Articulable Roller Coaster Seats for Dynamic Viewpoint Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Older roller coasters become less thrilling as riders become familiar with the experience, leading to a decline in excitement and unpredictability, and existing technologies lack efficient methods to modify these rides without replacing the track or structure.
Innovation Solution
The roller coaster features articulable passenger seats that can move between a vertical load/unload position and a reclined ride position, using a seat positioning mechanism to change the passenger's viewpoint from forward to upward, enhancing the thrill and unpredictability of the ride experience without requiring new tracks or structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat back is positioned in a vertical or upright position for loading/unloading passengers, then ease of operation is improved, but the ride experience becomes predictable and less thrilling
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is made dynamically adjustable between a vertical position for loading/unloading and a reclined position for the ride portion, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on operational phase. This dynamic repositioning transforms a static seat into a versatile component that serves different functions at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of the seat back is changed from a vertical parameter (90 degrees to horizontal) to a reclined parameter (obtuse angle greater than 90 degrees to horizontal). This parameter change fundamentally alters the passenger's viewpoint and ride experience while maintaining the same physical seat structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat back is positioned in a reclined position to block rider's view, then thrill and excitement are improved, but ease of loading/unloading passengers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back dynamically switches between reclined and vertical positions based on the vehicle's location on the track. During the ride portion, it maintains a reclined position to block views and enhance thrill. During loading/unloading phases, it returns to a vertical position for ease of passenger transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back undergoes periodic repositioning cycles: reclined during ride portions, vertical during loading/unloading portions. This periodic action between two extreme positions optimizes both ride experience and operational efficiency at different times in the ride cycle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing roller coasters are modified with new design features, then ride excitement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a single degree of freedom (seat back articulation) to existing coaster vehicles, creating a dynamically adaptable ride experience without requiring complete vehicle redesign. This minimal dynamic element transforms a static ride into an adaptable one.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating seat back mechanism can be applied to various existing coaster types and vehicle designs, providing a universal solution that enhances different ride experiences with a single adaptable component rather than requiring ride-specific complex systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A roller coaster with seats articulated between vertical and reclined positions. The roller coaster includes a track with a load/unload portion and a ride portion. The coaster includes a vehicle with a body supported on the track and a passenger seat positioned in the body mounted for articulation between a first position and a second position. The roller coaster includes a seat positioning mechanism coupled to the passenger seat operating while the vehicle is in the load/unload portion to articulate the seat into the first position and operating, prior to the vehicle traveling into the ride portion of the ride path, to articulate the seat into the second position. The passenger seat includes a seat back that is substantially vertical in the first position and is at an obtuse angle in the second position or horizontal position, such that a passenger has an upward point of view during the ride.