Control device such as a steering wheel for video vehicle simulator with realistic feedback forces

摘要

An apparatus and method for simulating the forces acting on the steering wheel or other control device of a vehicle. The apparatus uses an electrical motor coupled to a steering wheel in the preferred embodiment. The electrical motor is driven by a computer running software which received data regarding the real world forces which would be acting upon a real steering wheel in a car under similar conditions. A software driver coupled to a position-sensing transducer on the steering wheel calculates the steering wheel position and velocity and sends this data to a model process not forming part of the invention. The model process then calculates the conditions affecting the simulated vehicle and outputs data reflecting the real world forces which would affect the steering wheel of the actual car under similar conditions. This data is used to calculate a force number which in turn drives a driver amplifier and motor combination coupled to the steering wheel of the simulated vehicle to simulate the forces that the driver of a real vehicle would feel.