UV Ride Vehicle Sanitization for Continuous Park Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning processes for amusement park rides are time-consuming and often performed during off-hours, increasing wait times for guests and potentially exposing them to unsanitary conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sanitization system using ultraviolet light sources positioned along the ride path to sanitize ride vehicles as they travel, activated by a control system that detects the vehicle's position, ensuring guests are not exposed and allowing continuous operation during park hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning processes are used for ride vehicles, then thorough sanitization can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and increases guest wait times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning processes with an automated ultraviolet light sanitization system. The UV light sources are positioned to illuminate ride vehicles as they pass through a sanitization station, eliminating the need for manual wiping or spraying while achieving thorough sanitization of all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The sanitization system operates continuously as ride vehicles pass through the station during normal park hours. The control system activates UV lights when vehicles are detected, allowing multiple vehicles to be sanitized in sequence without interruption to ride operations, thereby maintaining continuous sanitization action without increasing guest wait times.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning is performed during off-hours to avoid guest exposure, then guest safety is maintained, but productivity decreases and wait times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated UV sanitization system replaces manual cleaning processes, enabling operation during park hours without guest exposure. The system uses sensors to detect when ride vehicles are present and automatically activates UV lights only when vehicles are in the sanitization zone, eliminating the need to close rides for cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The sanitization system serves itself by automatically detecting ride vehicles and activating UV lights without human intervention. The control system monitors vehicle presence and manages the sanitization process autonomously, allowing continuous operation during park hours without requiring staff to stop rides for manual cleaning.
3Loss of time
If manual cleaning is performed during park hours, then wait times are reduced, but guests may be exposed to cleaning processes and chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes chemical-based manual cleaning with physical ultraviolet light sanitization. UV lights effectively kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces without requiring chemical cleaners, eliminating guest exposure to cleaning chemicals while maintaining sanitization effectiveness during park hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV sanitization system operates continuously during park hours, sanitizing ride vehicles as they pass through the station without interruption. This continuous operation eliminates wait times associated with manual cleaning while using a safe, non-chemical method that does not expose guests to harmful substances.
4Productivity
If automated UV sanitization is implemented, then operation during park hours is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves multiple functions: detecting ride vehicle presence, timing UV light activation, and ensuring safety protocols. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated control system rather than separate complex subsystems, the overall device complexity is managed while enabling operation during park hours.
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
The system efficiently sanitizes ride surfaces during operation hours, reducing wait times and enhancing guest experience by continuously maintaining cleanliness without guest interference.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet light source configured to transmit ultraviolet light toward a surface of the ride vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitization system for an amusement park includes a sanitization station disposed along a ride path of a ride of the amusement park. The sanitization station includes a housing configured to receive a ride vehicle as the ride vehicle travels along the ride path, an ultraviolet light source configured to transmit ultraviolet light toward a surface of the ride vehicle, and a control system configured to detect a position of the ride vehicle along the ride path and to activate the ultraviolet light source when the control system determines that the ride vehicle is positioned at a first particular position relative to the housing.