Rotating Lift Ride Vehicle Positioning for Multi-Room Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing amusement park ride systems lack the ability to provide a dynamic and immersive experience by efficiently transporting ride vehicles between rooms with varying vertical positions and orientations, limiting the variety of guest experiences.

Innovation Solution

A ride system incorporating a rotating base and a motion base lift assembly that allows ride vehicles to move in multiple degrees of freedom, including vertical translation, rotation, and lateral movement, enabling insertion into and withdrawal from multiple rooms with varying show elements, enhancing guest interaction and experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional lift system is used to transport ride vehicles, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system lacks the ability to provide dynamic movement and immersive guest experiences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by transforming the static lift system into a dynamic one capable of multiple degrees of freedom. The ride vehicle is equipped with a rotating base that can rotate about the attraction tower, and a motion base lift assembly that enables vertical translation and lateral movement. This allows the system to adapt to different room positions and orientations dynamically, providing immersive guest experiences while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ride vehicle can only move vertically, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot efficiently transport vehicles between rooms with varying vertical positions and orientations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroom interaction capabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the Dimensionality change principle by adding rotational and lateral movement dimensions to the conventional vertical lift system. The motion base lift assembly enables vertical translation along the attraction tower, while the rotating base provides rotational movement around the tower. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the ride vehicle to efficiently access rooms with varying vertical positions and orientations, enhancing room interaction capability without excessive operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ride vehicle enters and exits rooms frequently, then guest experience is enhanced, but the time required for vehicle transport and positioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroom access capabilityVSAvoidtransport time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Continuity of useful action principle by enabling smooth, continuous movement of the ride vehicle between different positions and rooms. The motion base lift assembly provides continuous vertical translation, while the rotating base enables continuous rotational movement. This eliminates discrete stopping and starting operations, allowing the vehicle to efficiently transition between rooms with varying positions and orientations, thereby enhancing room access capability while minimizing transport time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4299152B1Ride with rotating lift
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4299152B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4299152B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4299152B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ride system for an amusement park includes a projection area, where the projection area is configured to display images, a vertical column offset from the projection area, a mount coupled to the vertical column, wherein the mount is configured to vertically translate along the vertical column, an arm coupled to the vertical column via the mount, wherein the arm is configured to rotate about the vertical column, a ride vehicle disposed on the arm, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to carry a passenger and rotate about the vertical column via the arm, and a controller configured to control movement of the ride vehicle. The controller is configured to perform operations comprising positioning the ride vehicle to face the projection area, controlling the mount to cause the ride vehicle to vertically translate along the vertical column to align with a portion of the projection area, and causing the ride vehicle to roll relative to the mount in coordination with a display presented at the portion of the projection area.