Vehicle simulator including cross-network feedback

Abstract

A vehicle simulator has tandem surfaces for supporting first and second users, who 'drive' respective first and simulated vehicles through a simulated space. A solenoid is mounted underneath each surface for selectively impacting the associated surface to give the user the sensation of having his simulated vehicle hit by a projectile. Each user sits in front of a video monitor, and each monitor is electrically connected to a computer. Each computer has a 'map' of a simulated space stored in its electronic memory, and the computers are linked through a common RAM. The computers cause their monitors to display a changing video image of the simulated space to model motion of the simulated vehicles through the space, in response to signals from controls that can be manipulated by the operators. Each user controls a trigger which can be pushed to initiate the motion of a simulated projectile through the simulated space toward the user's vehicle. The computer of the shooter sends a signal to the RAM to indicate that s hot has been initiated. The computer of the user being shot accesses the common RAM each game cycle to determine whether a shot has been fired, and if so, computes whether the shot has 'hit' the associated vehicle. If the computer determines that a 'hit' has occurred, the computer activates the solenoid of the seat of the user being shot to thump the seat and thereby model the effects of a hit on the vehicle.