Roller coaster based simulator for amusement and flight training

Abstract

An amusement device or simulator includes a vehicle arranged to travel around a track having slopes and turns. The vehicle includes an opaque canopy enclosing a user. A sequence of images is displayed to the user on the interior of the canopy. The sequence is time synchronized with the motion of the vehicle so that the user experiences forces from the motion of the vehicle which are coordinated with the displayed sequence of images.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An amusement system, comprising: 
 a track for guiding a vehicle along a path, said path including horizontal curves and vertical slops;    a vehicle for moving along said track and including a passenger compartment having an opaque canopy; and    a display system for providing visual display on the interior of said canopy, said visual display being arranged to present visual images to a passenger representing a vehicle experience, said vehicle experience being coordinated with movement of said vehicle along said track, whereby said passenger experiences visual images coordinated with forces arising out of movement of said vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 1  wherein said display system is arranged to present selectable visual images representing a plurality of vehicle experiences.  
     
     
         3 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 1  wherein said track is graded for at least some of said horizontal curves.  
     
     
         4 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 1  wherein said display system includes a display projector in said vehicle for projecting said visual display on the interior of said canopy.  
     
     
         5 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 1  wherein said display system comprises a flat panel display on the interior of said canopy.  
     
     
         6 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle includes a track engaging portion and said passenger compartment, and wherein said passenger compartment is arranged for angular rotation with respect to said track engaging portion, further including a rotation control system, coordinated with said movement of said vehicle and said vehicle experience.  
     
     
         7 . An amusement system as specified in  claim 6  wherein said angular rotation comprises angular rotation about three axis.  
     
     
         8 . An amusement device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle includes a control unit operable by a vehicle passenger for providing control signals, and wherein said display system is responsive to said control signals for changing said visual images in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         9 . An amusement device as specified in  claim 9  wherein said rotation control system is responsive to said control signals.  
     
     
         10 . An amusement device as specified in  claim 6  wherein said vehicle includes a control unit operable by a vehicle passenger for providing control signals, and wherein said display system is responsive to said control signals for changing said visual images in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         11 . An amusement device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is self propelled along said track.  
     
     
         12 . A vehicle simulator, comprising: 
 a track for guiding a vehicle along a path, said path including horizontal curves and vertical slopes;    a vehicle for moving along said track and including a passenger compartment having an opaque canopy;    at least one control unit operable by a vehicle passenger for providing control signals; and    a display system for providing visual display on the interior of said canopy, said visual display being arranged to present visual images to a passenger representing a vehicle experience, said vehicle experience being coordinated with movement of said vehicle along said track and responsive to said control signals for changing said visual images in response to said control signals, whereby a passenger experiences visual images coordinated with forces arising out of movement of said vehicle and responsive to said passenger's operation of said control unit.    
     
     
         13 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said display system is arranged to present selectable visual images representing a plurality of vehicle experiences.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said track is graded for at least some of said horizontal curves.  
     
     
         15 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said display system includes a display projector in said vehicle for projecting said visual display on the interior of said canopy.  
     
     
         16 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said display system comprises a flat panel display on the interior of said canopy.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said vehicle includes a track engaging portion and said passenger compartment, and wherein said passenger compartment is arranged for angular rotation with respect to said track engaging portion, further including a rotation control system, coordinated with said movement of said vehicle and said vehicle experience.  
     
     
         18 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 17  wherein said angular rotation comprises angular rotation about three axis.  
     
     
         19 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 17  wherein said rotation control system is responsive to said control signals.  
     
     
         20 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said display system includes a vehicle display having a vehicle display area on an inside surface of said canopy, wherein said display system includes a stored sequence of said visual images, wherein each image of said stored sequence represents a stored display image over a stored display area that is larger than said vehicle display area, and wherein said display system is responsive to said control signals to select an image portion of said stored display images corresponding to said vehicle display area, and provide said selected portion to said vehicle display.  
     
     
         21 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 12  wherein said vehicle is self propelled along said track.  
     
     
         22 . A vehicle simulator as specified in  claim 21  further including a processor for controlling said vehicle propulsion along said track and coordinating resulting movement of said vehicle with said vehicle experience.