User:Jeffhogue

Virtual Reality Parachute Simulation

Virtual Reality (VR) Parachute Simulation is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer simulation parachuting environment[1]. As a minimum, this technology consists of a display of a view of a computer simulated world through which the user's eye point is moved according to simulated parachute flight dynamics computations, usually as these equations respond to sensed user motions of simulated parachute controls. Visual displays may consist of a computer monitor(s), images projected on flat or curved surfaces, or in head-mounted displays (HMDs). Simulations using HMDs typically include a head motion tracker, usually providing only head orientation angles, to provide the user's eye location and orientation which is then computationally combined with the simulated parachute motions to provide a basis for the scene display. The parachute being simulated will typically be of round or ram-air configuration, although other configurations have been used in real parachuting. Each individual simulation needs to have appropriate matching vehicle motion dynamics equations and graphics model. Parachutes are typically termed steerable or non-steerable depending on whether or not steering control lines are provided, but the motion of any parachute can be somewhat modified by varying the loading applied to the suspension risers. Other parachute controls include ripcords to control parachute deployment or release and jumper's body position as it affects air flow.

Background

Application categories

Characteristics of VR parachute flight simulation can be categorized by the applications for which they are intended to be used. Typical categories include smoke jumpers, airborne forces or paratroopers, aircrew emergency, skydivers, and entertainment.

Smoke Jumper Training Simulator

Just as the establishment of smoke jumping, or the use of parachutes to insert forest fire fighters into difficult terrain, in the United States (US) facilitated the origin of US military paratrooping just prior to World War II, a smoke jumping training dilemma lead to the creation of a parachute simulator which eventually was adopted for military parachute training in all branches of the US and many foreign military around the world. As of March 2009, over 300 total systems had been installed. In 1986, Dave Pierce of the USDA Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center (MDTC) contacted Jeff Hogue of Systems Technology, Inc. for ideas and assistance in solving his smokejumper training problem. Too many trainees were getting hurt in training jumps, usually do to over control usage, but reducing the number of training jumps was seen as likely to result in more on-the-job jump injuries and lower parachute performance.