Roller coaster control system
US6170402A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63G7/00
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A dueling or racing roller coaster ride has tracks which approach or cross over each other at near miss locations. A controller system controls the timing of launch of a roller coaster vehicle on each track to better achieve consistent simultaneous arrival of the roller coaster vehicles at the near miss locations, to provide increased thrills and excitement to the riders. The control system determines the loaded vehicle weight via current draw on the track side vehicle motors. The control system generates a vehicle performance parameter, based on past vehicle speed over the track, to compensate for roller resistance and aerodynamic factors. The vehicle weight information and performance parameters are used to determine which vehicle to launch first, and the amount of delay between launching the vehicle on the first track and launching the vehicle on the second track, to better achieve simultaneous arrival at one or more locations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.