism is disposed to selectively operate manually between a selected one of the stanchions and the rotating device while a hand brake mechanism is operably connected between the spinning portion and the rotating portion for manually controlling the spinning portion by the user.

Abstract: A yoke assembly for an aviation flight simulator capable of generating the appropriate control signals and mechanical responses for realistic flight simulation, including trim adjustment. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly comprises a rotatable and axially movable yoke shaft extending in an axial direction; a pair of sliding blocks mounted to be movable in the axial direction; a first spring rotationally coupling the yoke shaft with a first sliding block for simulating the rotational restoration force on an aircraft yoke; a second spring axially coupling the yoke shaft to the second sliding block for simulating the axial restoration force on an aircraft yoke; and adjustment means for adjusting the axial position of the second sliding block for simulating the effect of trim adjustment of an aircraft.