A signal synthesizer system includes signal generating detectors for detecting the operating conditions of an engine and applying the signals to at least one analyzer circuit. At least one signal synthesizer combines the output of the analyzer with a control signal from a circuit programmed to generate signals indicative of a particular type of engine operating under the detected conditions. The output of the synthesizer is converted to analog signals and applied to a signal transducer to produce an audible auto output.

To accommodate computer graphics delays, the future position and orientation of a simulated vehicle are predicted in an operating sequence by separate coordinated models that are fed data signals indicating the operator's control actions. The control actions are extrapolated to provide further data signals. A suspension model and a nonlinear chassis model operate sequentially with a road model to provide one reference-state input to a prediction model. Other inputs to the prediction model are from the drive train and steering extrapolation units controlled by driver inputs.

Apparatus for vehicle driving simulation including a cabin capable of being swivelled and having therewith a screen, control devices and the driver's seat, from where the road picture can be observed and controlled. The cabin is capable of being swivelled around an axis which is parallel to the viewing direction and above the center of gravity of the driver. The cabin is driven by a power drive dependent upon the signal of the centrifugal acceleration via a control amplifier and by use of a measuring device, a tipable back which is driven by a power drive dependent upon the acceleration signal via a control amplifier, elastic buffers which support the driver's seat and a vibrator which is intermittingly switched on dependent upon the rotation signal via a frequency divider and a control amplifier.

A heads-up display system for a road vehicle, comprising sensors for detecting the motion related parameters of the vehicle, computer for predicting the motion of the vehicle, and a heads-up display for displaying information within the view of the driver of the vehicle. The computer converts the predicted motion of the vehicle into an image display on the heads-up display so as to permit the driver to see the image display in a certain relationship with his view as he looks ahead of the vehicle. Thus, the driver can gain useful information on the motion of the vehicle such as limit turning trajectories and braking distances so that he can operate the vehicle more easily and more sensibly than was possible heretofore. The heads-up display preferably comprises a projector for projecting an image display on the windshield of the vehicle.

A device for simulating a ride of a road. The device comprises several range wedge generators, each of which generate two rows of spots on the screen of the monitor, meeting at the horizon and being symmetrical to the middle of the road; ceiling area pair generators, plate area pair generators, wall area pair generators for the representation of equidistant rectangular or nearly rectangular areas in the road picture; control devices for these area pair generators; random access memories which store the abscissas of these areas; rectangle generators; a write-read memory storing the abscissas of the middle of the road, line select signals and rectangle coordinates; a digital computer for the computation of the horizontal and vertical movement of the road picture; and a column-and-line-generator, several multipliers, a generator for select pulses, an object coordinate computer, and a partner behavior computer.