Rotating Loading Platform Gates Synchronized to Ride Vehicle Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing guest traffic in amusement park attractions with continuously moving ride vehicles and rotating loading platforms is challenging, particularly ensuring passengers enter and exit ride vehicles at appropriate times.
Innovation Solution
A gate system with gates positioned on a rotating loading platform that open and close based on the relative position of ride vehicles, using feedback from gate activation systems to synchronize with vehicle positions, ensuring alignment and speed matching to facilitate safe and efficient passenger loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the loading platform rotates continuously to accommodate passenger flow, then productivity is improved, but it becomes difficult to ensure passengers enter and exit at appropriate times
Solution Approach 1:
The gate system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that rotates with the loading platform. The gate's rotational movement is synchronized with the platform's rotation, allowing it to maintain proper alignment with ride vehicles throughout the loading process while continuously accommodating passenger flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and detection mechanisms that monitor the position of ride vehicles relative to the gate. This feedback information is used to control the gate's opening and closing actions, ensuring the gate only opens when a vehicle is properly positioned, thus maintaining safety while enabling continuous operation
2Reliability
If the gate remains closed to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but passenger loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate system is positioned and oriented in advance during platform rotation so that it is already in the correct position to open when the vehicle arrives. The platform's continuous rotation pre-positions the gate relative to approaching vehicles, eliminating waiting time while maintaining safety through controlled opening only when properly aligned
3Productivity
If the gate opens continuously to improve loading speed, then productivity is improved, but safety control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gate opening action is controlled by feedback from vehicle position sensors. The gate only opens when the detection system confirms a vehicle is properly positioned at the loading point. This feedback-controlled mechanism allows the gate to remain closed most of the time for safety, while opening quickly and automatically when loading conditions are met, thus improving speed without compromising safety
Data Source
AI summary
Present embodiments are directed to a gate system for an amusement park attraction. The gate system includes a loading platform configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform, and a gate positioned on the loading platform. The gate is configured to transition between a closed position and an open position. A gate actuation system is coupled to the loading platform and is configured to actuate the gate between the closed position and the open position based on feedback indicative of a position of a ride vehicle relative to the gate.