A linear actuator comprises a motor for producing a bi-directional rotational output. A casing is connected to the motor at a proximal end, the casing having an inner cavity defining a joint surface. A shaft is within the inner cavity of the casing and actuated by the motor for rotation. A sliding tube is at least partially in the inner cavity of the casing for moving in translation in an axial direction relative to the casing. One or more travelling nut is connected to the sliding tube assembly for moving with the sliding tube in the axial direction, the travelling nut being operatively engaged to the shaft for converting a rotational motion of the shaft into a translation of the sliding tube. A liner is between the sliding tube and the joint surface of the inner cavity, an inner surface of the liner defining longitudinal contact surfaces separated by longitudinal grooves, the longitudinal contact surfaces contacting the sliding tube.

A motion simulator includes a base plate, a motion platform, a first actuator, a base, a second actuator and a carrying platform. The motion platform is arranged on the base plate and movably connected to the base plate. The first actuator is arranged on the motion platform, movably connected to the motion platform. The base has a base body extending in a length direction and a base extension surface extending in a width direction. The first actuator is movably connected to the base extension surface. The second actuator is movably arranged on the base. The carrying platform is movably connected to the second actuator. Through a connection relationship between the base and the second actuator, the first actuator performs a left-right movement of the carrying platform relative to the motion platform and the second actuator performs the forward-backward movement of the carrying platform relative to the motion platform.

The present invention relates to a motion platform that moves in two degrees of rotational freedom that can be used to simulate board activities such as skateboarding and surfing and is readily extended to simulate other experiences such as skiing, driving, flying, and even boxing, through the attachment of the appropriate apparatus. The motion platform comprises a pivotable table attached to a base with two toothed belts attached at quadrants of the table, with the belts attached to a pair of ball-screws mounted orthogonally in the base. Pulleys mounted in the quadrants of the base redirect the belts so that they travel parallel to the ball screws. Cams maintain proper tension in the belts as the table pivots. The motion platform includes a programmable controller that can drive the table in terms of position but can also drive the platform according to a mathematical model where the physical table is attached to a virtual table through virtual springs with dynamic virtual spring rates and virtual dampers with dynamic virtual coefficients of damping. Here, position commands are applied not to the physical table but to the virtual table with the final position of the physical table determined through the solution of spring-mass-damper equations of motion using the dynamic spring rates, dynamic coefficients of damping, measured torque on the table, and where the mass corresponds to virtual moments of inertia of a simulated board such as a paddle board with the moment of inertia of the physical table and connected moving parts factored out; the mathematical model able to simulate a variety of environments such as a paddle board on water with waves, a snowboard on fresh powder, or even quicksand.

Disclosed is a method of efficiently generating a computer-generated forces (CGF) entity that includes a simulated external vehicle within an interactive computer simulation that is displayed within an interactive simulation environment by an interactive computer simulation station. The method entails creating an array of state-space model structures having initially unknown parameters that, once known, will define a linearized approximation of a non-linear model of the simulated external vehicle, generating frequency response matrices by exciting each input-output relationship of the non-linear model of the simulated external vehicle at a plurality of trim conditions using very short Gaussian pulses, wherein the frequency response matrices define a plurality of linear equations, calculating the parameters by solving the linear equations of the frequency response matrices to thereby provide an array of state-space models that defines the linearized approximation of the non-linear model, and using the array of state-space models to generate the CGF entity.

An apparatus for simulating an oscillating flight path is provided. The apparatus comprises a slide extending along a first axis; a support structure slidably coupled to the slide; and a table connected to the support structure. The support structure is operable to move along the slide. The table is coupled to the support structure and operable to rotate about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The table comprises a surface that is parallel to the second axis and that is operable to rotate about a third axis orthogonal to the second axis.

The invention is directed to a 6 degree-of-freedom motion hexapod simulator assembly comprising of a fixed base, a displaceable simulator platform comprising of a load bearing structure, and 6 linear actuators having upper ends thereof interconnected with the load bearing structure by three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints and lower ends thereof interconnected with the fixed base by means of three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints. The two degree of freedom joint comprises of two rotatable pivot means which are oriented 90° with respect to each other. One pivot means runs through the other pivot means. At the connection with the load bearing structure the center of one joint of a pair of joints is separated by part of the load bearing structure from the center of the other joint of the pair of joints.

The invention is directed to a 6 degree-of-freedom motion hexapod simulator assembly comprising of a fixed base, a displaceable simulator platform comprising of a load bearing structure, and 6 linear actuators having upper ends thereof interconnected with the load bearing structure by three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints and lower ends thereof interconnected with the fixed base by means of three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints. The two degree of freedom joint comprises of two rotatable pivot means which are oriented 90° with respect to each other. One pivot means runs through the other pivot means. At the connection with the load bearing structure the center of one joint of a pair of joints is separated by part of the load bearing structure from the center of the other joint of the pair of joints.

Debriefing a session from a user in a system. During the session, while the user performs actions on one or more tangible instruments of the system, dynamic data is logged in relation to the system along a session timeline. The dynamic data covers the actions of the user on tangible instrument(s). A graphical user interface depicting a debriefing scene, related to the session, is displayed from a first point of view starting at a first time within the session timeline. The debriefing scene is generated starting at the first time from at least a first image feed. Upon detection of a predetermined event in the dynamic data at a second time along the session timeline, a second point of view different from the first point of view is defined and the debriefing scene is generated therefrom after the second time using at least a second image feed.

Debriefing a session from a user in a system. During the session, while the user performs actions on one or more tangible instruments of the system, dynamic data is logged in relation to the system along a session timeline. The dynamic data covers the actions of the user on tangible instrument(s). A graphical user interface depicting a debriefing scene, related to the session, is displayed from a first point of view starting at a first time within the session timeline. The debriefing scene is generated starting at the first time from at least a first image feed. Upon detection of a predetermined event in the dynamic data at a second time along the session timeline, a second point of view different from the first point of view is defined and the debriefing scene is generated therefrom after the second time using at least a second image feed.

This invention relates to motion generators comprising: an end effector, a stationary support, a first set of elastic elements interconnecting the end effector and the stationary support; a set of tensile members; in which the end effector is supported within the stationary support by the elastic elements; and a set of actuators in which the motion generator further comprises at least six rockers each rocker being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the stationary support, and each rocker having a free end; the set of tensile members comprising: at least six elongate tensile members, each elongate tensile member having one end connected to a rocker and the other end connected to one of a second set of elastic elements which are fixed; a set of connecting elements connecting each rocker to the end effector and in which each one of the set of tensile members is independently adjustably tensioned by an associated actuator to move the free end of the rocker, which rocker movement causes movement of a connected connecting element leading to movement of the end effector.