VEHICLE SIMULATOR INCLUDING CROSS-NETWORK FEEDBACK

A vehicle simulator (10) has tandem surfaces (12, 14) for supporting first and second users, who "drive" respective first and second simulated vehicles (50, 60) through a simulated space (48). A respective solenoid (26, 28) is mounted underneath each surface (12, 14) for selectively impacting the associated surface to give the particular user the sensation of having his simulated vehicle hit by a projectile. Each user sits in front of a video monitor (42, 44), and each monitor is electrically connected to a respective computer (74, 76). Each computer has a "map" of a simulated space (48) stored in the electronic memory of the computer, and the computers are linked through a common RAM (78). The computers (74, 76) cause their respective monitors (42, 44) to display a changing video image of the simulated space (48) to model motion of the simulated vehicles (58, 60) through the space (48), in response to signals from controls (62, 66, 68, 72) that can be manipulated by the operators. Each user controls a trigger (90, 92) which can be pushed by the user to initiate the motion of a simulated projectile through the simulated space (48) toward the other user's vehicle. The computer of the shooting user sends a signal to the RAM (78) to indicate that a shot has been initiated. The computer of the user being shot accesses the common RAM (78) each game cycle to determine whether a shot has been fired, and if a shot has been fired, 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. Le simulateur (10) de véhicule selon l'invention est pourvu de surfaces (12, 14) montées en tandem et destinées à supporter un premier et un second utilisateur qui "conduisent" respectivement un premier et un second véhicules (50, 60) simulés à travers un espace (48) simulé. Un solénoïde (26, 28) respectif est monté sous chaque surface (12, 14) d'utilisation pour créer un impact, de façon sélective, contre la surface associée, afin de donner à l'utilisateur concerné la sensation que son véhicule simulé est frappé par un projectile. Chaque utilisateur est assis en face d'un moniteur vidéo (42, 44), et chaque moniteur est relié électriquement à un ordinateur (74, 76) respectif. Chaque ordinateur est pourvu d'une carte représentant un espace (48) simulé stocké dans la mémoire électronique