Multi-Axis Amusement Ride Seats for Varied Thrill Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement rides lack variety and excitement, as most variations are based on established principles and do not provide diverse and surprising thrills for riders.
Innovation Solution
An amusement ride design featuring a rotatable structure with gondolas that rotate about a first axis and support locations traveling in a vertical plane, along with seats that rotate independently about their own axes, providing multiple layers of motion and thrill through a combination of rotations around different axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seats are arranged in groups undergoing the same movements, then the ride provides coordinated motion and stability, but the ride experience lacks variety and excitement
Solution Approach 1:
The ride system segments the seats into independent rotational units. Each seat can rotate independently about its own axis (third axis) while the entire gondola rotates about a second axis, and the support location travels in a vertical plane about a first axis. This segmentation allows each seat to provide individualized rotational motion, creating diverse and surprising thrills for riders while maintaining the coordinated motion of the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic motion by allowing seats to rotate freely about their own axes under the influence of gravity, independently of the rotation of other seats. This dynamic independence enables varying speeds and directions for each seat, creating an adaptable and exciting ride experience that responds to gravitational forces and centrifugal effects during the ride operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple axes of rotation are implemented, then rider excitement and ride complexity increase, but the mechanical complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-axis rotation system is segmented into three distinct rotational levels: (1) the rotatable structure rotating about a first axis with support locations traveling in a vertical plane, (2) the gondola rotating about a second axis, and (3) individual seats rotating about their own third axes. This segmentation simplifies the control architecture by treating each rotational level as an independent subsystem, making the complex multi-axis mechanism more manageable while maximizing rider excitement.
Solution Approach 2:
The seats are designed to rotate freely about their own axes under the influence of gravity, which reduces the need for complex active control mechanisms. The dynamic interaction between gravitational forces, centrifugal forces, and the rotational motions creates the desired thrill experience while simplifying the control system compared to fully actively-controlled multi-axis rotation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design offers a complex and thrilling ride experience with cumulative sensations from multiple axes of rotation, enhancing rider excitement and scale, and can be configured for varying speeds and directions, increasing overall ride complexity and enjoyment.
Implementation Method 1
each of the seats is spaced from the second axis of rotation and, in use, rotates freely about its own, third axis of rotation under the influence of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pair of arms 11 are mounted diametrically opposite one another on a hub 13 carried on a main support tower 14. The arms 11 rotate around the hub 13 about a first axis 19 (arrow A, Fig 1). Each of the arms 11 carries at its outer end a gondola 16 with seats (163) 163 for riders. The arms 11 rotate in a vertical plane so that the gondolas 16 travel in a circular path that has a component of vertical movement. Each gondola 16 has a main support 161 connected to an end of an arm 11, such that the support 161 rotates about a second axis 165 (arrow B). The support 161 branches out into eight curved branches 162, each extending radially outwardly. A seat 163 is mounted at the end of each curved branch 162, such that the seat 163 can rotate about its own axis 168 (arrow C). Riders 164 are secured safely in the seats (163) 163 by harnesses. The combination of variable rotations about the different axes 19, 165 and 168 affords a thrilling ride.