Interactive Waterslide System with Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waterslide attractions lack dynamic experiences that incorporate rider skill, agility, and competition, leading to diminished appeal after initial rides, as riders become accustomed to the layout and engage passively with the attraction.
Innovation Solution
A waterslide system equipped with sensors and interactive elements that track rider performance, provide real-time feedback, and reward riders based on their skills, allowing for competitive interactions and personalized experiences, even when riders are not on the slide simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If riders passively interact with the waterslide, then the ride operation is simple, but rider engagement diminishes after initial rides
Solution Approach 1:
The waterslide system transitions from a static, passive experience to a dynamic, interactive one by incorporating sensors that detect rider actions (such as button presses or body movements) and real-time feedback mechanisms that adapt the ride experience based on rider performance, thereby maintaining engagement across multiple rides
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where rider actions are detected by sensors and translated into real-time responses (visual, auditory, or physical), allowing riders to see the impact of their actions and encouraging repeated attempts to improve performance or achieve different outcomes
2Ease of manufacture
If the waterslide layout is fixed, then the manufacturing and setup is straightforward, but riders become accustomed to the experience quickly
Solution Approach 1:
While the physical waterslide structure remains fixed for ease of manufacture, the system introduces dynamic elements through programmable lighting, sound effects, and feedback mechanisms that can be adjusted between rides to create varied experiences without requiring physical modifications to the slide layout
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies ride parameters such as lighting intensity and color, sound volume and type, and feedback timing based on rider performance metrics, allowing the same physical structure to provide diverse experiences through changes in operational parameters
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-time tracking and feedback systems are added, then rider engagement and competition are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional sensors and controllers that perform multiple roles (detection, processing, feedback delivery) to minimize the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining rich interactive capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that acts as a mediator between simple sensor inputs and complex feedback outputs, consolidating processing functions and simplifying the interface between riders and the sophisticated tracking infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
An attraction capable of incorporating user interactivity. The attraction utilizes a slide for supporting a rider, with a ride vehicle or without. The ride vehicle may support one or multiple riders that allows the riders to manipulate its position or other associated elements while on the attraction. Upon manipulating an element, a signal may be transmitted. This signal may aid in determining whether a rider has successfully manipulated the element, for example, at an appropriate time. Sensors along the attraction may also be configured to track the user and/or ride vehicle via determining vicinity of the user and/or ride vehicle at a known location. Various rewards and/or features may be enabled based upon successful manipulation and/or user position. The attraction may include one or more illuminating features. Statistics or other information may be determined, stored, and/or provided (e.g., using mobile applications and/or scoreboards) relating to user performance.