Body Flight Simulator Tower With Varying Wall Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind tunnel systems fail to provide a cost-effective, uniform, and realistic air velocity gradient within the flight area, leading to an unrealistic and unsafe experience for users, particularly those with skydiving experience, as they do not accurately replicate the sensation of free-falling.
Innovation Solution
An open circuit modular body flight simulation apparatus with multiple air movement modules, each comprising air intake, movement components, deflectors, and exhaust systems, along with a tower design featuring flight areas with varying wall angles to create homogenous airflow properties and a pneumatically porous safety net, allowing for realistic and safe air flow conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional wind tunnel designs are used, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the air velocity gradient is non-uniform and unrealistic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional dimensions of the test section along its length. Specifically, the test section has different heights at different positions (first height at inlet, second height at outlet, where the second height is greater than the first height). This creates localized variations in airflow characteristics that produce a more uniform velocity distribution across the test section, addressing the non-uniformity problem without requiring complex active control systems throughout the entire tunnel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If airspeed is increased to accommodate heavier individuals, then more users can float, but the experience becomes less realistic for skydiving simulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the wall angles adjustable rather than fixed. The first and second walls can be positioned at different angles relative to the horizontal plane, allowing the test section geometry to be dynamically modified. This enables the tunnel to adapt its airflow characteristics to accommodate different user weights and skill levels while maintaining realistic skydiving simulation conditions, resolving the contradiction between versatility and realism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a user-friendly and realistic skydiving simulation experience by maintaining consistent airflow velocities and reducing noise, enhancing user safety and instructor control, while being cost-effective and easily deployable.
Implementation Method 1
One or more fans or propellers creates the necessary pressure rise and volume flow
Implementation Method 2
the wind tunnel itself, its structure and duct work, directs the air vertically through a flight area
Implementation Method 3
airflow deflectors and conditioner components
Implementation Method 4
each said flight area shaped by the angle of the tower walls, so that the lowest or first flight area has tower walls with an angle ∝, the second lowest flight area has tower walls with an angle β, wherein β is equal or larger than ∝
Implementation Method 5
pneumatically porous safety net
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A body flight simulator of quick and efficient assembly and operation, includes the ability of having multi]flight areas to facilitate the teaching and skill building of novice users, as well as the ability for performances of experienced users. In addition, it includes easy viewing by observers, noise reduction and minimized environmental impacts. Finally, the modular nature of the components, allow for the assembly of modular arena stages, capable of having elongated/widened body flight areas.