Suspended Cable Rig for Six-DOF Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion-providing devices, such as simulator-type apparatuses and suspended camera rigs, have limited ranges of motion due to hydraulic cylinder constraints, are expensive, and require frequent maintenance, while also lacking the ability to provide roll, pitch, or yaw movements.
Innovation Solution
A suspended flying rig system using a plurality of cables attached to a load support, with winch assemblies for selective retraction and deployment, allowing for motion in a three-dimensional space with at least six degrees of freedom, including roll, pitch, and yaw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If hydraulic cylinders are used to provide motion, then force and controlled movement are achieved, but the range of motion is limited by cylinder stroke and the system becomes expensive with high maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The motion system is divided into six independent cable-driven actuators, each controlling a specific degree of freedom. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex six-DOF motion without requiring large-stroke hydraulic cylinders, as each cable can be independently controlled to produce small, precise movements that combine to create large overall ranges of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces hydraulic cylinder mechanisms with a cable-driven parallel manipulator system. This substitution eliminates the stroke limitations of hydraulic cylinders while maintaining force control capabilities, and significantly reduces maintenance requirements associated with hydraulic systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger hydraulic cylinders are used to achieve larger ranges of motion, then motion range increases, but cost and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic control of cable tensions to achieve large ranges of motion. By continuously adjusting the tension in each of the six cables, the system can position and orient the platform anywhere within its workspace without requiring physically large components. This dynamic approach allows small, cost-effective actuators to produce large operational ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable-driven platform can perform multiple functions including positioning, orienting, and supporting various types of camera rigs and motion control applications. This multi-functionality is achieved without requiring different hardware configurations, as the same six-cable system can adapt to different operational requirements through software control.
3Ease of operation
If suspended camera rigs with four cables are used for positioning, then three-dimensional positioning is achieved, but roll, pitch, and yaw movements cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional positioning system (x, y, z coordinates) to a six-dimensional system by adding rotational degrees of freedom (roll, pitch, yaw). This is achieved by strategically positioning six attachment points on the platform and controlling cable tensions to produce both translational and rotational moments, effectively adding three rotational dimensions to the original three translational dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses opposing cable pairs to create balanced forces and moments. By controlling tensions in opposing cables, the system can generate pure rotational moments without net translational forces, enabling precise control of roll, pitch, and yaw while maintaining positional stability.
4Force
If hydraulic systems are used for motion control, then force and motion are provided, but maintenance requirements increase and system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hydraulic systems with a simpler cable-driven mechanism. The cable system requires no hydraulic fluid, seals, or high-pressure components, eliminating the maintenance issues associated with hydraulic systems while still providing sufficient force control through tension management in the cables.
Data Source
AI summary
A ride system including a ride vehicle, the ride vehicle being operable to support a ride patron having a display arrangement for displaying a viewing script to the ride patron during a ride event during which the ride vehicle travels along an event path located within a volume.