Ride Vehicle Force Input Control for Interactive Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park attraction systems lack user-controllable ride vehicles that provide customizable and interactive experiences, limiting guest engagement and personalization.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an input device with a rigid physical component and a control system that determines force parameters to control the movement of the ride vehicle based on guest interaction, allowing for user-adjustable rotational and translational movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fixed-program attraction systems are used, then system reliability is maintained, but user customization and interactivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ride vehicle transitions from fixed programmed movement to dynamic user-controlled movement. The control system allows guests to adjust movement parameters (speed, direction, rotation) in real-time during the ride, making the attraction adaptable to individual user preferences while maintaining system reliability through controlled parameter ranges and safety interlocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control system continuously monitors user inputs from input devices and adjusts vehicle movement accordingly. This closed-loop control enables customization while maintaining stability through proportional control algorithms that respond to user commands without causing system instability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user-controllable input devices are added to ride vehicles, then interactivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various input device types (joysticks, buttons, touch interfaces) through a unified control architecture. This universal approach allows different input methods to interface with the same control algorithms, reducing overall system complexity despite supporting multiple interaction modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control system as an intermediary layer between the physical input devices and the ride vehicle's movement mechanisms. This mediator processes user inputs, validates them against safety parameters, and translates them into appropriate motor commands, simplifying the interface between user actions and vehicle responses.
3Measurement precision
If precise force measurement is implemented, then control precision is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical force measurement mechanisms with electronic sensing technologies. Force sensors and load cells convert mechanical forces into electrical signals that can be processed digitally, achieving high measurement precision while reducing mechanical complexity through electronic transduction and digital signal processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
An amusement park attraction system including a ride vehicle comprising an input device, and a control system configured to determine a parameter value associated with a force imparted on the input device. The parameter value includes a value of the force imparted on the input device, a value of a deformation caused by the force imparted on the input device, or both. The control system is also configured to control movement of the ride vehicle of the amusement park attraction system based on the parameter value.