Multi-passenger ride vehicle control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional amusement park ride vehicles offer limited passenger control, particularly for multi-passenger vehicles, which follow predetermined paths, resulting in a lack of dynamic experience and adventure.
Innovation Solution
A control system and method for multi-passenger ride vehicles that incorporate multiple user input devices for each passenger to generate feedback, allowing cooperative, competitive, or sequential control of the vehicle's operations, such as steering, acceleration, and obstacle avoidance, enabling dynamic and varied ride experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-passenger control is used in multi-passenger ride vehicles, then the control system is simple, but passenger engagement and dynamic experience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control stations, each assigned to a specific passenger. Each station has its own input devices (steering wheel, pedals, buttons) that can independently control different aspects of vehicle operation. This allows multiple passengers to engage with the ride simultaneously while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with universal interfaces that can accommodate different passenger preferences and abilities. Multiple input devices at each station can be configured to provide various feedback types (visual, auditory, haptic), and the system can adapt to different control modes (cooperative, competitive, sequential) to enhance engagement without requiring completely different control systems for each scenario.
2Ease of operation
If multiple user input devices are added for each passenger, then passenger control and interaction are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple input devices (steering wheels, accelerator pedals, brake pedals, buttons) are merged into integrated control stations positioned at each passenger location. These combined control stations communicate through a unified digital interface to the central controller, allowing complex multi-device coordination while presenting a simplified operational interface to passengers. The merging reduces the effective complexity by consolidating control functions into cohesive units.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface is copied to multiple stations throughout the vehicle, with each station providing the same basic control capabilities (steering, acceleration, braking). This replication allows any passenger to operate the vehicle independently or in combination with others, enhancing ease of operation without requiring complex specialized controls at each position. The standardized copying of control functions simplifies the overall system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control system configured to control a multi-passenger ride vehicle (12), the control system comprising: a controller (70) configured to: receive a first passenger feedback from a first passenger input device (34); receive a second passenger feedback from a second passenger input device (34); select the first passenger feedback, the second passenger feedback, or a combination thereof as a selection; determine a vehicle path (32) using the first passenger feedback, the second passenger feedback, or the combination thereof based on the selection; and control movement of the multi-passenger ride vehicle (12) based on the vehicle path.