Mini-Excavator Game Station for Safe Object Placement Skills
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in attracting repeat visitors and introducing innovative guest experiences, with existing attractions lacking opportunities for users to actively operate complex machinery safely and entertainingly.
Innovation Solution
An amusement activity or game station that allows users to operate complex machinery, such as a mini-excavator, to pick up and position selectively shaped objects at an object receiver station, enhancing operable machinery skills while providing an entertaining experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional amusement park attractions are used, then guests can passively experience rides, but users cannot actively operate complex machinery to improve operable machinery skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a scaled-down mini-excavator that replicates the essential functions of full-size construction equipment in a safe, manageable size. This copying approach allows children to operate complex machinery skills in a controlled environment without the dangers of full-scale equipment, resolving the contradiction between active operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controlled environment with safety features as an intermediary between the child operator and the potentially hazardous machinery. The mini-excavator serves as a mediator that provides the experience of operating complex machinery while eliminating the harmful aspects through size reduction and controlled design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed amusement park attractions are built, then immersive experiences can be provided, but the attractions cannot be transported to various locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the amusement attraction into modular, separable components that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The mini-excavator and associated structures are designed as independent units that can be transported by standard vehicles and reconfigured at different locations, enabling versatility without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the attraction can transition between different states (assembled and disassembled, transported and stationary). This dynamic design allows the same attraction structure to adapt to various locations and event types, from permanent park installations to temporary carnival settings and private events.
3Reliability
If large construction equipment is used for object placement, then realistic machinery operation experience is provided, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by reducing the size and weight of the excavator to a safe level for child operation. The mini-excavator maintains the essential operational characteristics of construction equipment while using significantly less mass, eliminating the safety hazards associated with full-size machinery while preserving the learning experience.
Data Source
AI summary
An amusement activity station enables a user to operate complex machinery to pick up and position selectively shaped objects in a safe and amusing manner. The amusement activity station includes a complex machine component and at least one object-receiver station. The complex machine includes a user position station, a user-to-machine interface, a moveable member, and a pick-up mechanism. The moveable member is maneuvered relative to the user position station by way of manual operation of the user-to-machine interface. Each object-receiver station includes at least one object-receiving structure. The pick-up mechanism and moveable member are directable for picking up and conveying selectively shaped objects toward the object-receiving structure(s) for positioned placement. The amusement activity station contemplates any number of shapes and sizes of the object-receiving stations and selectively shaped objects, including basically shaped objects and stations as well as irregularly shaped objects and stations.


