Rotating Dome Ride Cartridges for 360-Degree Immersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current amusement park rides with theater components provide limited immersive experiences as they primarily rely on slight seat actuations and narrow viewing angles, failing to fully engage users in the narrative.

Innovation Solution

A dome ride system that rotates users within a spherical dome in all directions, combined with a media and special effects system, to create a fully immersive experience by synchronizing the narrative with physical rotations and sensory stimulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dome ride system rotates users in all directions within a spherical dome, then the immersive experience and thrill factor are enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmersive experienceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dome ride system is divided into multiple independent cartridges, each capable of holding users and being individually rotated. This segmentation allows the complex rotation function to be distributed across multiple simpler units rather than requiring one complex system to handle all users simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical dome structure serves multiple functions: it provides the rotating platform for users, acts as a projection surface for media content, and creates the enclosed immersive environment. The drive system with spherical induction motors provides both precise rotation control and positioning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple cartridges are used to improve user throughput, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser throughputVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ride system uses multiple identical cartridges that can be independently loaded, rotated, and unloaded. This allows parallel processing of different user groups, increasing throughput while keeping each individual cartridge relatively simple in design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cartridges are pre-loaded with users outside the dome, and multiple cartridges are staged in advance. This preliminary preparation allows continuous operation without waiting for one cartridge to complete its cycle before loading the next group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If spherical induction motors are used to rotate the dome in all directions, then the immersive experience is enhanced, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dome rotation follows periodic patterns that match the narrative content being displayed. The system accelerates and decelerates in sync with the media presentation, rather than maintaining constant high-speed rotation, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining the immersive effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enhances the thrill factor by providing a 360-degree immersive experience, allowing users to feel as if they are part of the narrative, with efficient user throughput through multiple cartridges and a sophisticated drive system using spherical induction motors.

Implementation Method 1

a sophisticated drive system using spherical induction motors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpherical induction motors: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3615159B1Dome theater ride system and method
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP3615159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3615159B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3615159B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dome ride system includes a dome, a cartridge, receptacles of the cartridge configured to secure users, a media system configured to communicate a narrative to the users disposed within the cartridge utilizing an interior surface of the dome to display a visual aspect of the narrative, and a drive system. The cartridge is configured to be disposed within the dome, the dome is engaged with the drive system and configured to rotate in multiple directions about a center of the dome in response to input from the drive system, and the cartridge is configured to be coupled to and rotate with the dome.