Multi-Stage Water Ride Effects With Sensor-Driven Flow Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water rides in amusement parks often provide a repetitive experience for riders, lacking variability and surprise, as the thrilling aspects do not change significantly between visits, and the experience is uniform regardless of rider actions or interactions with the ride course.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage water effect system with water ride vehicles equipped with sensors and water effect devices, controlled by a system that adjusts fluid flow rates and activation based on interactions, creating a dynamic and immersive experience by simulating boat damage illusions, varying effects, and tailoring experiences to individual riders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional water ride systems are used, then the ride experience is simple and easy to operate, but the thrill experience is repetitive and lacks variability for repeat visitors
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water flow rates and activation patterns of water effect devices based on real-time sensor feedback about vehicle position, speed, and rider behavior. This transforms a static water ride into a dynamic experience that adapts to each ride instance, providing variability without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors mounted on water ride vehicles detect position, speed, and interaction data, which feeds back to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to adjust water flow rates and activate effects in real-time, creating a closed-loop system that enhances ride variability while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control
2Adaptability or versatility
If uniform water effects are applied to all riders, then the system is easy to control, but the experience does not account for individual rider actions or interactions
Solution Approach 1:
Different water effect devices are activated at different locations along the ride course based on local conditions detected by sensors. Each vehicle receives customized water effects tailored to its specific position, speed, and rider interactions, creating locally optimized experiences rather than uniform global control
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses onboard sensors in each vehicle to automatically detect rider actions and interactions, then the control system autonomously adjusts water flow rates and activates effects without requiring manual operator intervention. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while enabling individualized experiences
3Power
If multiple water effect devices are activated simultaneously, then the thrill intensity is high, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Water effect devices are activated in periodic sequences rather than continuously, with water flows pulsed at specific intervals synchronized with vehicle position and thrill moments. This periodic activation maintains high thrill intensity during key moments while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates only the necessary subset of water effect devices at any given moment based on real-time sensor data, rather than running all devices simultaneously. This partial action approach provides sufficient thrill intensity for each specific ride situation while minimizing total energy consumption across the system
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-stage water effect system includes a plurality of water ride vehicles. A water ride vehicle of the plurality of water ride vehicles has one or more water effect devices. The multi-stage water effect system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more water effect devices of the plurality of water ride vehicles. The control system activates the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a first fluid flow at a first time. The control system also activates the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a second fluid flow at a second time.