 |
 |
Basic Constitution |
|
The riding simulators consist of the following four components:
 Riding
unit:
Use the operating system of actual vehicle on the body of 400cc
class motorcycle.
Computer box:
Key portion of the simulator, housing a variety of devices with
personal computer in the center.
Screen box:
The screen box consists of the image screen unit and the hood.
Close attention is given to enable riders to concentrate on
the screen.
Operation desk:
Interface using mouse is adopted to facilitate setting and operations.
|
|
Overall System |
|
The operation of riders is put into the interface circuit
and conveyed to the host computer by telecommunication. Based
on the signal, the host computer will calculate the behaviors
of engines and body and the positions of own vehicle and other
vehicles appearing on the images, and transmit the results thus
obtained to the image generator, sound device, servo amplifier
and inverter as command. As the consequence, the body behaves,
vision is cast on the screen, and engine sound can be heard
from the speakers, the rider feels a driving wind so that the
feeling as if one is actually driving can be obtained.
 |
System Diagram
(Enlarged drawing can be viewed if clicked here.) |
|
|
Element Technology |
|
Motion
The important point for simulators is to make one feel as if
he is actually riding. This was decided by attaching importance
to the feeling of riding as regards to the number of axes required
and the range of actuation, using prototype machines capable
of reproducing various movements. With the use of three servomotors,
it was made possible to reproduce the rolling motion of motorcycle
body, movements of pitching and the motion of the handlebar
in a way felt close to actual riding. The riding unit is equipped,
beside the movable motor, with interface circuits having functions
such as "to convert the operation of riders to electric signals"
and "meter indications and the drive of indicators".
 |
| Movement of motions |
|
|
Images
For the image device, computer generated image (CGI) system
as used for flight simulator was adopted.
A special computer generates images, which keep on changing
in response to the operation of drivers. Smooth running images
are created at the rate of 30 frames per second. For the unit
casting images from the projector on the screen, a method to
reflect once with a mirror is adopted to make the machine compact
in size while securing focal distance. For the 52-inch screen
on the front, a lenticular type was adopted, which enables to
obtain good contrast even in a light room and back mirror images
were also housed in it.
|
|
Sound and Driving Wind
PCM (pulse code modulation) system is used for the sound equipment
to digitally sample the actual sound of motorcycle engines.
Horn, change, grounding sound of steps and the sound of moving
through the air, etc. were recorded. Furthermore, as for the
engine sound of other vehicles coming into the screen, even
the Doppler effect caused by speed difference was reproduced.
These sounds were generated from 16cm speakers stereo-arranged
in the computer box. Headphone terminals are also installed
on the car body side. Driving wind is generated by inverter-controlled
fans through two ducts on the left and right in proportion to
motorcycle speed.
|
|
Traffic Environments
Complicated traffic environments can be reproduced with the
appearance on the scene of buildings, guard rails, various traffic
signs like signals, indications and a number of vehicles.
 |
| Vehicles and Signs Appearing on the Scene |
A variety of courses are prepared, including the course of experiencing
characteristics of motorcycles like over-speed cornering and
exposure to side wind, legally specified driving course with
reproduction of general mixed traffic and a course enabling
to predict hazardous scenes. Furthermore, highway scenes are
prepared as an option to broaden the range of education.
 |
| Model of Whole Town |
|
|
Operation
The operation desk is equipped with monitors, VTR, switch box
and mouse. Simple operation is made possible just to click with
a mouse the switch buttons appearing on the monitor, from the
start to the end of simulator. Furthermore, infrared ray emitting
LED is installed on the switch box for the control of recording
VTR of riding conditions and the start and stop of recording.
 |
| Control panel |
|
|
Options
Functions to further enhance the effects of training are provided
as standards or options, such as the repeat function to reproduce
the actions of operation, multi-eye system (option name) enabling
to view own vehicle from various viewpoints, night mode and
fog mode.
 |
| Images of Multi-eye System |
 |
| Images of Night and Fog |
|
|
|
