AU7753098A

AU7753098A - Flight simulator

Info

Publication number: AU7753098A
Application number: AU77530/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gilbert Burny
Original assignee: SOFTWINGS SA
Current assignee: SOFTWINGS SA
Priority date: 1997-06-13
Filing date: 1998-06-12
Publication date: 1999-01-04
Also published as: CA2293798A1; EP0988626A1; BR9809545A; FR2764723B3; FR2764723A1; WO1998058357A1

Description

1 FLIGHT SIMULATOR Subject of the invention The present invention relates to a flight 5 simulator intended for training light aircraft pilots. Background to the invention In order to reduce training costs, the last few years have seen proposals to use flight simulators 10 which make it possible to train and coach aircraft pilots, and in particular light aircraft pilots, under conditions which resemble real flight conditions. In particular, several systems have been proposed. These are based on the use of spherical 15 screens onto which are projected images which must correspond to the view which it would be possible to obtain from the control station of an aircraft. In particular, the document US-A-3718949 describes a flight training simulator having a 20 spherical shaped screen. The first drawback of such a simulator resides in the fact that the visual window is in certain cases too small, and that furthermore, poor resolution, especially lateral resolution, is obtained during the projection of images. Moreover, in this 25 document the screens have a particularly large diameter. In the document FR-A-2706662 there is proposed a simulator having a sphere of a relatively small diameter (less than two metres), for which several 30 projectors are necessary, such as a sight projector, an instrument panel image projector and a silhouette projector, with a view to representing the scenes which a pilot would be able to see from the control station of an aircraft. 35 Document FR-2680017 presents a visual system intended for a flight simulator. Once again, this system consists of a fixed projector for projecting a wide-field background image and of a moveable projector 2 servo controlled to the direction of the observer's gaze, thereby increasing the complexity and cost of construction of such a simulator. In this case, once again, the projection screen consists of three quarters 5 of a sphere. Document US-A-3880509 describes a simulator having a system for wide-angle projection onto a screen which seems to be cylindrical. Document BE-0900739 describes a flight 10 simulator comprising a manually controlled control surface control system which comprises at least one moving-coil electric motor controlled by an on-board computer which makes it possible to transmit a thrust or tensile force to at least one of the manual 15 controls. Nevertheless, the sensations of force with respect to the controls do not tally completely with reality, owing essentially to the non-linearity of the system made up of an electric motor as proposed. These sensations are relatively far removed from the 20 sensations encountered under real flight conditions. Objectives of the invention The present invention aims to propose a device which would firstly allow perfect reproduction of the 25 sensations linked to the manipulation of the controls under real flight conditions. A second objective of the present invention aims to propose a flight simulator having a motion device intended for simulating the sensations of 30 movement or acceleration of the aircraft. The present invention also aims to propose a flight simulator which is of relatively simple design and reduced bulk, doing so at a cost which is not too high. 35 The present invention furthermore aims to propose a simulator which can be accessed easily.

3 Other objectives and advantages will become apparent in the description of preferred embodiments of the invention which follows. 5 Characteristic elements of the present invention The present invention relates firstly to a flight simulator intended for training light aircraft pilots, comprising at least one cabin to which is connected a screen in a fixed manner, a projector 10 intended for projecting an image onto the screen, an instrument panel possibly equipped with a projection system, as well as a control-surface control device, characterized in that the control-surface control device is operated by a linear magnetic motor equipped 15 with an armature in which the value of current injected by a power supply defines the value of the force felt in the control. More particularly, the value of the current injected by the power supply is controlled by software run by a microcomputer. 20 According to another aspect of the present invention, the flight simulator possesses a device for moving the cabin which consists of three electric jacks allowing the cabin to move with three degrees of freedom so as to simulate the pitching, rolling and 25 yawing of an aircraft. This device also comprises a means which makes it possible to balance the weight of the cabin in the nose-up position, and which preferably consists of a constant-pressure balloon. 30 Another important characteristic of the flight simulator lies in the fact that the screen intended to receive the image takes the form of a quarter sphere, in which the cabin is situated at the lowest point and in which an image projector is arranged at the centre 35 of this sphere. The particular position of the projector in the screen makes it possible to obtain a field of 180 degrees in azimuth and 90 degrees in elevation.

4 All the parameters intended for creating the image, and also for reproducing the motions of the cabin, are controlled by software run by a micro computer. 5 Brief description of the figures The invention will be set forth below in greater detail with the aid of the drawings relating to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and in 10 which: Figure 1 represents a lateral sectional view of a flight simulator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 represents a view from above of the simulator 15 represented in Figure 1. Figure 3 represents a view from the front of the simulator represented in Figure 1. Figure 4 represents several views of instrument panels which can be projected in a single flight 20 simulator embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 5 represents the operating diagram for the system of flight controls. Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent several preferred 25 embodiments of the magnetic motor used in the flight controls according to the present invention. Figure 9 represents a lateral sectional view of a device for moving the cabin in a flight 30 simulator according to the present invention. Figures 10 and 11 represent lateral sectional and front sectional views according to several positions of the flight simulator of the present invention. 35 Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent, according to various sectional views, a flight simulator according 5 to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is made up essentially of a quarter sphere screen 2 of diameter 3.5 metres, connected in a fixed manner to the structure of an element which 5 constitutes a cabin 9. This cabin is arranged at the lowest point of the quarter sphere 2. Possibly, above the quarter sphere 2 is arranged a screen roof 7 connected to the cabin and covering this screen. 10 The cabin is preferably a side-by-side two seater cabin which allows the instructor to sit in the co-pilot's seat or which allows the training of a crew of two trainee pilots. Access to the cabin is lateral, and is effected simply by virtue of the presence of a 15 footboard 4 without it being necessary to provide a more complex access system. An image is projected onto the screen 2 with the aid of a single projector 5; this image must correspond essentially to the image which a pilot would 20 in reality be able to see through the windows of his cabin. Advantageously, this projector 5 is fixed on a support placed to the rear and above the trainee pilot or pilots. This position corresponds to the centre of the sphere 2. This projector makes it possible to 25 provide a field of 180 degrees in azimuth and 90 degrees in elevation. In the present case, a detailed image of an environment is obtained with a resolution of 6000 pixels in azimuth and 2000 pixels in elevation. It makes it possible to offer the pilot both 30 a front view and a lateral view with the same resolution. Furthermore, the position of the projector makes it possible to avoid the presence of spurious shadows in the image projected onto the screen. 35 According to a preferred embodiment, a device for moving the cabin is proposed. This device has a point of pivoting in the form of a swivel pin near the lowest point of the quarter sphere. This device will be 6 described in detail below. If the cabin is rendered mobile by this device, the screen, secured to the cabin, also undergoes the same movement. An instructor station 6 is provided to the rear 5 of the flight simulator so as to monitor the various flight parameters and the actions of the trainee as well as to allow the introduction of changes of parameters or to cause faults with the aid of software provided for this purpose. 10 Arranged facing the trainee pilots is an instrument panel 3 which takes the form of a translucent screen which receives the dynamic images of the flight instruments corresponding to a specific type of aircraft. These images are obtained with the aid of 15 a projection system 11 (not represented). This translucent instrument panel allows the representation of the instruments which is obtained by optical projection of both their fixed and mobile elements. Figure 4 gives examples which may be projected with the 20 aid of the same projection system. Finally, a control system is provided in a readily accessible housing 10 which makes it possible to provide a muscular sensation on the flight controls. This device is described in greater detail in Figure 5. 25 The flight controls device is essentially characterized in that it consists of a linear electro magnetic motor, itself operated by a microcomputer which allows realistic simulation of muscular sensation. 30 This device also makes it possible to simulate the action of shifting the force zero ("Trim") by virtue of the calculations performed by the software, making it possible to define the place at which the zero current is sent to the armature. 35 This device, which represents one of the three controls, is seen in greater detail in Figure 5. The control 101 has a rotation shaft 102, which by way of a sector 103, transforms the rotation of the control 101 7 into a linear development. This development is effected with the aid of an alignment pulley 104 which aligns a transmission cable 107 on a return pulley 106. The return pulley 106 returns the transmission 5 cable 107 to the sector 103. This transmission cable 107 therefore transmits the motion of the control 101 to the armature 108 of the motor 105. Therefore, the linear magnetic motor 105 opposes the motion imparted by the control 101 and makes it possible to provide in 10 a particularly advantageous manner a realistic muscular sensation of a force obtained in the case of flight. In the armature 108 there is a value of the current which is injected by the power supply 111 and which defines the value of the force. 15 Software which can be run on a microcomputer 109 makes it possible to operate this power supply 111 as a function of the various flight parameters by way of a transmission channel 110 which links the micro computer 109 to the power supply 111. 20 Finally, a stretcher 112 adjusts the tension in the transmission cable 107. Optionally, cable-cover devices 113 and 114 are provided so as to avoid the derailing of the transmission cable 107 on the corresponding pulleys 104 and 106. 25 Figures 6, 7 and 8 describe this linear magnetic motor in greater detail. The motor 105 comprises two permanent magnets Al and A2 as well as a disc D consisting of a single flat-coiled copper wire. This disc D has two of its flanks bent at right angles 30 as represented in Figure 7 with a view to constructing two half-ellipses which make it possible to maintain the rigidity of the disc remaining under the magnets. An elliptic aperture defined at the centre of the disc is provided between the two magnets. Figure 8 35 represents the manner of operation of such a motor, in which the magnets Al and A2 as well as two complementary elements C1 and C2 are fixed whilst the disc supported by bearings glides under the two magnets 8 Al and A2. The force which propels this disc D depends on the fields of Al and A2 as well as on the electric current which passes through the copper wire constituting the disc D. 5 Figures 9, 10 and 11 represent an embodiment of a device allowing the motion of the cabin of the flight simulator as described previously according to the three degrees of freedom which make it possible to simulate the sensations of movement and acceleration of 10 the aircraft. This device makes it possible to reproduce the motion of the cabin in the nose-lock position, in the nose-down position or in the horizontal position. This device makes it possible to obtain the three motions of pitching, rolling and 15 yawing, which could be obtained in real flight. According to the embodiment described in Figures 9, 10 and 11, this device comprises three electric jacks 204 arranged in a triangle at the base of the cabin. Their essential characteristic is to be 20 practically horizontal at rest, thus making it possible to obtain a very low device and to permit easy access to the cabin. This system is characterized by a point of pivoting taking the form of a swivel pin 202 arranged near the lowest point of the quarter sphere. 25 Furthermore, the presence of a pneumatic balloon 205 may be seen, this making it possible to balance the pressure of the weight of the loaded cabin, in particular in the nose-up position, thus avoiding excessive forces having to be delivered by the electric 30 jack 204. This balloon 205 can of course be replaced by any equivalent constant-pressure means. The swivel pin 202 is the pivot of the three motions (pitching, rolling or yawing), and supports the rear part of the cabin, whilst the pivot 203 supports 35 the cabin in the vicinity of the swivel pin 202. The flight simulator as described hereinabove comprises several microcomputers which carry out the simulation of the following systems: atmosphere, flight 9 dynamics, engines and propellers, aircraft systems, radio communications, radio navigation, noise, etc. These microcomputers are managed by software which makes it possible to transmit the necessary information 5 to the various peripherals.

Claims

1. Flight simulator intended for training light aircraft pilots, comprising at least one cabin (9) to 5 which is connected a screen (2) in a fixed manner, a projector (5) intended for projecting an image onto the screen, an instrument panel (3) possibly equipped with a projection system, as well as a control-surface control device (10), characterized in that the control 10 surface control device is operated by a linear magnetic motor (105) equipped with an armature (108) in which the value of current injected by a power supply (111) defines the value of the force felt in the control (101). 15

2. Flight simulator according to Claim 1, characterized in that the value of the current injected by the power supply (111) is controlled by software run by a microcomputer (109).

3. Flight simulator according to Claim 1 or 2, 20 characterized in that it comprises a device for moving the cabin (20).

4. Flight simulator according to Claim 3, characterized in that the device for moving the cabin consists of three electric jacks (204) allowing the 25 cabin to have three degrees of freedom so as to simulate the pitching, rolling and yawing of an aircraft.

5. Flight simulator according to Claim 4, characterized in that the device for moving the cabin 30 also comprises a means (203) which makes it possible to balance the weight of the cabin in the nose-up position.

6. Flight simulator according to Claim 5, characterized in that the means consists of a constant 35 pressure balloon.

7. Flight simulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (2) 11 takes the form of a quarter sphere, in which the cabin is situated at the lowest point.

8. Flight simulator according to Claim 7, characterized in that the image projector (5) is 5 arranged at the centre of the sphere intended to embody the screen.

9. Flight simulator according to Claim 8, characterized in that the position of the projector on the screen makes it possible to obtain a field of 10 180 degrees in azimuth and 90 degrees in elevation.

10. Flight simulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various parameters making it possible to act on the flight controls and on the movement of the cabin are 15 controlled by software run by a microcomputer.