Mini-Excavator Game Station With Tethered Striker Reset Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in attracting repeat visitors and introducing innovative guest experiences, and there is a need for an amusement attraction that allows users to actively operate complex machinery safely and amusingly.
Innovation Solution
An amusement activity or game station that enables users to operate complex machinery, such as a mini-excavator, to direct a primary striker object into contact with secondary objects, improving object-to-object contact skills through a movable arm, tethered striker object, and a reset mechanism for secondary objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional amusement rides are used, then guests can passively experience the attraction, but users cannot actively operate complex machinery to improve object-to-object contact skills
Solution Approach 1:
The complex machinery is segmented into a simplified control system with a moveable arm and striker object, allowing users to operate only the essential components needed for the game while maintaining safety and manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to independently operate the machinery themselves rather than requiring professional operators or passive ride experience, allowing active engagement with the control mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If a movable arm with tethered striker object is used, then users can accurately target secondary objects, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A tether element acts as an intermediary between the moveable arm and the striker object, allowing the striker to swing freely for accurate targeting while maintaining connection to the control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable arm is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing it to pivot and position itself accurately toward target objects while the tethered striker provides additional degrees of freedom for precise contact
3Duration of action of stationary object
If secondary objects are resettable, then the game can continue indefinitely, but additional reset mechanism components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The reset mechanism is designed to automatically return secondary objects to their initial positions after being struck, allowing the game to continue indefinitely without manual intervention or complex resetting procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary objects are designed to be easily resettable, allowing them to be returned to their initial state after use, enabling continuous play without permanent modification or complex recovery mechanisms
4Adaptability or versatility
If the amusement station is designed for transportability, then it can be moved to various locations, but the structure must be more compact and modular
Solution Approach 1:
The amusement station is divided into modular components that can be easily assembled and disassembled for transport, allowing the structure to be compacted while maintaining all necessary functional elements
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates universal features that allow the same structure to serve multiple locations and purposes, making the station adaptable to various venues while maintaining a compact transportable form
Data Source
AI summary
An amusement activity station enables a user participant to operate complex machinery to direct a primary striker object into contact with at least one secondary target object to promote complex machinery-based, object-to-object contact skills. The amusement activity station includes a complex machine component and a secondary object contact station. The complex machine includes a user position station, a user-to-machine interface, and a moveable member. The moveable member is movable relative to the user position station by way of the user-to-machine interface as manually operated by the user participant. The secondary object contact station includes the secondary target object(s). The moveable member is directable toward the secondary target object(s) for contacting the same via the primary striker object as attached to the moveable member. A reset mechanism resets the secondary target objects from moved or fallen positions to original or upright positions.