GB2535624A - Driving simulator and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A driving simulator for training the drivers of emergency vehicles such as fire engines, police cars or ambulances comprises a driver station (40, figure 2), controller (20, figure 1), graphics module (10, figure 1), audio module (12, figure 1), driver input module (14, figure 1), simulated objects module (16, figure 1), and an interaction module (18, figure 1) to create a driving simulation. The driving simulator also includes a reaction module (30, 32, figure 1) which is configured to simulate the reactions of other road users, 54a-d, 62a-c, to a predetermined signal such as flashing blue lights and/or an emergency siren. First and second reaction modules are configured to simulate reactions to the flashing lights and siren respectively, and each module is configured to simulate reactions over different distances. The simulator preferably includes a curved screen (22, figure 2) surrounding the driver station with a plurality of overlapping video projectors (24, figure 2). In a further embodiment, the driver station may include a camera (72, figure 2) directed towards the eye of a user.

Description

DRIVING SIMULATOR AND METHOD OF USE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to driving simulator and method of use, and in particular to a driving simulator for training the drivers of emergency vehicles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Driving simulators seek to replicate a driving experience, including many conditions which the driver might be expected to encounter, in a controlled environment. A driver can therefore experience situations and hazards in a safe environment.

Most driving simulators include a driver station at which the driver sits. More complex simulators seek to provide a more realistic experience by configuring the driver station to closely match the interior of a car or other vehicle, and by configuring the controls (such as the steering wheel and foot pedals) to replicate the feel of a real vehicle.

The driver station typically includes one or more screens on which are displayed images representing the vehicle in which the driver is located, the road along which the vehicle is being driven, the surrounding buildings, street furniture and the like. The images will usually also include other road users and pedestrians. The driver station typically also includes one or more speakers so that sounds to accompany and supplement the images can be played to the driver, the images and the sounds together providing a representation of a driving experience.

In addition to the hardware elements comprising the driver station, a typical driving simulator will also include software elements which control the driving representation. The technical complexity of most driving simulators requires them to be computer-based, with algorithms and software routines to control the various elements of the simulation. For example, the simulator will typically have a graphics module and an audio module which control the visual and audible aspects of the representation respectively. The simulator will include a driver input module which receives and interprets signals from the driver station, such as steering and pedal inputs. The various modules are all connected to a controller such as a microprocessor.

It will be understood that some driving simulators do not have separate, defined, modules for each of the stated activities. However, they will have algorithms and io software for each activity and the term "module" is used herein (both in relation to the prior art and to the present invention) to distinguish between the functions of the various algorithms and software, for ease of understanding.

In the most basic driving simulators the stationary and moving objects within the is driving representation do not interact with the driver's vehicle. It is therefore possible for the driver's vehicle to pass through walls and through other vehicles etc. so that the simulation has little resemblance to an actual driving experience. Typically in such basic simulations other moving objects (such as vehicles and pedestrians) follow a defined route within the representation (and often simply repeat that route during use of the simulator). Such simulators therefore have a basic simulated objects module which controls the movement of the moving simulated objects along a defined (and repeating) path.

More complex driving simulators provide some interaction between the driver's vehicle and the other features within the representation, so that it is not possible to drive through walls or through other vehicles, for example. For brevity this feature is provided by an interaction module, i.e. algorithms and software routines which prevent the driver's vehicle passing through solid objects.

A greater level of interaction is provided in some driving simulators, allowing other moving objects within the image to take account of the driver's vehicle. This feature allows another vehicle or pedestrian within the representation to deviate from its defined route, for example to stop if the driver's vehicle is blocking its path. The interaction module will therefore cause a simulated vehicle to stop an appropriate distance before a junction if the driver's vehicle is already waiting at that junction.

The known driving simulators are used to teach basic driving skills to learner drivers, and also to teach some specialised driving skills. They can be used to demonstrate particular driving techniques, and to replicate particular environments and circumstances, which might be difficult or impossible to achieve safely in the real world.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a driving simulator aimed primarily at a is particular class of vehicle, namely emergency vehicles. It is a particular feature of emergency vehicles that they can emit audible and visual warning signals to other road users, and to which other road users will react. The reaction of other road users to an emergency vehicle is an important element of a driving simulator for such vehicles.

At present, those training to drive emergency vehicles can only do so in the real world. Inexperienced drivers of emergency vehicles can therefore only appreciate the reactions of other road users in an uncontrolled environment, where mistakes and accidents can result in real damage to persons and/or property. It is not possible for the emergency services to obtain insurance coverage for accidents incurred whilst training inexperienced drivers, and the cost of any damage which is caused must be borne directly by the emergency services, and ultimately by the public. It is understood that the UK Metropolitan Police alone spends several millions of pounds each year repairing its own vehicles and settling the insurance claims of others, for accidents which occur during the training of emergency vehicle drivers.

It is therefore appreciated that an emergency vehicle driver must be prepared for different and additional hazards to those which drivers of other vehicles will experience. For example, it is known that some other vehicles will stop immediately, and often in an unsafe manner, when a driver sees or hears the approach of an emergency vehicle. Pedestrians are also known to undertake seemingly random and dangerous actions, such as rushing across a road to avoid an emergency vehicle without first checking for the approach of other non-emergency vehicles.

io The present invention therefore provides a driving simulator which seeks to replicate the reactions of other road users to the driver's vehicle, so that a trainee can gain experience of the possible reactions in a controlled environment.

It is not expected that an emergency vehicle driver will obtain all of his or her is training on the driving simulator, and will undertake at least some of training in the real world. However, because the present invention allows the driver to experience many situations in a controlled environment it is expected significantly to reduce the likelihood of accidents and damage during the real world training.

According to a first aspect the present invention provides a driving simulator comprising a driver station, a controller, a graphics module, an audio module, a driver input module, a simulated objects module and an interaction module, characterised by a reaction module configured to simulate the reactions of other road users to a predetermined signal, the reaction module being connected to the controller and having an active and an inactive condition.

For use in training drivers of an emergency vehicle, the predetermined signal will be represented as one or more flashing blue lights and/or a siren. The simulator is therefore configured to replicate the reactions of other road users to hearing the siren of a nearby emergency vehicle and/or seeing the flashing blue light(s) of a nearby emergency vehicle.

The trainee is able to replicate the effect upon other road users of the lights and/or siren being switched on and off. It will be understood that when the predetermined (warning) signal is switched off the driving simulator reverts to a situation in which the driver's vehicle is treated substantially like any other vehicle, and the reaction of other road users will be limited (or perhaps non-existent) -just as other road users will proceed substantially normally in the presence of a police car which is not flashing its lights or sounding its siren. When the predetermined signal is switched on, however, the simulation replicates the reactions of other road users to that signal.

Preferably, there is a first reaction module and a second reaction module, so that the simulator can replicate the reactions of other road users to two different predetermined signals. Thus, it is known that other road users reach differently to an audible signal (or siren) than to a visual signal (or flashing lights). Also, the is two signals can trigger reactions over different distances. Furthermore, the reaction to a visual signal must take account of line of sight.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a driving simulator having a driver station with a seat for the driver and a continuous curved screen partially surrounding the seat, the simulator having a plurality of projectors which can project an image onto the screen, the image from one projector partially overlapping the image from an adjacent projector.

In known driving simulators, even those comprising a curved screen and multiple projectors, the displayed image from each projector is separate. The driver is thereby provided with a limited representation of a driving experience. Providing a driving simulator in which multiple projectors can provide overlapping images provides a significantly improved representation.

It is necessary that the images displayed in the overlapping regions are consistent. Specifically, the image displayed in the overlapping region from one projector must match the image in that overlapping region from the adjacent projector.

Each projector can reduce the image brightness in the overlapping region so as to ensure that the brightness in the overlapping region does not exceed that in the non-overlapping region(s).

Desirably, the driving simulator has a second seat for a trainer, so that the driver station replicates a vehicle in which the trainer can accompany the trainee as a passenger. The trainer is therefore immersed in the driving representation to a similar extent to the trainee, and can better control the driving representation to to enhance the simulation.

Preferably, the driving station includes a camera directed at an eye of the trainee. Cameras which can detect a person's eyeline, and the associated software which can determine the person's line of sight, are known. It is desirable to incorporate is this feature into a driving simulator, particularly for a driving simulator for an emergency vehicle, so that the trainer can confirm that the trainee has looked at each potential danger. Also, it is desirable for the driver of an emergency vehicle to make eye contact with another road user in order to seek to establish the immediate intentions of that road user (e.g. is the pedestrian aware of the emergency vehicle? and will he or she wait at the roadside whilst the emergency vehicle passes?).

Features of the first aspect of the invention can be combined with features of the second aspect, as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with 30 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a schematic representation of the modules making up the software elements of the driving simulator according to the invention; Fig.2 is a schematic representation of the driver station of the driving simulator; and Fig.3 is a view of a driving representation created by the driving simulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

io The driving simulator of the present invention has a graphics module 10, an audio module 12, a driver input module 14, a simulated objects module 16 and an interaction module 18. All of these modules are connected to a controller 20.

As above indicated, the graphics module 10 controls the images which are is projected onto a screen 22 by projectors 24 (Fig.2). The audio module 12 controls the sounds which are played by loudspeakers 26. The images and sounds are determined by the controller 20 based upon the algorithms and software of a particular simulation, and upon signals and information from the other modules.

One of the graphics module 10 and the controller 20 has a database in which is stored a record of the stationary objects within the representation. For example, the designer of the driving simulator will create a virtual world comprising roads, buildings and other fixed objects within which the simulation takes place. The virtual world may be a replica of a real world town or city (or part thereof), or may be an imaginary location.

The controller 20 communicates with the simulated objects module 16 which controls the moving objects within the representation, such as other vehicles and pedestrians. The simulated objects module 16 may for example cause a pedestrian within the representation to walk along a street, cross a junction and then walk along another street. Whilst pedestrians (and other vehicles) can undertake a repeating route, it is preferred that each simulated moving object undertakes a route only once during each use of the driving simulator, so that (for example) the same pedestrian is not seen walking along the same road in the event that the trainee returns to a previous location. The larger the number of simulated moving objects, and the use of different simulated moving objects for successive uses of the driving simulator, increases the realism of the simulation.

The controller 20 also communicates with an interaction module 18. The interaction module controls the interactions between the simulated moving objects, including the driver's vehicle. The interaction module 18 therefore to prevents the driver's vehicle from passing through solid objects, and ensures that other moving objects take account of the driver's vehicle (and of each other) within the representation.

According to the first aspect of the present invention the driving simulator also 15 includes a reaction module. In this particular embodiment there are two reaction modules, a first reaction module 30 and a second reaction module 32.

The first reaction module 30 controls the reactions of other simulated moving objects to a first predetermined signal, for example representing the siren of an emergency vehicle. The second reaction module controls the reactions of other simulated objects to a second predetermined signal, for example representing the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle.

The inventor has realised that in the real world, pedestrians and the drivers of other vehicles react differently to an emergency vehicle depending upon whether or not they can hear the siren and/or see the flashing lights. Each reaction module 30, 32 can be activated or deactivated, represented by the switches in their respective connections to the controller 20, to replicate the siren and/or flashing lights being switched on and off. The driving simulator can therefore replicate an emergency vehicle being driven in an emergency situation and in a non-emergency situation, the reactions of other road users being different in each case.

Two reaction modules 30 and 32 are provided to represent the different reactions of other road users to the flashing lights and the siren, and also to allow for the reactions of other road users over differing distances. Specifically, the reaction to the siren will typically take place over a shorter distance, and will not be significantly affected by buildings or other objects which may block the line of sight to a flashing light.

The modules 30, 32 and controller 20 can together represent the reactions of other drivers to a siren alone, to flashing lights alone, and to both a siren and to flashing lights together. Also, the first reaction module 30 preferably has a plurality of settings representing the different sounds emitted by the sirens of emergency vehicles.

Fig.2 represents the hardware aspect of the driving simulator, and includes a seat is 40 for the trainee driver, a separate seat 42 for the trainer and a curved screen 22 at least partially surrounding the seats 40, 42. Though not shown in Fig.2, the driving simulator will include a steering wheel, foot pedals and instrumentation to replicate any specified vehicle. The driving simulator may include actuators in the seats 40, 42 so that the driver can experience the feeling of acceleration, braking and turning.

The screen 22 represented in Fig.2 subtends and angle of around 80° around the seats 40, 42. It is expected that such an angle will be too small to "immerse" the trainee in a driving experience. In practice therefore, the screen will preferably subtend an angle of around 180°, and ideally around 220°, so that a consistent image is visible even if the trainee turns his or her head.

As represented in Fig.2, the graphics module 10 is connected to three projectors 24, each of which projects part of the overall image onto the screen 22.

Importantly, the screen 22 is continuous and the image is continuous, including two overlapping regions 44 where images from two of the three projectors are displayed. The graphics module 10 and controller 20 are configured to blend the respective images, i.e. to ensure that the images projected by each of the projectors in the overlapping regions are identical, so that the image is continuous across the screen 22. Also, since the image within the overlapping regions is provided by two projectors, the image brightness from each projector will be reduced in the overlapping region so that the combined image has a similar brightness to the image in the non-overlapping regions.

Fig.3 shows a driving representation. This plan view is not the view which the trainee will see, and it will be understood that the trainee will see a representation from the driver's seat. Fig.3 shows a plan view in order to clarify the relationship 10 between the objects in the representation.

The driver's vehicle 50 is represented as travelling along a road 52. Three other vehicles 54a, b and c are present on the road 52, the vehicle 54a being ahead of the driver's vehicle, the other vehicles 54b,c travelling in the opposite direction. A is fourth other vehicle 54d is represented on a side road 56, approaching the junction with the road 52. A building 60 is located adjacent to the junction between the roads 52 and 56, and three pedestrians 62a,b,c are represented.

Part of a first region around the driver's vehicle 50 is shown by the dashed line 64 and part of a second (larger) region is shown by the dashed line 66. The dashed line 66 represents the region within the simulation in which other road users will react to a visible signal (e.g. flashing warning lights) and the dashed line 64 represents the region within the simulation in which other road users will react to an audible signal (e.g. the siren). The regions are not visible or known to the trainee and are shown on the drawing for the purpose of explanation. In practice the regions are likely to be significantly larger than shown in Fig.3.

If neither of the modules 30 and 32 is activated (i.e. the switches shown in Fig.1 are both open), the driving simulator can replicate a known driving simulator, with the driver's vehicle interacting with other road users in known fashion. If desired, however, the driving simulation can operate slightly differently to a conventional driving simulator, to allow for the fact that some drivers of other vehicles will always drive more cautiously when an emergency vehicle is present, even in a non-emergency situation. In any event, the driving simulator is able to replicate a normal or non-emergency driving experience with the interaction module 18 and controller 20 determining the actions of the other road users 54a-d and pedestrians 62a-c according to the particular algorithms and software of the driving simulation.

When the first predetermined signal (for example the siren) is activated, the module 30 is connected to the controller 20 to take over the control of the other road users and pedestrians within the region 64 from the interaction module 18.

Specifically, the driving simulator represents the reactions of other road users and pedestrians who are present within the region 64 to the siren of an emergency vehicle. Similarly, when the second predetermined signal (for example the flashing light(s)) is activated, the second module 32 is connected to the controller 20 to take over the control of the other road users and pedestrians within the region 66 from the interaction module 18. The driving simulator represents the reactions of other road users and pedestrians present within the region 66 to the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle.

For example, if the reaction modules 30 and 32 are both activated in the representation of Fig.3, the driver of vehicle 54a may react by stopping immediately. The driver of vehicle 54b does not hear the siren (as he is outside the region 64) but will see the flashing lights, and may therefore take no immediate action. The vehicle 54c may stop immediately, even though it is not necessary to do so, and this may cause the following vehicle 54b to slow down.

The pedestrians 62a and 62b are both alerted to the emergency vehicle 50, and may react in predetermined fashions. However, in the present scenario their reactions have no direct effect upon the emergency vehicle 50. The pedestrian 62c, who was waiting to cross the road 52, may rush across the road ahead of the emergency vehicle 50.

The combined effect of all of these reactions is that the driver of the emergency vehicle 50 has to pass the stationary vehicle 54a whilst avoiding the slowing vehicle 54b and the pedestrian 62c, none of which would have been necessary in the non-emergency situation.

It will be understood that the number of other road users, and the resulting 5 complexity of the representation, is much less in Fig.3 than would be the case in a typical representation.

Typically, the trainer will be sitting as a passenger in the seat 42 and can control the simulation. The trainer will typically instruct the trainee to switch on and to switch off the emergency signals as desired (and to thereby control the activation and deactivation of the reaction modules 30, 32).

The trainer can preferably determine the extent of the reactions of the other road users. Thus, the reaction modules 30, 32 will desirably have different settings for is use with trainees of different experience. The reactions of other road users can therefore be varied by the trainer between "minor and safe" to "major and unsafe", as the trainee gains more experience.

It will be understood that the controller 20 can take account of features within the representation, including the building 60. Specifically, whilst the driver of the vehicle 54d is within the region 64, the controller will take account of the fact that the building 60 blocks the line of sight of the driver of that vehicle, i.e. the driver cannot see the flashing lights of the driver's vehicle 50 until the driver's vehicle 50 moves closer to the junction with the road 56.

An important aspect in the training of drivers of emergency vehicles is understood to be that the driver should make eye contact with other road users. Specifically, if the vehicle 54d were at the junction, it would be important for the trainee to make eye contact with the driver of that vehicle in order to seek to establish that the driver knows that the emergency vehicle is approaching, and to seek to establish the intentions of that driver. The driver station therefore includes a camera 72 which is directed at the eyes of the trainee. The camera is located above the trainee's eyeline and does not therefore interfere with the trainee's view of the screen 22. The camera 72 can be used to determine where the trainee is looking, and can therefore be used to check that the trainee has looked at all of the potential dangers ahead, and specifically has made eye contact with the relevant other road users.

The controller 20 has a database in which is stored a record of the simulations which a trainee has undertaken. Alternatively, a separate database is provided to maintain the records. Maintaining records to demonstrate that an emergency vehicle driver has undertaken the required training to establish the necessary to skills (or undertaken regular re-training to maintain existing skills) is expected to be valuable proof of the driver's training and ability in the event that an accident occurs in the real world.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS1. A driving simulator comprising a driver station, a controller, a graphics module, an audio module, a driver input module, a simulated objects module, an interaction module and a reaction module, the reaction module being configured to simulate reactions to a predetermined signal, the reaction module being connected to the controller and having an active and an inactive condition.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.

   A driving simulator according to claim 1 in which the reaction module is configured to simulate reactions to a visual signal and/or an audible signal.

   A driving simulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which there is a first reaction module configured to simulate reactions to a visual signal and a second reaction module configured to simulate reactions to an audible signal.

   A driving simulator according to claim 3 in which the first reaction module is configured to simulate reactions to one or more flashing blue lights and the second reaction module is configured to simulate reactions to an emergency vehicle siren.

   A driving simulator according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the first reaction module is configured to simulate reactions over a first distance, and the second reaction module is configured to simulate reactions over a second distance, the first distance being different to the second distance.

   A driving simulator according to any one of claims 3-5 in which the first reaction module is configured to take account of line of sight.

   A driving simulator according to any one of claims 1-6 in which the reaction module, or one of the reaction modules, has a number of different settings.
8. 8. A driving simulator according to claim 7 in which the different settings are configured to simulate reactions to different audible and/or visual signals.
9. 9. A driving simulator according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which the different settings are configured to simulate different reactions to a particular predetermined signal.
10. 10. A driving simulator according to any one of claims 1-9 in which the driver station has a seat for the driver and a continuous curved screen partially in surrounding the seat, the simulator having a plurality of projectors which can project an image onto the screen, the image from one projector partially overlapping the image from an adjacent projector on the screen.
11. 11. A driving simulator according to claim 10 in which the image displayed in the overlapping region from one projector matches the image in that overlapping region from an adjacent projector.
12. 12. A driving simulator according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the intensity of the image projected by a projector varies across the screen, the intensity in the overlapping region being reduced so that the total brightness of the image in the overlapping region substantially matches the brightness of the image in the non-overlapping region(s).
13. 13. A driving simulator according to any one of claims 1-12 in which the driver station includes a manually-operable switch for transferring the or each reaction module between its active and inactive conditions.
14. 14. A driving simulator according to claim 13 in which there is a first manually-operable switch for a first reaction module and a second manually-operable switch for a second reaction module, the first and second switches being operable independently of each other.
15. 15. A driving simulator according to any one of claims 1-14 in which the driving station includes a camera located to be directed towards an eye of a user.
16. 16. A driving simulator according to any one of claims 1-15 having means to store a record of completed driving simulations together with information identifying the user for each completed driving simulation.
17. 17. A method of simulating a driving experience comprising the steps of: providing a driver station with a seat for a user, a display screen visible to to the user when sitting in the seat, and controls to simulate the controls of a vehicle, configuring a controller, a graphics module, an audio module, a driver input module, a simulated objects module and an interaction module to create a driving simulation including images upon the display screen, configuring a reaction module to simulate reactions to a predetermined signal, selectively transferring the reaction module between active and inactive conditions, and altering the driving simulation in the active condition dependent upon the simulated reactions to the predetermined signal.
18. 18. A driving simulator constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.