Patent Publication Number: US-8968109-B2

Title: Aggressive linear acceleration system (A.L.A.S.) motion ride method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     This application relates to, but not exclusively, fields of roller coasters, motion simulators, and similar thrill rides, and is further relevant to industries of entertainment, manufacturing, automobile and flight simulation, and experimental research. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A current problem plaguing amusement rides, manufacturers have not fully acknowledged nor resolved, is a competing consumption of spatial and temporal resources that limits motion and simulator parameters. Roller coasters, on the one hand, create high accelerations in a short period of time but over long paths of track. Motion simulators, on the other hand, are confined in small spaces but either take considerable time to reach higher accelerations or create incomplete sensations of such motions. The principle technologies of these machines have been known and explored for more than a century; however, none have created a motion ride method to address the problem that this publication identifies and solves. Two patents are identified as prior art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,971 to Alsenz (2005) describes an apparatus for and a method of producing a virtual reality effect of changing acceleration direction and magnitude by rotating a subject relative to a center axis to produce a centrifugal force, rotating the subject relative to a second axis perpendicular to centrifugal force and rotating the subject relative to a third axis perpendicular to the axis perpendicular to centrifugal force, and changing the magnitude of the centrifugal force. 
     W.O. Pat. No. 2,008,081,406 to Romagnoli et al. (2010) describes a machine where the first part has a circular motion with respect to its vertical axis of rotation and is supported by a fixed base, the second part, integral to the first part has a longitudinal movement (horizontal) perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first part, and the third part, integral to the second part, acts as positioning for the user who is subject to the simulator&#39;s effects which has a circular motion with respect to its vertical axis of rotation that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the first part. 
     Objectives and Advantages of the Invention 
     As stated previously, a problem in fields of roller coasters, motion simulators, and similar thrill rides is a competing need for spatial and temporal resources that limits motion and simulator parameters. U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,971 to Alsenz (2005) and W.O. Pat. No. 2,008,081,406 to Romagnoli et al. (2010) are motion simulator designs identified as similar technologies to preferred apparatus described in this application. There are, however, important differences. 
     First, these simulator designs require at least two separate rotational axes. A first axis of rotation runs through a center of a rotating platform. A passenger vehicle, capable of carrying at least one passenger, linearly travels a surface diameter of the rotating platform. A second axis runs through the body of the passenger vehicle. A machine described herein for use of an Aggressive Linear Acceleration System (A.L.A.S.) maneuver operates only the first of these rotational axes through a center of a rotating platform. The absence of a second rotational axis through a body of a passenger vehicle, as presented in accompanying drawings, is a strong distinction between prior art and the A.L.A.S. maneuver, and further reduces manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs. 
     Second, the A.L.A.S. maneuver uses a method of cancellation and addition of radial accelerations neither mentioned nor explored in any prior art. This is accomplished by a driven acceleration; a term defined in this publication as acceleration in a radial direction from a source that is controllable and separate from a centripetal acceleration of a system experiencing rotational motion. Furthermore, driven acceleration with centripetal acceleration represents all radial accelerations of the system. In the second step of the A.L.A.S. maneuver, driven acceleration created in an opposing direction to the centripetal acceleration for a rotating passenger vehicle is defined as negative driven acceleration. Negative driven acceleration execution, in the second step, results in partial to complete cancellation of radial forces. In the third step, driven acceleration created in the same direction as the centripetal acceleration for a rotating passenger vehicle is defined as positive driven acceleration. Positive driven acceleration execution, in the third step, results in addition of radial forces. These changes in magnitude and direction of the driven acceleration are essential for enabling a passenger or passengers, within the passenger vehicle, to experience a full effect of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
     Lastly, prior art publications focus primarily on potential uses of simulator designs for simulated motions, whereas the current application is starkly differentiated from prior art as an established and well defined method to achieve a set of real motions. As a result, the detail of descriptions for use of the A.L.A.S. maneuver as a versatile method applicable to a large variety of technologies and industries is unprecedented in these previous publications, either individually or in combination. 
     Consequently, the A.L.A.S. maneuver removes current spatial and temporal parameter limitations of amusement rides allowing for incorporation of simulation and motion technologies that presently are not viable. For example, roller coasters produce strong and quick linear accelerations but can&#39;t come close to creating a user environment akin to motion simulators that utilize sophisticated digital, audio, and software platforms in a confined space, and vice versa. The A.L.A.S. maneuver, however, makes possible a motion and simulation environment complimentary to both technologies. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current application describes a motion ride method for producing a quick and powerful linear acceleration of a passenger vehicle within a confined space. This solves a current problem in fields of roller coasters, motion simulators, and similar thrill rides, of which there is a contending requisite of spatial and temporal resources that limits motion and simulator parameters. This is accomplished by a method of 1) moving a passenger vehicle, at a constant angular speed about one central axis of rotation, 2) moving the passenger vehicle, at same constant angular speed about same central axis of rotation, and away from central axis of rotation at an increasing speed, and 3) moving the passenger vehicle, at same constant angular speed about same central axis of rotation, and away from central axis of rotation at a decreasing speed, whereby executes the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
     In applications of the A.L.A.S. maneuver, three embodiments are explored using same equations of motion but with varied parameters. Centripetal and tangential accelerations arise from centripetal motion with direction in the radial and tangential paths, respectively. Driven acceleration is created separate and controllable from all other accelerations and in the radial direction. Consequently, step one, of the described method, undergoes a negligible tangential force and negligible net radial force acting on a passenger, or passengers, within the passenger vehicle. Step two undergoes a negligible tangential force and cancelling radial forces resulting in a negligible net radial force acting on a passenger, or passengers, within the passenger vehicle. Step three undergoes negligible tangential force and adding radial forces resulting in a substantial net radial force, creating a sudden and large rise in the net force in the radial direction felt by the passenger, or passengers, within the passenger vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are side and top views, respectively, of a preferred machine in step one of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side and top views, respectively, of a preferred machine in step two of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side and top views, respectively, of a preferred machine in step three of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
         FIG. 5  is a computer program used to calculate kinematic data of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C are graphs for first, second, and third embodiments of the A.L.A.S. maneuver, respectively, and present centripetal, tangential, driven, and net radial accelerations of the passenger vehicle during all stages of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
     
    
    
     ELEMENTS AND FUNCTIONS 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Table of Element Numbers, Characters, and Descriptions 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Element Number/Character 
                 Element Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 101 
                 Rotating platform 
               
               
                 103 
                 Platform track 
               
               
                 105 
                 Central axis of rotation 
               
               
                 107 
                 Passenger vehicle 
               
               
                 109 
                 Passenger 
               
               
                 A 
                 Constant angular speed 
               
               
                 C 
                 Negative driven acceleration 
               
               
                 E 
                 Positive driven acceleration 
               
               
                 G 
                 Centripetal acceleration 
               
               
                 K 
                 Tangential acceleration 
               
               
                 P 
                 Net radial acceleration 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B, a preferred machine for execution of the A.L.A.S. maneuver is presented. In  FIG. 1A  (side view) and  FIG. 1B  (top view), step one of the A.L.A.S. maneuver is displayed. A passenger  109  is within a passenger vehicle  107 . Passenger vehicle  107  rests on a platform track  103 . Platform track  103  lies on the surface of a rotating platform  101  and through a central axis of rotation  105 . Rotating platform  101  has a counterclockwise constant angular speed A. 
     In  FIG. 2A  (side view) and  FIG. 2B  (top view), step two of the A.L.A.S. maneuver is displayed. Passenger  109  is within passenger vehicle  107 . Passenger vehicle  107  has a negative driven acceleration C. Passenger vehicle  107  further has a centripetal acceleration G in opposite direction to, and a tangential acceleration K perpendicular to, negative driven acceleration C. Passenger  109  within passenger vehicle  107  feels a net radial acceleration P of passenger vehicle  107 . Radial motion is guided by platform track  103  of rotating platform  101 . Rotating platform  101  has counterclockwise constant angular speed A. 
     In  FIG. 3A  (side view) and  FIG. 3B  (top view), step three of the A.L.A.S. maneuver is displayed. Passenger  109  is within passenger vehicle  107 . Passenger vehicle  107  has a positive driven acceleration E. Passenger vehicle  107  further has centripetal acceleration G in same direction to, and tangential acceleration K perpendicular to, positive driven acceleration E. Passenger  109  within passenger vehicle  107  feels net radial acceleration P of passenger vehicle  107 . Radial motion is guided by platform track  103  of rotating platform  101 . Rotating platform  101  has counterclockwise constant angular speed A. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the fundamental steps of the A.L.A.S. maneuver are outlined in flowchart form. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a computer program, written in C programming language, presents kinematic modeling of the A.L.A.S. maneuver in procedural form. No part of the code has been modularized for ease of understanding the logic. The values listed in  FIG. 5  are specified to a first embodiment of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. All kinematic values in the computer program are defined according to the International System of Units. 
     In  FIG. 5 , three computational iterations are executed for, and in a same temporal order as, steps of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. Values for centripetal acceleration G, tangential acceleration K, negative driven acceleration C, positive driven acceleration E, and net radial acceleration P, as described above, are calculated as variables centripetalAccel, tangentialAccel, negDrivenAccel, posDrivenAccel, and netAccel, respectively. A distance traveled by passenger vehicle  107  along platform track  103 , per a time period defined as variable stepTime, is computed as variable radialVar. A total distance traveled by passenger vehicle  107  away from central axis of rotation  105  is defined as variable radialPos. Constant angular speed A of rotating platform  101  is defined as variable angularVel. A variable loopValue is an integer increment value for second and third iterations and aids in calculation of negative driven acceleration C and positive driven acceleration E of passenger vehicle  107 . The last calculated acceleration in the program is net radial acceleration P, which for this publication is vector addition of centripetal acceleration G and driven acceleration. Furthermore, driven acceleration has values of negative driven acceleration C in the second iteration and positive driven acceleration E in the third iteration. 
     In  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C, line A is centripetal acceleration G, line B is tangential acceleration K, and line D is net radial acceleration P of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. Furthermore, values for negative driven acceleration C and positive driven acceleration E are plotted on a same line, line C, to represent all values of driven acceleration for the full duration of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. In  FIG. 6A , a graph of centripetal, tangential, driven, and net radial accelerations of a first embodiment experienced by passenger  109  within passenger vehicle  107  during the A.L.A.S. maneuver is presented. In  FIG. 6B , a graph of centripetal, tangential, driven, and net radial accelerations of a second embodiment experienced by passenger  109  within passenger vehicle  107  during the A.L.A.S. maneuver is presented. In  FIG. 6C , a graph of centripetal, tangential, driven, and net radial accelerations of a third embodiment experienced by passenger  109  within passenger vehicle  107  during the A.L.A.S. maneuver is presented. 
     Operation— FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B,  4 ,  5 ,  6 A,  6 B,  6 C 
     In  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B, the A.L.A.S. maneuver is accomplished by sequence of 1) moving passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , at constant angular speed A on rotating platform  101  about central axis of rotation  105  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ), 2) moving passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , at constant angular speed A on rotating platform  101  about central axis of rotation  105  and moving passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , away from central axis of rotation  105  at an increasing speed by negative driven acceleration C ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ), and 3) moving passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , at constant angular speed A on rotating platform  101  about central axis of rotation  105  and moving passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , away from central axis of rotation  105  at a decreasing speed by positive driven acceleration E ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The source of driven acceleration can be a motor in passenger vehicle  107  or platform track  103 , but the essential distinction is that the sources of driven acceleration and centripetal acceleration G are separate so that their vectors exist independently of one another. To this end, these separate radial accelerations are crafted so that they are moving in opposite directions in the second step but moving in the same direction in the third step of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
     In  FIG. 4 , a flowchart presents the sequence of the A.L.A.S. maneuver in which all steps are followed in temporal order of execution and removal of any step would result in losing a full effect of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a computer program models kinematic motions of a first embodiment of the A.L.A.S. maneuver. A main body of the program is displayed from line one to line forty. Lines four through five declare variables centripetalAccel, tangentialAccel, negDrivenAccel, posDrivenAccel, and netAccel for calculation of centripetal acceleration G, tangential acceleration K, negative driven acceleration C, positive driven acceleration E, and net radial acceleration P, respectively. Lines six through ten declare and define variables radialPos, radialVar, angularVel, stepTime, and loopValue, for values of a first embodiment. The variable angularVel is constant angular speed A. The remainder of the program main body is dedicated to three iterations. All iterations calculate accelerations of passenger  109 , within passenger vehicle  107 , as kinematic data. Lines twelve through eighteen execute step one of the A.L.A.S. maneuver, lines nineteen through twenty-eight execute step two, and lines twenty-nine through thirty-eight execute step three. Kinematic values for all variables are calculated exactly as shown. 
     In  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C, three preferred embodiments of the A.L.A.S. maneuver are presented.  FIG. 6A  is a first embodiment of the A.L.A.S. maneuver and is an effect that would be desired for a low acceleration thrill park ride, or similar methods, as net radial acceleration P peaks at approximately 1.75 Gs of force. In this embodiment, value for angularVel is 1.0 rad/s and stepTime is equal to 0.5 s.  FIG. 6B  is a second embodiment of the A.L.A.S. maneuver and is an effect that would be desired for a high acceleration thrill park ride, or similar methods, as net radial acceleration P peaks at approximately 2.85 Gs of force. In this embodiment, value for angularVel is 1.5 rad/s and stepTime is equal to 0.5 s.  FIG. 6C  is a third embodiment of the A.L.A.S. maneuver and is of an effect that would be desired for a military operation of simulation training, or similar methods, as net radial acceleration P peaks at approximately 5 Gs of force. In this embodiment, value for angularVel is 2.0 rad/s and stepTime is equal to 0.5 s. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that three embodiments of the A.L.A.S. maneuver are a consistent and reliable application of a method that solves a current but not fully recognized problem in fields of roller coasters, motion simulators, and similar thrills rides; a competing need between spatial and temporal resources in amusement rides currently limits motion and simulator parameters. Creating a unique three step routine via a system of centripetal and longitudinal motions and utilizing only one central axis of rotation, the A.L.A.S. maneuver produces a quick and powerful linear acceleration of a passenger vehicle over a small period of time and within a confined space, resulting in a quick and powerful force acting upon a passenger, or passengers, within the passenger vehicle. Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the method attain additional advantages of reduced manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs over prior art technologies. 
     The above description provides three embodiments with a preferred machine, however, this does not limit the A.L.A.S. maneuver from operating in other applications and technologies or through additional embodiments. For example, a retracting arm carrying a passenger or passengers, within a passenger vehicle, and connected to and retracting away from a rotating axis could likewise execute the A.L.A.S. maneuver. Also for consideration, smaller scaled versions of the preferred machine employing the A.L.A.S. maneuver could be used in fields of experimental protocols to aid in force analyses or manufacturing to process materials separation. 
     Furthermore, values chosen above for constant angular speed, positive driven acceleration, negative driven acceleration, and other variables, are suggested quantities and proposed operational ranges for accelerations, positions, time and other parameters. Accordingly, the scope of the A.L.A.S. maneuver should be judged only by the content of the claims and their legal equivalents. 
     In closing, it is hoped that manufacturers in fields of roller coasters, motion simulators, and similar thrill rides will fully acknowledge the problem and solution this publication has identified as limitations of motion and simulator parameters by a competing consumption of temporal and spatial resources within fields of amusement rides and the A.L.A.S. maneuver, respectively.