In the past, we have developed various training simulators to virtually experience driving a vehicle, but in 2018 we received a rare request for virtual reproduction. The request was to reproduce the wind that occurs when a vehicle approaches and passes by a person. The request was for railway-related work, but the request was to let people experience the fear of objects being scattered by the impact wind when a vehicle approaches people and encourages them to evacuate during equipment maintenance. The motion base device (see blog 304) that already has a floor that moves up and down to reproduce the sense of balance has already implemented a wind pressure reproduction function using high-pressure air. Based on this, we will try to reproduce the impact wind that occurs near the vehicle when the vehicle approaches, and the negative wind caused by the entrainment that occurs after the vehicle passes.
The unit that reproduces the wind is realized by blowing high-pressure air, which has a proven track record. A large amount of air is required to reproduce the wind for 15 seconds. In order to achieve an air blow for more than 15 seconds, the 25-liter air tank will be increased to 75 liters. In order to reproduce the wind pressure from all around the body, we decided to install air nozzles in three directions. The wind from the front when the vehicle approaches is reproduced by installing three types of nozzles in the front that reproduce a light breeze, a weak wind, and a strong wind, and the three types of wind are realized by adjusting the flow rate. The impact wind created by the vehicle approaching is reproduced with three strengths of wind from the front. The entrainment wind and negative wind that occurs after the vehicle passes are reproduced with air nozzles installed in the lateral and rear directions. The wind was reproduced from three directions to match the VR image of the vehicle approaching, and the negative wind caused by the impact wind and entrainment wind was reproduced. The impact wind experience device when a vehicle approaches using the blow-type wind pressure device described above was realized in 2018 and is being operated to protect the safety of maintenance workers.