Rotating platform coaster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11883757-B2
Application number	US-202117374749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2021
Priority date	Apr 1, 2019
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

A ride system for an amusement park includes a platform of the ride system that rotates about a guide axis along a direction of travel of the platform. A motion system is included and drives movement of the platform. One or more seats are coupled to the platform, wherein the one or more seats move with the platform and relative to the platform. At least one sensor detects a position of at least one seat of the one or more seats and provides data indicative of the position. A controller receives the data indicative of the position and controls the motion system to rotate the platform about the guide axis based on the data indicative of the position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ride system for an amusement park, comprising:
a platform of the ride system configured to roll about a guide axis, the guide axis representing a direction of travel of the platform;
a motion system configured to drive movement of the platform;
one or more seats coupled to the platform, wherein the one or more seats are configured to move with the platform and relative to the platform;
at least one sensor coupled to the one or more seats and configured to detect movement of the one or more seats with respect to the platform and provide data indicative of the movement of the one or more seats; and
a controller configured to receive the data indicative of the movement of the one or more seats and control the motion system to roll the platform about the guide axis based on the data indicative of the movement of the one or more seats.

2. The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more seats comprise a plurality of seats and wherein a first seat of the plurality of seats is configured to translate along the platform relative to a second seat of the plurality of seats.

3. The ride system of claim 1 , wherein at least one seat of the one or more seats is coupled to the platform via a gimbal system.

4. The ride system of claim 1 , comprising: an interactive component configured to be controlled by a guest positioned in at least one seat of the one or more seats; and a target positioned off of the platform within the ride system and configured to be activated by the interactive component.

5. The ride system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive feedback from the interactive component, the target, or both based on activation of the interactive component; and
control the motion system to reposition the platform based on the feedback.

6. The ride system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one seat of the one or more seats is a seat associated with the guest, and wherein the controller is configured to detect activation of the target and assign points or a reward to the guest based on the activation.

7. The ride system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more seats comprise a plurality of seats and the controller is configured to select the at least one seat associated with the guest to control the motion system.

8. The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to roll about an additional axis, wherein the additional axis is transverse to the guide axis.

9. The ride system of claim 8 , wherein the platform is configured to travel along a ride path of the ride system on a bogie, the ride path including a turn positioned adjacent a false extension of the ride path, wherein the controller is configured to control the motion system to rotate the platform about the additional axis as the bogie traverses the turn.

10. The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more seats comprise a plurality of seats and each seat of the plurality of seats is configured to move along the platform relative to each remaining seat of the plurality of seats.

11. A ride system, comprising:
a platform configured to rotate about a first axis, tilt about a second axis, or both;
a first actuator configured to rotate the platform about the first axis;
a second actuator configured to tilt the platform about the second axis;
a plurality of seats coupled to the platform and configured to rotate about the first axis with the platform, move directionally with respect to the platform, move upwards or downwards with respect to the platform, rotate about a third axis with respect to the platform, or any combination thereof;
a sensor configured to detect a position of at least one seat of the plurality of seats with respect to the platform; and
a controller configured to control the first actuator to rotate the platform and control the second actuator to tilt the platform based on the position of the at least one seat with respect to the platform.

12. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to select the at least one seat from the plurality of seats for position-based control of the first actuator and the second actuator based on performance of an interactive component associated with the at least one seat.

13. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein each seat of the plurality of seats is slidably engaged with the platform and configured to slide relative to each remaining seat of the plurality of seats.

14. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein the first actuator comprises a gear assembly driven by a motor.

15. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein the second actuator comprises a pivot assembly having a pivot structure and a plurality of telescoping actuators coupled to the pivot structure.

16. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein the platform is configured to travel along a ride path of the ride system on a bogie, the ride path including a turn positioned adjacent a false extension of the ride path, wherein the controller is configured to control first actuator to rotate the platform about the first axis as the bogie traverses the turn.

17. The ride system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator based on a position of the platform within the ride system.

18. A ride system, comprising:
a platform configured to rotate about a guide axis;
a first seat coupled to the platform and a second seat coupled to the platform, wherein the first seat and the second seat are configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform, move directionally relative to the platform, move upwards or downwards relative to the platform, rotate about an axis transverse to the guide axis, or any combination thereof;
a first sensor coupled to the first seat, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a first position of the first seat;
a second sensor coupled to the second seat, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a second position of the second seat; and
a controller configured to control the rotation of the platform based on the first position of the first seat, the second position of the second seat, or both.

19. The ride system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rotation of the platform based on the first position and not the second position when a first performance value assigned to a first interactive component associated with the first seat exceeds a second performance value assigned to a second interactive component associated with the second seat.

20. The ride system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the first seat to move relative to the second seat along the platform based on the first position, the second position, or both.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Hall Gregory S
• Mcveen Keith Michael

Classifications

• A63G33/00

  Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A63G31/14 Primary

  with planes mounted on springs; with movable planes · CPC title

• A63G31/08

  with looping, hopping, or throwing motions of the substructure · CPC title

• A63G7/00 Primary

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• A63G31/04

  with jolting substructures · CPC title