Compact Driving Simulator Using Hexapod and Fifth Wheel Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing simulation apparatuses for driving land vehicles are bulky, complex, costly, and lack structural rigidity and redundancy in degrees of freedom, making them unsuitable for realistic and efficient simulation of land vehicle movements.
Innovation Solution
A compact simulation apparatus with a fixed base platform and a mobile platform that uses three linear actuators to simulate lateral and longitudinal movements and yawing, combined with a hexapod kinematic mechanism for additional degrees of freedom, including pitching, rolling, and vertical oscillation, to provide redundancy and structural rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hexapod architecture is used to simulate land vehicle movements, then the simulation can reproduce yawing and longitudinal/lateral translations, but the apparatus becomes extremely bulky and requires large maneuvering space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the simulation function into two independent parts: a compact mobile platform that handles lateral translation and yawing, and a vehicle body that handles longitudinal translation. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall apparatus size while maintaining simulation fidelity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a fifth wheel mechanism that enables rotation around an axis orthogonal to the plane on which the guides lie. This adds a new dimension of movement, allowing the mobile base to simulate yawing through rotation rather than requiring complex hexapod kinematics, thereby reducing the apparatus volume.
2Reliability
If a mobile base with fifth wheel and guides is used, then the apparatus can simulate longitudinal/lateral translation and yawing, but it becomes particularly bulky, complex to make and manage, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex fifth wheel and guide mechanism from the system, retaining only the essential mobile base with linear actuators. This simplification maintains the core simulation capability while dramatically reducing structural complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile base is designed to perform multiple simulation functions (lateral translation, yawing, and longitudinal translation through coordinated actuator movement) using a single simplified structure, eliminating the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each function.
3Reliability
If known simulation apparatus are designed to compensate for performance limits, then they can simulate land vehicle movements, but they become extremely bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the movement parameters by using coordinated control of multiple linear actuators to achieve complex vehicle movements through simple individual actuator actions. This allows accurate movement simulation within a compact base platform size.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus to simulate driving a land vehicle comprising a fixed base platform (11), a mobile platform (12) disposed above said base platform (11), a mobile driver's position (13), associated with the mobile platform (12) and in which a driver has his seat during normal use, and movement means (19) associated with the base platform (11) and with the mobile platform (12) to provide the movement of said mobile platform (12) with respect to the base platform (11).