Water Ride Vehicle Multi-Stage Effects for Variable Rider Thrills

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water rides in amusement parks often lack variability in thrilling experiences, leading to repetitive sensations for riders, with each experience being the same for all riders regardless of their actions or interactions during the ride.

Innovation Solution

A multi-stage water effect system integrated into water ride vehicles, featuring sensors and water effect devices controlled by a system that adjusts fluid flow and accompanying effects based on interactions, providing a dynamic and immersive experience by simulating boat damage illusions, varying effects, and tailoring experiences to individual riders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional water ride system is used, then the ride operates simply and reliably, but the thrilling experience lacks variability and becomes repetitive for riders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariability of thrilling experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water effect system transitions from a static, pre-programmed operation to a dynamic, adaptive system that responds to real-time sensor feedback. The control system continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts water effect activation accordingly, enabling the ride to adapt its thrilling experience based on actual ride conditions and rider responses, thereby resolving the contradiction between experience variability and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors that detect ride conditions and feed this information back to the control system, which then adjusts water effect activation in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the ride to dynamically adapt its thrilling elements based on actual performance and rider experience, achieving variability without requiring overly complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If all riders experience the same effects, then the system is simple to control, but the experience does not account for individual rider actions or interactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetailoring to individual ridersVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different water effects to different water ride vehicles based on their specific sensor feedback and interaction patterns. Rather than uniform treatment of all riders, the control system selectively activates water effects on individual vehicles that experience specific interactions (such as collisions or near-misses), thereby tailoring the thrilling experience to each vehicle's unique ride conditions while maintaining manageable control complexity through automated differentiation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If multiple water effect devices are activated simultaneously, then the thrill intensity increases, but the energy consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrill intensityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the intensity and activation of water effects based on real-time sensor feedback and the selected stage of operation. Rather than continuously operating at maximum intensity, the control system activates water effects at appropriate moments and intensities corresponding to thrilling ride moments, thereby maintaining high thrill intensity when needed while reducing energy consumption during less critical phases of the ride

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enhances the thrill and surprise for riders by creating a unique and escalating experience for each water ride vehicle, offering new sensations for repeat visitors and varying effects based on interactions, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of water effect devices, each configured to provide a fluid flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP4142901B1Water ride vehicle and water ride comprising a multi-stage water effect system
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4142901B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4142901B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4142901B1 patent drawingFigure 3

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.