Rotatable Beam Show Element Swap for Faster Ride Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park attractions face challenges in efficiently deploying and resetting show elements to ensure guests in successive ride vehicles can view complete motion profiles within limited time constraints, often resulting in incomplete or reversed viewing experiences.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable beam assembly with motors and tracks is used to control the movement of duplicate show elements, allowing one element to present a motion profile while the other is reset, thereby halving the run-reset time and enabling simultaneous presentation to different vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single show element is used to present motion profiles to guests, then the complexity of the system is reduced, but the time required to reset the show element between successive ride vehicles increases, resulting in incomplete motion profiles being viewed by guests
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the show element functionality into multiple duplicate show elements (first show element and second show element) that can operate independently. While one show element is presenting a motion profile to guests, the other show element can be reset in preparation for the next ride vehicle, thereby reducing the run-reset time and ensuring complete motion profiles are always available for viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple show elements with a shared control system and common mounting structure. The controller can selectively present either the first show element or the second show element based on which one is ready, allowing the system to merge the capabilities of multiple elements while maintaining coordinated operation through a unified control architecture.
2Productivity
If the show element is reset immediately after presenting a motion profile, then the run-reset time is minimized, but guests in successive ride vehicles may view incomplete or reversed motion profiles due to timing constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary resetting of the second show element while the first show element is still presenting to current guests. This advance preparation ensures that when the first show element finishes its motion profile, the second show element is already ready to immediately present a complete motion profile to the next ride vehicle, eliminating waiting time and ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses duplicate show elements that are identical copies of each other, allowing one to be in use while the other is being reset. This copying approach ensures that a complete motion profile is always available for the next ride vehicle, as the reset element can be quickly swapped into position without compromising the completeness of the presentation.
3Loss of time
If duplicate show elements are used to enable simultaneous presentation to different vehicles, then the run-reset time is halved and complete motion profiles are ensured, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system designs the duplicate show elements to be universal and interchangeable, with identical mounting interfaces and control protocols. Both show elements can perform the same function of presenting motion profiles to different ride vehicles, and the controller can selectively activate either element based on readiness, maximizing resource utilization while managing complexity through standardized design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A show system 8 includes a rotatable beam assembly 10 having a rotatable beam 28, a first track 60, a second track 62, and one or more motors 24. The show system 8 also includes a first show element 20 coupled to the first track 60 to enable the first show element 20 to translate along the first track 60 and a second show element 22 coupled to the second track 62 to enable the second show element 22 to translate along the second track 62. The show system 8 further includes a controller 14 communicatively coupled to the rotatable beam assembly 10 and configured to provide control signals to the one or more motors 24 to rotate the rotatable beam 28 to cause the first show element 20 to rotate from a show location 70, 75 to a reset location 71, 74 and to cause the second show element 22 to rotate from the reset location 71, 74 to the show location 70, 75.