Modular Amusement Park Architecture for Rapid Hardware Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in efficiently updating attractions due to the increasing sophistication and complexity of modern technologies, leading to increased downtime and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular amusement park system with a multi-layer architecture comprising a game layer, software layer, and hardware layer, utilizing application programming interfaces and wrappers to facilitate seamless integration and communication between hardware components, enabling rapid updates and replacements without substantial system overhaul.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If modern sophisticated technologies are implemented in attractions, then guest experience and expectations are improved, but system complexity increases and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate layers (hardware layer, software layer, game layer) with clear interfaces between them. This segmentation allows independent updates of each layer without affecting the entire system, enabling technological refreshes while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Wrapper APIs are introduced as intermediary components between hardware components and the game layer. These wrappers abstract the complexity of hardware interfaces, providing standardized communication protocols that simplify system integration and enable easier updates of hardware components without affecting higher layers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing attractions are updated with new technologies, then guest experience is enhanced, but maintenance costs and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into independent layers, updates can be performed on specific layers (e.g., software or hardware) without shutting down the entire attraction. The game layer can be updated independently of hardware changes, enabling maintenance during off-peak hours with minimal disruption to operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapper API layer is pre-configured with standardized interfaces that accommodate future hardware updates. When new hardware is introduced, only the wrapper layer needs updating, not the entire system. This preliminary preparation of interface standards enables rapid updates with minimal downtime.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hardware components are replaced or updated, then attraction functionality is improved, but system integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Wrapper APIs serve as intermediary components that standardize the interface between hardware components and the game layer. This abstraction layer handles the integration complexity, allowing new hardware to be added by only modifying the wrapper layer rather than integrating directly with the game logic, thus improving ease of manufacture and integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapper API provides universal interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of hardware components through standardized protocols. This multi-functionality allows the same interface structure to support different hardware implementations, simplifying integration and reducing the need for custom integration code for each hardware type.
Data Source
AI summary
A system in accordance with present embodiments includes an amusement park system having one or more hardware components and a controller. The controller includes a memory device having a game layer and a software layer stored thereon. The game layer includes game logic, and the software layer includes a game API communicatively coupled to the game layer, a wrapper API communicatively coupled to the game API, and multiple wrappers communicatively coupled to the wrapper API. The controller further includes a processor configured to execute instructions to cause the processor to receive a signal indicative of a change in the hardware components, and, based on the signal indicative of the change in the hardware components, communicate with the hardware components via a wrapper to receive an input from the hardware components, or drive operation of the hardware components.