Introduction

The invention here presented has the main goal to be an innovative product to be added to existing flight simulators in order to complete the simulation experience by adding motion and acceleration perception. This kind of device is known as G-Seat and, differently from other existing solutions, the one under investigation aims to reduce as much as possible the movable parts by using a distributed pressure system to simulate those perceptions.

Technical features

The Bidirectional G-Seat is constituted by a seat back and a seat pan, which are movable and independent from each other. The distributed pressure system is added to them in the form of straps for the lower part of the body and in the form of a gilet for the upper part of it: both of these two parts have a quick wearing system. The motion of all the movable parts is exploited using steel cables connected to electric motors: the motors wrap and unwrap the cables in order to generate the motion. This solution allows to avoid any issue related to excursion limitation of the actuation system and desaturation time too. Furthermore, the motion is controlled in both the directions. In addition to the development of the structure, a graphic user interface has been developed in order to completely control the G-Seat behavior, visualize all the relevant parameters and manage the communication with the simulation software in real time. The low cost of the product, both from an economic and power consumption point of view, is another relevant feature of the product.

Possible Applications

• Integration in existing simulators for iper realistic simulation;
• Stand alone product for motion simulation purpose;
• Pilots training;
• Engineering tool to assist the design and development of new aircraft

Advantages

• Possibility to simulate long lasting accelerations;
• No preferential directions;
• No excursion limitation of the actuators;
• No desaturation time;
• Flight dynamic and kinematic simulation happen separately.