Abstract:
Full motion interactive simulator for use by two or more persons that can play a simulation game running on a display screen, where each player can alternate controlling the pitch and roll of a motion base platform supporting a vehicle on which the players sit. A joystick mounted in front of each player can be moved forward, backward, side-to-side, and in 360 degree circles to cause the platform to pitch and roll along any angle. The joystick can have separate buttons for firing weapons at targets on the display screen, controlling the position of images on the screen and answering questions by the system such as yes, and no to certain questions. Each player can have a set of foot pedals in front of their seats, where a left pedal can cause the screen image to rotate to the left, and the right pedal can cause the screen image to rotate to the right. The active player on the joystick controls both pedals at one time. A collective lever can be positioned between the players, where pulling up the lever causes an upward altitude on the display image and pushing the lever down causes the display image to move downward. The vehicle can be an a helicopter, an airplane, a jet, an automobile, a motorcycle, a truck, a military tank, a speedboat, a submarine and a jetski.

Description:
This invention relates to motion base simulators, and in particular to simulators having at least two independently interactive seats within full motion cab bodies such as automobiles, trucks, military conveyances, water borne conveyances, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/103,826 filed on Oct. 9, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Motion simulators have been around for many years. However, many of these devices are extremely expensive to build, and elaborate and complex to operate. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,128 to Wachsmuth et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,375 to Samicola; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,784 to Carmein. Additionally, these patents do not have the exterior appearance and structures of the actual devices that are being simulated such as automobiles, trucks, military conveyances, and water borne vehicles. 
     Other patents of interest that the inventors are also aware of include U.S. Pat. Des. No. 345,178 to Peterson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,485,266 to Edinburg; U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,099 to Fett; U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,407 to Manabe and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,766 to Touzeau et al. 
     All of the above patents are generally concerned with a motion simulation effect for a single user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,784 to Carmein in FIGS. 17-20 shows two users but limits that to an interactive application in a virtual reality environment such as “teaching dancing lessons . . . simulating wrestling . . . ” between two persons. While FIG. 20 shows two persons in a simulator, that application is for the users to only be on the receiving end of getting simulation effects, and not for independently controlling and operating the simulation effects. 
     None of these patents allow for full interactivity from both the driver and the passenger in a full motion simulator. None of these patents allow for both the driver and the passenger to be able to separately and independently control the simulator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first objective of the present invention is to provide a full motion simulator where either a first player or a second player can alternate controlling the pitch and roll of a motion base for supporting the players in the simulator. 
     The second object of this invention is to provide a full motion simulator where a first player can control the pitch and roll of a motion base simulator while a second player can control a weapon control. 
     The third object of this invention is to provide a full motion simulator having foot pedals for controlling the yaw image on a display screen. 
     The fourth object of this invention is to provide a full motion simulator having a lever for controlling the altitude of the image on a display screen. 
     The fifth object of this invention is to provide two identical mechanical actuators substantially oriented perpendicular to one another for controlling pitch and roll positions of a motion base simulator. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is a full motion interactive simulator for two or more persons that includes a vehicle such as a helicopter cab positioned on a motion platform that is connected to a base. A first piston extendable actuator is both pivotally connected to both the base and the A-frame base support controls the pitch of the platform and causes the platform to tilt forward and to tilt backward. A second piston extendable actuator is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first actuator is connected to both the base and to the platform and controls the roll of the platform causing the platform to roll left and roll right. Both the first and second piston extendable actuators can be identical and each can include a lead screw piston connected to a yoke the latter of which moves up and down about one or more guide rods. 
     Two players can be seated on the motion platform and play a simulation game that they can view on a display screen such as a monitor, a liquid crystal display, and the like that is positioned in front of them. Both players can have control devices such as joysticks so that each player can control both the first and the second actuators. Each player can alternate controlling the actuators by their respective joystick. Both players can have a set of right and left foot pedals in front of their seats for controlling the yaw direction of a image on the display screen. The left foot pedal can control yaw movement of the image on the display screen to a left direction, and the right foot pedal can control moving the image on the display screen to the right direction. 
     Connected to the platform between the two players can be a mechanical spring loaded altitude control lever, where pulling the lever upward causes the image on the display screen to appear at a higher altitude and pushing the lever downward causes the image on the display screen to be at a lower altitude. 
     Both joystick type controls can include buttons and switches for activating weapon simulation effects, where a player can simultaneously control both actuators and the weapons to fire. Alternatively, one player can control both actuators and the second player can control the firing of the weapons. 
     In addition to a helicopter cab, the vehicles supported by the platform can be either an open top or covered cab covered such as but not limited to an airplane, a jet, an automobile, a motorcycle, a truck, a military tank, a speedboat, a submarine, and a jetski. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the two seat full motion interactive simulator invention for a helicopter vehicle with a large screen display for the simulation image . 
     FIG. 1B is a top view of FIG. 1A along arrow A. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two seat motion base platform and display of FIGS. 1A-1B without a vehicle. 
     FIG. 3A is a side view of the motion base platform of the preceding Figures. 
     FIG. 3B is an opposite side view of the motion base platform of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 3C is a front view of FIG. 3A along arrow B 1 . 
     FIG. 3D is a rear view of FIG. 3A along arrow B 2 . 
     FIG. 3E is a front right perspective view of the motion base platform of FIG. 3A along arrow B 3 . 
     FIG. 3F is a front left perspective view of the motion base platform of FIG. 3E along arrow B 4 . 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one of the actuator assemblies shown in the preceding Figures. 
     FIG. 4B is a top view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 4A along arrow C 1 . 
     FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 4A along arrow C 2 . 
     FIG. 5A is a front view of the actuator of FIG. 4A along arrow C 4  with the lead screw and drive gear shrouds removed. 
     FIG. 5B is a rear view of the actuator of FIG. 4A along arrow C 3  with the lead screw and drive gear shrouds removed. 
     FIG. 5C is a left view of the actuator of FIG. 5B along arrow C 5  with the lead screw and drive gear shrouds removed. 
     FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the actuator and motor assembly of FIG. 5A along arrow C 6 , which is also a break-away view of the actuator motor assembly of FIG.  5 C. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joystick/cyclic control used in FIGS. 1A-2. 
     FIG. 7A is a top view of the rudder control pedals shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7B is an end view of the rudder control pedals of FIG. 7A along arrow D. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the altitude control lever shown in FIGS. 1A-2. 
     FIG. 9 shows a schematic layout of the components used to control the components of the preceding figures. 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B is a flow chart of a program that can be used to run a simulation game for the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a preferred embodiment  1  of the two seat full motion interactive simulator invention for a helicopter vehicle  10  with a large screen display  20  for the simulation image. FIG. 1B is a top view of FIG. 1A along arrow A. For the preferred embodiment the nose of the helicopter vehicle can be positioned approximately 6 inches to the display  20 , approximately 136.5 inches from rear foot pads  32  to the display, and approximately 61.5 inches from the right front foot pads  42  to the right rear foot pads  32 . Two people can sit side-by-side in the helicopter-shaped fiberglass cab and face a  60  inch video screen  22  that enclosed in a display case  20 . Two sets of slats  26  can be cut into the top of the display case  20  to provide ventilation/cooling for the system components which will be described in more detail later. Although, a helicopter vehicle cab is shown, the invention can be used with other closed and open top vehicles such as but not limited to automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, military conveyances, tanks, jeeps, aircraft, jets, water-borne conveyances, jet-skis, submarines, speed boats, and the like, and other multi-seat open platforms for theater application. Each of the foot pads  32 ,  42  can be approximately 6 inch diameter steel (approximately ⅛ inch thick) foot pads that can be attached to swiveling screws  31 ,  41  at the end of each leg  30 ,  40  which increases stability, and various additional materials such as but not limited to Velcro, rubber, felt, and the like can be secured to the bottom of each foot pad  32 ,  42  for convenience and added stability. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, each player can use a controller  300 (to be described in more detail in FIG. 6) such as a joystick to operate, with identical functions. The actuators  200 (shown in more detail in reference to FIGS. 4A-5D) can be enclosed in a metal enclosure (bellows)  50  that protects hands from being injured, and curious eyes from seeing the actuators  200  within, and can be selectively opened with key access  52 . This bellows  50  allows full movement of the upper platform  110  of the motion base  100 . The legs  30 ,  40  used for stability only can be fitted with square steel tubes that sleeve into the square steel tubing  62  of the lower platform  60  on the motion base  100 , and are secured with two ⅜″ bolts  63 . Two sets of fork-lift tubes  64  each being approximately 2 inches deep can be attached under the lower platform, on which the system rests, and can be moved with a simple pallet jack. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two seat motion base platform  100  and display  20  of Figures  1 A- 1 B without a vehicle. Two seats  70 ,  70 ′ such as but not limited to JAZ Lo-Back racing seats, can be mounted upon a 1 inch steel tube frame structure of parallel tubes  112 ,  114  connected to side of frame  110  by a cross-piece  116 . The right-seat player  70 ′ can utilize a full functional helicopter cyclic/joystick  300 ′ (shown and described in reference to FIG.  6 ), with a (combat helicopter simile) grip, with trigger and other weapons control buttons, that controls the movement of the platform  110  while playing the game and/or training being displayed on display screen  22 . This cyclic/joystick  300 ′ allows full movement between the player&#39;s legs, and is mounted to a pot-assembly (potentiometers that measure and modulate movement) attached to the floor. The left-seat player  70  utilizes another cyclic/joystick  300 , identical to the right-seat player cyclic/joystick  300 ′. An altitude control collective lever  400 (shown and described in reference to FIG. 8) can be mounted to the inside of the seat frame assembly (under the seats), which also utilizes potentiometers to measure and modulate movement, and is used during game playing and/or training based on image on the display  20 , to make the point-of-view (POV) in the game to change in perceived altitude. Altitude collective lever juts through an opening located between the seats  70 ,  70 ′, allowing usage by either of the seated players (trainers). 
     Two sets of pedals are used as a rudder control assembly  500 (to be shown and described in reference to FIGS. 7A-7B) can be mounted to the floor of platform  110  in front of the seats  70 ,  70 ′ and can also use potentiometers to measure and modulate the pedals′ movements, and controls the POV&#39;s(point-of-view) yaw perception of the game and/or training image being shown on the display  20 . The pedals can be married to each other, allowing either player to control the POV yaw in the game and/or training simulation. Display  20  can be a Sharp 60 inch screen Notevision  2  LCD projector and can include two sets of front holes  28  cut into the front of the display case to allow the speakers used for this system. 
     FIG. 3A is a side view of the motion base  100  and platform  110  of the preceding Figures. FIG. 3B is an opposite side view of the motion base  100  and platform  110  of FIG.  3 A. FIG. 3C is a front view of FIG. 3A along arrow B 1 . FIG. 3D is a rear view of FIG. 3A along arrow B 2 . FIG. 3E is a front right perspective view of the motion base  100  and platform  110  of FIG. 3A along arrow B 3 . FIG. 3F is a front left perspective view of the motion base  100  and platform  110  of FIG. 3E along arrow B 4 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A-3F, the motion base  100  includes two actuators  200 ,  200 ′(each described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 4A-5D, which allow the platform to tilt and roll along four directions R 1 -R 4  and combinations of those directions. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A-3F, platform  110  can be movable to tilt forward in the direction of arrow R 1  up to approximately 50 degrees(pitch) from vertical by piston screw  210  of actuator  200  contracting inward. Platform  110  can tilt backward in the direction of arrow R 2  up to approximately 50 degrees(pitch) from vertical by the piston screw  210  of actuator  200  extending outward in length. For the tilting function, platform  110  is connected by a parallel plate clevis member  120  to another parallel plate clevis member  132  on A-frame  130  so that both the platform  110  and A-frame  130  can tilt together in the direction of arrows R 1  and R 2  by having lower A-frame connection points  134 ,  136  pivotally rotating about the pivot axes  145 ,  155  of lower clevis members  140  and  150 , respectively. Top clevis member  120  can include two parallel plates welded to a mid-lower surface of platform  110 , and having an axle  125  therethrough that passes through upward projecting parallel plates  132  of A-frame  130 . At a mid-area of A-frame  130  is a clevis member  138  having a pivotal connection  135  that allows outward end of piston  210  to rotate therein. The opposite end  205  of actuator  200  is pivotally connected at point  87  to an upward projecting clevis type member  86  on base  60 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A-3F, platform  110  can be movable to roll left in the direction of arrow R 4  up to approximately  50  degrees from vertical by piston screw  210 ′ of actuator  200 ′ extending outward in length. Platform  110  can roll right in the direction of arrow R 3  up to approximately 50 degrees from vertical by the piston screw  210 ′ of actuator  200 ′ contracting inward. Piston screw  210 ′ connects to a pivoting end connection  115  on a downward rod  111  that is permanently mounted underneath and perpendicular to platform  110 . Lower end  205 ′ of actuator  200 ′ is pivotally connected to horizontal rod  82 , attached to the A-frame  130  near the connection point  134  having a pivot end  85 . The pitching function, platform  110  is connected by a clevis member  120  to an A-frame  130  so that both the platform  110  and A-frame  130  can tilt together in the direction of arrows Ri and R 2  by pivotally rotating about the pivot axes  145 ,  155  of lower clevis members  140  and  150 , respectively. Top clevis member  120  can include two parallel plates welded to a mid-lower surface of platform  110 , and having a axle  125  therethrough that passes through upward projecting plates  132  of A-frame  130 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3E-3F, actuators  200 ,  200 ′ allow the platform  110  to rotate in combinations of the directions such as R 1 &amp;R 3 , R 2 &amp;R 4 , R 2 &amp;R 3 , R 1 &amp;R 4 , and the like. Actuators  200 ,  200 ′ can work independently, allowing the platform  110  to pitch and roll simultaneously. 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one of the actuator assemblies  200  shown in the preceding Figures. FIG. 4B is a top view of the actuator assembly  200  of FIG. 4A along arrow C 1 . FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the actuator assembly  200  of FIG. 4A along arrow C 2 . Although only one actuator assembly  200  is shown, the other actuator assembly  200 ′ is identical in components thereof. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, actuator  200  includes lower end  205  having a through-hole  207  for being pivotally mounted to the lower platform  60  of motion base  100  previously described. Projecting upward from actuator  200  is a lead screw piston  210  having a pivot screw head  215  and a through-hole  217  for being pivotally mounted to the A-frame  130  as previously described. A shroud cover  220  covers the interior components of lead screw piston  210 . Guide rods for the piston  210  to be described later are held in place with rounded half-nuts  221 ,  223  on the top of lid  222 . A removable face plate  224  is over an opening in shroud cover  220  and can be held in place with screws  225 . A lower shroud cover  226  can be used to cover interior components such as the bottom of the lead screw piston and the drive gears. An optical sensor  265  such as but not limited to a Omron EE-SPY415 by Sager Electronics, can be used to read the travel distance of the lead screw piston  210  located within shroud cover  220 . The motor  240 , such as but not limited to a 1&amp; ½ horse power Cycletrol 3278 from API Motion Inc., can be used to cause the lead screw piston  210  to extend and contract in respect to lid  222  of actuator  200 . Motor  240  can be supported by and connected to the rest of actuator  200  by a mount support and plate  228  held in place by fasteners  229  such as screws, and can be attached to an encoder  230  such but not limited to a two channel optical encoder DM-655 from Servo Systems, and a removable top lid  232  thereon. 
     FIG. 5A is a front view of the actuator  200  of FIG. 4A along arrow C 4  with the lead screw and drive gear shroud covers  220  and  226  removed. FIG. 5B is a rear view of the actuator of FIG.  4 A along arrow C 3  with the lead screw and drive gear shroud covers  220 ,  226  removed. FIG. 5C is a left view of the actuator  220  of FIG. 5B along arrow C 5  with the lead screw and drive gear shroud covers  220 ,  226  removed. FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the actuator  200  of FIG. 5A along arrow C 6 , which is also a break-away view of the actuator motor  200  of FIG. SC. 
     Referring to FIG. 5A-5D, two hollow steel guide rods  252 , 254  s lave the central lead-screw piston  210 , and add strength and stability to its movement. Each of the guide rods  252 ,  254  can be held in place via a bottom end such as a screw end that attaches to bottom plate  228 , the belt-driven gear assembly portion  280 , the spacer plate  253  and fixably attached to cap lid  222  where the guide rods are secured in place with rounded half-nuts  221 ,  223 . A lead-screw  270  is attached to a rotatable gear  282  (in the belt-driven gear assembly  280 ), which is used to convert rotary motion to linear motion via a screw mechanism in the piston shaft. The two steel guide rods and the lead-screw piston  210  are shown to be held within a movable yoke  260  the latter of which is fixably attached to the piston  210  by to move up or down in a stable and precise manner. An optical sensor  265  can be attached inside cover  220  and be used to stop the piston  210  from traveling beyond that point by reading tip  262 . A second rotatable gear  284  can be connected to the rotatable drive shaft  242  of the motor  240 . About gear  284  is a belt  286  having an interior toothed surface  287  which is also wrapped about gear  282  for which it is used to motivate the base portion  274  of lead-screw  270 . The upper threaded portion  272  of the lead screw  270  can screw into the interior threads  213  of piston base  212 . Rotating of the lead screw  270  by the motor  240  depends on the joystick/cyclic  300 (to be described in detail later) input by a seated player. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joystick/cyclic control  300  used in FIGS. 1A,  1 B, and  2 . Joystick control  300  can include a handle grip end  310  that can include push buttons  312  for allowing weapon fire or other simulation and computer control functions during the simulation game. Joystick  300  can have a curved C-shaped midportion  320  to replicate that of a helicopter control stick and a lower base  330  having a ball end  340  which fits within and is mounted to a mating curved interior surface  307  within floor  305  and can move therein by ball bearings,  345 , rollers, and the like. The Base  330  has a slip ring  332  that is connected to floor by four spring loaded piston actuators  350 (only two are shown for clarity). Each of the spring loaded actuators  350  can include a base cylinder portion  354  pivotally mounted at end  355  to floor  305 , and an inwardly biased piston  352  having an outside end  353  pivotally attached to connector ring  332 . Each of the actuators  350  can include potentiometers  357  such as but not limited to 10K potentiometers from Digi-Key Inc. which can be used to sense the position of the joysticks  300  and is used to control the extension and retraction of the pistons  210 ,  210 ′ in the actuators  200 ,  200 ′ previously described. 
     Although the preferred embodiment describes using a joystick to control the actuators for the motion platform, other types of controls can be used such as but not limited to a steering wheel, a rotatable computer mouse pad, and the like. For example, the subject invention can use the steering device and controls shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,407 to Manabe which is incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the subject invention can use the joysticks and controls shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,784 to Carmein which is also incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 7A is a top view of the rudder control pedal assembly  500  of FIG.  2 . FIG. 7B is an end view of the rudder control pedals  500  of FIG. 7A along arrow D. Referring to FIGS. 7A-7B, assembly  500  includes four pedals  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540 , an outer rotatable cylinder  550  and inner rotatable cylinder  560 , a first spring loaded piston  570 , a second spring loaded piston  580  and pivoting plate connector  590 . Note that the first set of a right pedal  510  and a left pedal  520  are positioned in front of seat  70 ′ in FIG. 2, and the second set of a right pedal  530  and a left pedal  540  are positioned in front of seat  70  in FIG.  1 . Outer cylinder  550  can rotate relative to inner cylinder  560  by bearings  565 . Both outer rotatable cylinder  550  and inner rotatable cylinder  560  can be held in place by floor mount supports  502 ,  504  and  506 . Both the bases of right foot pedal  510  and right foot pedal  530  are fixably secured to inner cylinder  560  by welds, and the like, and in effect having both right foot pedals married to one another. FIG. 7B shows one of these connection points at  516 . Each pedal has a foot rest peg portion(only  512  is identified) fixably and perpendicularly attached to a connecting leg  514  which in turn is fixably attached to the cylinder  560 . Additionally, both left foot pedals  520  and  540  similarly have their bases fixably adhered by welds and the like to the exterior surfaces of outer cylinder  550 , so that both left foot pedals are in effect married to one another. Therefore moving one left foot pedal automatically moves the other left foot pedal, and moving one right foot pedal automatically moves the other right foot pedal. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7A-7B, a first spring loaded piston  570  has one end  572  pivotally attached to a lower rear wall  307  and another end  574  pivotally attached to one end of a swivel plate  590 . On top of the same edge of swivel plate  590  is a pivotal connection to the outer end  576  of arm  575 . The other end  578  is pivotally connected to a lower edge  518  of pedal leg  514 . Left pedal  520  has similar connections to an arm  520  which is pivotally connected to swivel plate  590 , which is pivotally connected to second spring loaded piston  580  which is also pivotally connected to rear wall  307 . The middle portion  592  of swivel plate  590  is pivotally connected to an upper edge of floor mount support  502 . Thus, pushing and causing right foot pedal  510  to rotate forward in the direction of arrow E simultaneously moves the other right foot pedal  530  and causes arm  575  to move in the direction of arrow F and piston spring  570  to stretch in the direction of arrow F. Simultaneously, with the pushing of right foot pedal  510 , swivel plate  590  rotates clockwise about pivot point  592  causing arm  585  to move in the direction of arrow G causing left foot pedal  520  and left foot pedal  540  to also move in the direction of arrow G. Floor mounted potentiometers  505  can be connected to both cylinders  550  and  560  and be used to measure the rotated positions of the cylinders as they are being rotated by the foot pedals, and be connected to the rest of the system components as explained in FIGS. 9-10 in order to rotate the images on the display  20  of FIGS. 1A-2. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the altitude control lever  400  shown in FIGS. 1A-2, which can be floor mounted. Lever  400  has an L-shaped arm portion  402 ,  404  with a lower bent arm  406  which is fixably attached to a plate  410  which both rotate in the direction of arrow G 1  about an axle  415  which acts as a pivot point, where axle  415  is connected to non moving support plate  430 . Nonmoving support plate  430  is fixably attached within floor  305  by fasteners  431 . A spring loaded piston  420  has one end  422  pivotally connected to an edge of rotating plate  410  and a second end  424  connected to a lower portion  432  of a support plate  430 . A pulley wheel  442  is rotatably attached to axle  415 , and has a belt  444 , which also passes about a potentiometer  450 (such as a  10 K potentiometer from Digi-Key), which measures the position of the lever arm  400 . A stop  460  can be attached to the support plate  430 , so that an elongated opening  412  in rotating plate  410  allows for the stop  460  to be limited to travelling to selected locations limiting the travel of upper level  402 . A player holding arm portion  402  can push the lever downward in the direction of arrow G 1  causing plate  410  to rotate about axle  415  in the direction of arrow G 2  compressing piston  425  within a spring biased cylinder  420 . Pulling lever upward in the opposite direction of arrow G 1  causes plate  410  to rotate in the direction of arrow G 3  pulling piston  425  from cylinder  420 . A rotatable tension knob  419  passes through an upper portion  414  which is separated by a space and into a lower portion  412  of rotating plate  410 , where the upper portion  414  is above and the lower portion  412  is under axle  415 . Rotating tension knob  419  clockwise tightens about axle  415  increases the difficulty of rotating lever  400 . Likewise rotating knob  419  counter-clockwise loosens the tension making lever  400  easier to use. Lever  400  can be used by either player to raise the altitude of an image of the display  20 (shown in FIGS.  1 A- 2 ). 
     FIG. 9 shows a schematic layout  600  of the components used to control the components of the preceding figures in a preferred setup. The system  600  can be connected to a 120 Volt power supply and is powered via the Distribution Box  1000 , containing 110 VAC/15 AMP circuitry. That, in turn, provides AC power to the Motion Base PC (computer)l  1100 , such as a DELL Pentium m 400MHz, which is connected by an RS232 line to the Simulator components l 200  which include a servo driver  1240  for interfacing with a pitch servo  1241  which control the forward and backward pitch of the simulator platform  110 , and roll servo  1242  which controls right roll and left roll of the platform  110 . As previously explained the Pitch Servo  1241  and Roll Servo  1242  control motors, such as API Motion 1.5 H.P. Cycletrol® 3278, which controls the actuators  200 ,  200 ′ shown and described in FIGS. 3A-5D, which move the platform  110  of the system  1 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, power supply  1000  also supplies power to the Servo Driver  1240 , the audio visual system  1300 , the Video Game PC(computer) such as a DELL Pentium III 400 MHz, and the video converter VGA/NTSC-SCVHS  1500  such as an Extron Electronics 800 Jr. NTSC Scan Converter. 
     To start the system  600 , a player inserts currency into the bill validator  1250 , such as a Mars Electronics&#39;  2600  Bill Acceptor. Once receiving the appropriate amount of currency, bill validator  1250  sends a signal to the Video Game PC  1400 , via RS232 cabling, to start the game/system/simulator. The Video Game PC  1400  translates the motion information, and interacts with the OTS game software, such as Hasbro Interactive&#39;s Gunship III, and Team Apache by KUJU Entertainment Inc.), sending the video signal via SVGA cabling, through the Video Converter  1500 , which converts the SVGA signal to an SVHS signal, to the Large Screen Display 60″  1310 ( 20  FIGS.  1 A- 2 ), such as a Mitsubishi V4063 60″ Television monitor, and the audio signal directly to the Left Speaker  1320  and Right Speaker  1330 , such as NEC GMS20NF Powered Computer Speakers. 
     The players manipulating the cyclic/joystick  1210 ( 300 FIG. 6) and the collective altitude lever  1220 ( 400 FIG. 8) and the rudder pedals  1230 ( 500 FIGS. 7A-7B) feed signals back and forth to both the video game PC  1400  and the Motion Base PC  1100 . The Motion Base PC ( 1100 ) also interacts with the servo driver  1240  to provide control of the pitch servo  1241  and roll servo  1242  that controls the actuators  200 ,  200 ′ shown and described in FIGS. 3A-5D 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B is a flow chart of the steps of a preferred program that can be used to run a simulation game for the invention. In the first step  1000  the system  600 (FIG. 9) is in ‘Attract Mode’ (demonstrating the game on display  20 (FIGS.  1 A- 2 ), showing a tutorial. Step  1010  (FIG . 2 ) occurs if someone steps onto the stairs which, to enter the game. In step  1020 (FIG.  2 ), pressure sensors in the stairs detect their presence, and in step  1030  the Attract Mode on the display  20  stops, while “Please wait while system stops” is displayed on the screen, and in step  1040  the system allows Player(s) to enter. In step  1050  a message “If only one player, please sit in Pilot&#39;s seat on right” is displayed on the screen  22 (FIGS.  1 A- 2 ). In step  1100  one player or two players enter the capsule( 10  FIGS.  1 A-lB). Step  1110  occurs if only one player and in step  1115  He/she will sit in the right seat. Step  1120  occurs if two players sit down. In step  1125  a pressure sensor in the left seat will detect the second player. In step  1130  question, “One Player or two?” (is displayed on the screen). Step  1135  occurs If ‘2 Players’ is chosen (using either joystick/trigger), then in step  1200  player(s) instructed to “Please insert X$ into Bill Acceptor” will be displayed on the screen. In step  1145  if ‘1 Player’ is chosen, then in step  1146  the system  600  will suggest that, “If you both wish to play, please select Two Player option”(displayed on the screen). In step  1147  the system will then count down (onscreen) from ten seconds, to allow time for the Players to choose ‘1 Player’ or ‘2 Players’ . In step  1135  If ′  2  Players′ is chosen (using either joystick/trigger), then step  1200  instruction “Please insert X$ into Bill Acceptor” will be displayed on the screen. Step  1148  occurs if Players not select ‘2 Players’ option within seconds and in step  1149  the Left joystick is deactivated, and in  1151  “Left seat controls are deactivated” is displayed on the screen. In step  1200  “Please insert X$ into Bill Acceptor” will be displayed on the screen. In step  1300  Once the appropriate amount of currency/credit has been deposited into the bill validator, the system  600  will ask (onscreen) “Have you played this game before?” System goes to step  1310  if the Player(s) answer ‘Yes’, then in step  1400  the Player(s) will be asked to choose the level of difficulty of play (“Choose Difficulty” will show onscreen). Step  1320  occurs if the Player(s) answer ‘No’, then step  1325  occurs where the system will play the 30-second Tutorial, showing how to operate the Joystick, Grip, Collective lever &amp; Rudder Pedals  1335 . In case the Player(s) didn′ t quite understand it the first time, the system will ask (onscreen) “Repeat tutorial?” In step  1336  if the Player(s) answer ‘Yes’, then step  1325  the system will replay the 30-second Tutorial. In step  1335  “Repeat tutorial?” will be asked onscreen again, then step  1337  occurs if the Player(s) answer ‘No’, followed by step  1400  where the Player(s) will be asked to choose the level of difficulty of play. Step  1410  occurs if the Player(s) answer ‘Yes’, then in step  1415  the Player(s) will use the joystick/trigger to choose either: LI “Lieutenant”—the Player(s) operate only the Joystick, and this choice instructs the system to automatically adjust altitude in the game- For level L 2  “Captain” the Player(s) operate both the Joystick &amp; Collective lever. And for level L 3  “Major”, the Player(s) operate the Joystick, Collective lever &amp; Rudder Pedals. In step  1500 , the Player(s) will be asked to choose the mission they wish to play (“Choose Mission” will be displayed onscreen). Step  1420  occurs if the Player(s) answer ‘No’, then step  1425  where the game automatically defaults to “Lieutenant” (LI). If in step  1510  the Player(s) answer ‘Yes’, then step  1515  the Player(s) will use the joystick/trigger to choose either: FF “Free Flight” the Player(s) familiarize themselves with the system &amp; game by flying around the terrain without any particular mission (or enemies) MI “Mission 1”—one game scenario, M 2  “Mission 2” —another game scenario, M 3  “Mission 3” —yet another game scenario. In step  1600  then the game will begin. Step  1520  occurs if the Player(s) answer ‘No’, then step  1525  The Game defaults to “Free Flight”, then step  1600  the game will begin. Step  1610  occurs once the Player(s) use up 4 ‘lives’ followed by step  1620  the Game stops, and in step  1630  the system asks (onscreen), “Please insert X$ to continue”. In step  1640 , the system will then count down (onscreen) from ten seconds, to allow time for the Players to insert the required money/card. Step  1645  occurs if Players insert the required money/card within  10  seconds. In step  1646  the game continues by providing the Player(s) another 4 ‘lives’, and continuing where they left off. Step  1655  occurs if Players fail to insert the required money/card within  10  seconds, and in step  1700  the game ends. In step  1710  the message “Please wait while system stops.” will display onscreen, while in step  1720  the system returns to home (center) position and allows Player(s) to step  1730  disembark. Step  1740  occurs if there&#39;s no activity during the next  10  seconds, then step  1000  the system returns to ‘Attract Mode’. Step  1750  occurs if the next player(s) in the queue step onto the stairs, then the system  600  returns to step  1100  where Player(s) enter the capsule  10 (FIGS.  1 A- 1 B). The player can depress the  312  buttons on the joystick  300  to answer the questions posed above. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.