Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of amusement parks. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods utilized to provide amusement park experiences.

Amusement parks often include attractions that incorporate simulated competitive circumstances between attraction participants. For example, the attractions may have cars or trains in which guests race against one another along a path (e.g., dueling coasters, go carts). Incorporating the competitive circumstances may provide an additional entertainment value to the guests, as well as increase variety for guests utilizing the attraction multiple times. However, certain systems may include multiple track sections to create the simulated competitive circumstances, thereby increasing the cost and complexity of the attraction. It is now recognized that it is desirable to provide improved systems and methods for simulated racing attractions that provide enhanced excitement for guests.

<CIT> describes an apparatus for an amusement park including a bogie system positioned on a track to direct motion along the track. The apparatus also includes an arm extending radially outward from the bogie system. The apparatus includes a vehicle positioned on the arm. <CIT> describes a roller coaster with a vehicle rolling under gravity along a track defining a ride path. The vehicle includes a chassis coupled to the track to roll on the track, and a passenger compartment mounted on the chassis. The coaster includes a compartment positioning mechanism that operates to move the passenger compartment between a first position in a passenger load/unload section of the ride path and one or more differing positions in the gravity-based ride section of the ride path.

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are discussed below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus for an amusement park includes a bogie system configured to move along a ride path, a platform coupled to the bogie system, where the platform is configured to rotate about a guide axis with respect to the bogie system, and a plurality of seats coupled to a surface of the platform and configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform, wherein each seat can tilt or rotate with respect to the platform; a sensor configured to detect the tilt or rotation position of a seat with respect to the platform and a controller configured to receive feedback indicative of the tilt or rotation position of the seat from the sensor and to control the rotation of the platform about the guide axis based on the feedback from the sensor.

Attractions at amusement parks that involve competitive circumstances (e.g., racing between riders) may be limited by the physical constraints of the footprint of the attraction and by the amount of control over the ride experience. For example, ride vehicles (e.g., go carts) on a multi-lane track may interact with each other but their interactions are typically based on individual riders and the nature of the experience will thus be limited (e.g., the vehicles are typically configured to run relatively slow in comparison to other amusement park rides). These isolated track sections (e.g., roller coaster tracks) may have individual ride vehicles for riders to occupy during the attraction. Unfortunately, the cost of constructing and operating the attraction may be elevated because of the multiple and isolated track sections. Additionally, the complexity of the control system associated with forming a competitive environment may increase because of the increased amount of variables that are associated with multiple isolated tracks each having individual ride vehicles. Further, having ride vehicles on separate track sections may make it difficult to simulate certain interactions (e.g., one ride vehicle passing another or sharing a lane with another ride vehicle) because the track sections would be required to merge or cross over one another.

Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to facilitating a simulated competitive attraction, in a manner that gives guests the ability and/or the illusion of controlling the outcome of a competition (e.g., a race or a sporting event). As used herein, simulated competition may refer to directing a ride vehicle (e.g., a platform ride vehicle) along a track at variable speeds and enabling a position of seats (e.g., sub-vehicles) that secure guests within the ride vehicle to move with respect to one another. The ride vehicle may include multiple seats (e.g., pods, vehicles, or other features consistent with the theme of the simulated competitive attraction) that may be positioned on a platform configured to rotate with respect to a track or ride path along which the ride vehicle moves. In some embodiments, guests may lean or otherwise adjust their position to cause the platform to rotate. As such, the guests may perceive that movement of a particular guest causes that guest to be positioned in front of other guests with respect to the ride path. In other embodiments, rotation of the platform may be caused by guest interaction with various features positioned along the ride path (e.g., a track). For example, guests may utilize an interactive device on board the ride vehicle and point the device at targets positioned along the ride path, which may allow the guests to collect points when the device is appropriately positioned and/or activated. Guests that collect points may then interact with a feature (e.g., a button, a throttle, a pedal) on the ride vehicle to cause rotation of the platform. In still further embodiments, rotation of the platform may be independent of guest interaction and may occur at various points along the ride path.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the ride path (e.g., a track) may include dead ends that appear to guests as a break in the ride path, which may provide for enhanced excitement to the guests. The ride vehicle (e.g., platform ride vehicle) may approach the dead end in a first direction of movement and rotate to reorient the guests to face a second direction of movement, opposite the first direction of movement. The ride vehicle may then begin moving in the second direction of movement from the dead end along the ride path. Additionally or alternatively, dead ends in the ride path may simulate a boundary of a playing field or other suitable environment that is consistent with the simulated competitive attraction. As a non-limiting example, the ride path may be configured to move the guests proximate to a goal which is positioned at an outer boundary of a playing field. The guests may then attempt to score by making a gesture, using physical components (e.g., a ball), and/or interacting with simulated components (e.g., holograms or images) when positioned proximate to the goal.

Further still, in some embodiments, the ride vehicle (e.g., platform ride vehicle) may be configured to move along the ride path (e.g., track), rotate about an axis that is substantially crosswise to movement of the ride vehicle along the ride path, and/or tilt or move about an axis defining movement of the ride vehicle along the ride path. As such, the ride vehicle may be configured to have multiple degrees of movement to further enhance an experience of the guests. In some embodiments, the seats of the ride vehicle may include a gimbal system that may maintain a position (e.g., viewpoint or perspective) of the guests with respect to movement of the ride vehicle along the ride path (e.g., the guests continuously face the direction of movement of the ride vehicle). For instance, actuators controlling rings of the gimbal system may maintain a perspective or viewpoint of the guests in a direction of movement of the ride vehicle along the ride path. In other embodiments, the gimbal system may be utilized to create additional degrees of movement by moving the individual seats with respect to the platform during the simulated competitive attraction.

With the foregoing in mind, <FIG> illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a ride vehicle <NUM>. The ride vehicle <NUM> includes seats <NUM> coupled to a platform <NUM>, which is configured to move along a ride path <NUM> (e.g., a track) in an operation direction <NUM>. While the illustrated embodiment of <FIG> shows a substantially straight ride path <NUM>, in other embodiments the ride path <NUM> may be arcuate, circular, polygonal, or any other shape that may simulate a road or travel path (e.g., river). For example, the ride path <NUM> may include S-shaped bends and hair-pin turns to enhance the excitement provided to a rider during operation. In certain embodiments, the platform <NUM> may be coupled to the ride path <NUM> via bogies or rollers (e.g., wheels) configured to couple to a structure <NUM> (e.g., a rail, a track, or another suitable component) of the ride path <NUM> to allow movement along the ride path <NUM> in the operation direction <NUM>. In still further embodiments, the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> may be disposed in a slot or groove under a ground surface <NUM> (e.g., a manufactured race surface) such that the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> is substantially hidden from view of the guests. In other words, the structure <NUM> may be blocked from view perspectives of the guests in the seats <NUM> by the ground surface <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the platform <NUM>, and thus the seats <NUM>, are configured to rotate about a guide axis <NUM> in a first rotation direction <NUM> (e.g., clockwise with respect to <FIG>) and a second rotation direction <NUM> (e.g., counter-clockwise with respect to <FIG>). As will be described in detail below, rotation of the seats <NUM> and the platform <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM> may enable adjustment of the position of the seats <NUM> relative to one another, thereby producing the illusion of one seat <NUM> moving ahead of another seat <NUM> in a race or other competitive scenario. Further still, rotation of the platform <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM> may shift a view perspective of the guests with respect to the ride path <NUM>. It will be appreciated that while the illustrated embodiment includes four seats <NUM> positioned on the platform <NUM>, in other embodiments there may be <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more than <NUM> of the seats <NUM>.

Further, in some embodiments, the seats <NUM> may be configured to move with respect to the platform <NUM> along slots <NUM> formed within the platform <NUM>. For example, the seats <NUM> may be coupled to gears, belts, wheels, and/or another suitable device that may enable movement of the seats <NUM> with respect to the platform <NUM> along the slots <NUM>. The seats <NUM> may thus move along the slots <NUM> to provide another degree of movement. As such, the seats <NUM> may be directed along the slots <NUM> in order to change a position of the seats <NUM> with respect to one another and with respect to the ride path <NUM>. For instance, a first seat <NUM> may be generally positioned in front of a second seat <NUM>. However, the first seat <NUM> may be moved in a direction <NUM> opposite the operation direction <NUM> and the second seat <NUM> may be moved in the operation direction <NUM> with respect to the platform <NUM> to move the second seat <NUM> in front of the first seat <NUM> with respect to the ride path <NUM>. As such, a position of any of the seats <NUM> may be adjusted to simulate a given seat <NUM> moving in front of or behind other seats <NUM> with respect to the ride path <NUM> and/or the operation direction <NUM>. While the illustrated embodiment of <FIG> shows the slots <NUM> as linear, in other embodiments, the slots <NUM> may be curved, jagged, or include other features that move the seats <NUM> with respect to the platform <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of a motion system <NUM> configured to drive movement and/or rotation of the ride vehicle <NUM>. The motion system <NUM> is movably coupled to the structure <NUM> (e.g., a pair of rails) of the ride path <NUM> via bogies <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the bogies <NUM> may include or be coupled to motors (e.g., electric motors) that drive rotational movement of wheels <NUM> of the bogies <NUM> and propel the ride vehicle <NUM> along the ride path <NUM> in the operation direction <NUM> (and/or the opposite direction <NUM>). Accordingly, the seats <NUM> and the platform <NUM> may travel along the ride path <NUM> to simulate a race or other competitive environment (e.g., a sporting event). In other embodiments, the bogies <NUM> may move along the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> via gravitational forces and/or any other suitable technique for driving the ride vehicle <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>. Furthermore, a body <NUM> of the bogies <NUM> is coupled to and supports the wheels <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the body <NUM> of the bogies <NUM> may be formed from metals (e.g., steel), composite materials (e.g., including carbon fiber), or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the body <NUM> is coupled to an actuator <NUM> that enables the platform <NUM> to rotate about the guide axis <NUM>, thereby adjusting the circumferential position of the seats <NUM> with respect to the guide axis <NUM>.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the actuator <NUM> includes a gear assembly <NUM> and a motor <NUM> configured to drive rotational movement of the platform <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM>. For example, the gear assembly <NUM> may be a yaw drive that transmits rotational movement between interlocking gears. In some embodiments, the platform <NUM> may be coupled to a guide <NUM> via the gear assembly <NUM> and one or more supports <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is coupled to the bogies <NUM>, and thus, is configured to move along the ride path <NUM> in the operation direction <NUM>. A gap <NUM> may be formed between the guide <NUM> and the platform <NUM>, which may reduce friction between the platform <NUM> and the guide <NUM> as the platform <NUM> rotates with respect to the guide <NUM>. Also, in other embodiments, the actuator <NUM> may be a rotary actuator configured to drive rotation of the platform <NUM> upon receipt of a signal from a control system <NUM>. Rotation of the platform <NUM> may adjust the position of the seats <NUM> relative to one another, thereby providing an illusion of one seat <NUM> passing another during a race or other competitive environment (e.g., sporting event).

In certain embodiments, the platform <NUM> includes sensors <NUM> configured to detect a circumferential position of the platform <NUM> with respect to the guide <NUM>. As such, the sensors <NUM> may also be utilized to determine a circumferential position of the seats <NUM> with respect to the guide <NUM>. For example, the sensors <NUM> may include Hall effect sensors, capacitive displacement sensors, optical proximity sensors, inductive sensors, string potentiometers, electromagnetic sensors, or any other suitable sensor. In certain embodiments, the sensors <NUM> are configured to send a signal indicative of a position of the platform <NUM> and/or the seats <NUM> to the control system <NUM> (e.g., local and/or remote). Accordingly, feedback from the sensors <NUM> may be utilized by the control system <NUM> to adjust the position of the platform <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM> (e.g., when rotation of the platform <NUM> is actuatable).

As mentioned above, the motion system <NUM> may include the control system <NUM> configured to control movement and/or rotation of the platform <NUM>. The control system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> having a memory <NUM> and one or more processors <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be an automation controller, which may include a programmable logic controller (PLC). The memory <NUM> is a non-transitory (not merely a signal), tangible, computer-readable media, which may include executable instructions that may be executed by the processor <NUM>. That is, the memory <NUM> is an article of manufacture configured to interface with the processor <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> receives feedback from the sensors <NUM> and/or other sensors that detect the relative position of the motion system <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may receive feedback from the sensors <NUM> indicative of the position of the platform <NUM>, and therefore the seats <NUM>, with respect to the guide <NUM>. Based on the feedback, the controller <NUM> may regulate operation of the ride vehicle <NUM> to simulate a race or other competition. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the controller <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the motor <NUM> of the actuator <NUM>. Based on feedback from the sensors <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may instruct the motor <NUM> to drive rotation of the gear assembly <NUM>, which may rotate the platform <NUM> and change the position of the seats <NUM> relative to one another.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a pivoting motion system <NUM> that may be utilized to couple the platform <NUM> to the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the platform <NUM> and the guide <NUM> are coupled to a pivot structure <NUM>. The platform <NUM> may be driven to rotate about a ride path axis <NUM> via actuators <NUM> of the pivoting motion system <NUM>. As a result, the guests within the seats <NUM> of the platform <NUM> may be positioned at different locations with respect to an axis <NUM> that is substantially crosswise to the ride path axis <NUM>. In some embodiments, the pivoting motion system <NUM> may enable the platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM> to rotate about the ride path axis <NUM> when the ride vehicle <NUM> approaches a turn or curved portion of the ride path <NUM>, thereby simulating a vehicle steering into the curve.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the pivoting motion system <NUM> includes the pivot structure <NUM> that allows the platform <NUM> and the guide <NUM> to move in a first vertical direction <NUM> and/or a second vertical direction <NUM> via the actuators <NUM>. For instance, the actuators <NUM> may include telescoping arms controlled by motors <NUM> that extend and retract in the first vertical direction <NUM> and the second vertical direction <NUM>, respectively. As such, the actuators <NUM> may adjust a vertical position platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM>. In some embodiments, some of the actuators <NUM> may be extended in the first vertical direction <NUM> while a position of other actuators <NUM> is substantially maintained. Accordingly, the platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM> may be positioned at an angle <NUM> with respect to the pivot structure <NUM> and/or the ground <NUM>. The angle <NUM> may allow the platform <NUM> to be tilted to simulate the ride vehicle <NUM> steering into a curve or other feature of the ride path <NUM>. While the illustrated embodiment of <FIG> shows the pivoting motion system <NUM> having three of the actuators <NUM>, in other embodiments, the pivoting motion system <NUM> may include any suitable number of the actuators <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more than <NUM> of the actuators <NUM>).

In some embodiments, the actuators <NUM> may be coupled to the controller <NUM>, which may activate and/or deactivate one or more of the actuators <NUM> to move the platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM> in the first and second vertical directions <NUM>, <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may receive feedback from sensors <NUM> to determine a position of the platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM> with respect to the pivot structure <NUM>, and send one or more signals to the actuators <NUM> to adjust the position of the platform <NUM> and/or the guide <NUM> to a desired location.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the ride vehicle <NUM> includes the seats <NUM> for guests. The seats <NUM> may include restraints <NUM> (e.g., shoulder restraints, lap bars, seat belts) that secure the guests in the seats <NUM> as the ride vehicle <NUM> moves, rotates, and/or is otherwise manipulated throughout the duration of operation of the ride. In some embodiments, the seats <NUM> may be coupled to the platform <NUM> of the ride vehicle <NUM> via a respective base <NUM> and a respective joint <NUM>. The joint <NUM> may allow rotation of the seats <NUM> with respect to the platform <NUM> of the ride vehicle <NUM> and/or the platform <NUM>. For instance, an actuator <NUM> (e.g., motor) may be coupled to each joint <NUM> to adjust a position of a respective seat <NUM>. In some embodiments, the seats <NUM> may be configured to maintain a position of the guests with respect to the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> (or the ground <NUM>) as the platform <NUM> moves and/or rotates throughout the duration of the ride. Additionally or alternatively, the seats <NUM> may be rotated independently of a position of the platform <NUM>. Further still, the seats <NUM> may be linearly actuated from the platform <NUM> of the ride vehicle <NUM>. For instance, each base <NUM> may include telescoping segments <NUM> coupled to the actuator <NUM>, and thus, allow the seats <NUM> to move toward and away from the platform <NUM> of the ride vehicle <NUM>.

In still further embodiments, the joint <NUM> between the base <NUM> and the seat <NUM> may rotate via interaction by the guests. For example, the guests may shift their weight to rotate the seats <NUM> with respect to the base <NUM>. In some embodiments, guests shifting their weight may also cause the platform <NUM> to rotate and simulate a change in position of the guests (e.g., a change in which a guest appears to be in front of the remaining guests). The movement of the guests may physically cause the platform <NUM> to rotate about the guide axis <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, rotation of one or more of the seats <NUM> may be detected by sensors <NUM>, which may cause the controller <NUM> to actuate the actuator <NUM> (e.g., the gear assembly <NUM> and the motor <NUM>) to rotate the platform <NUM>. Accordingly, interaction by the guests may ultimately cause rotation of the platform <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are schematic diagrams of embodiments of the ride vehicle <NUM> illustrating rotation of the platform <NUM> as a result of interaction by the guests. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, a first guest <NUM>, a second guest <NUM>, a third guest <NUM>, and a fourth guest <NUM> are shown in first position, a second position, a third position, and a fourth position, respectively, with respect to the operation direction <NUM>. As an example of the manner in which the illustrated ride vehicle <NUM> operates, the fourth guest <NUM> may tilt the seat <NUM> by shifting weight forward in the operation direction <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may then tilt toward the operation direction <NUM>, which may be detected by one of the sensors <NUM>. The controller <NUM> receives feedback from the sensors <NUM> and may actuate rotation of the platform <NUM> in the first rotation direction <NUM> and/or the second rotation direction <NUM> in response to the feedback.

Additionally or alternatively, the fourth guest <NUM> may direct a component <NUM> (e.g., a handheld component, a component integrated with the seat <NUM>, and/or another suitable device) toward a target <NUM> positioned along the ride path <NUM> to actuate rotation of the platform <NUM>. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the fourth guest <NUM> may point or otherwise direct the component <NUM> toward the target <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the fourth guest <NUM> may activate a feature (e.g., a light emitting diode) of the component <NUM> to interact with the target <NUM>. The fourth guest <NUM> may collect points based on a position of the component <NUM> with respect to the target <NUM>. For example, the fourth guest <NUM> may receive more points when directing the component <NUM> (e.g., a light beam emitted from the component <NUM>) toward a midpoint of the target <NUM> than when directing the component <NUM> (e.g., a light beam emitted from the component <NUM>) toward an outer perimeter of the target <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to the component <NUM>, the target <NUM>, and/or an intermediate device coupled to the component <NUM> and/or the target <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may then actuate rotation of the platform <NUM> to place the first guest <NUM>, the second guest <NUM>, the third guest <NUM>, and the fourth guest <NUM> into positions corresponding to a number of points collected by the respective guests. Further still, the guests <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may interact with an activator (e.g., a button, a pedal, or a throttle) upon collecting a target amount of points, which may then actuate rotation of the platform <NUM> to place the guest interacting with the activator into the first position.

As shown in <FIG>, the fourth guest <NUM> may be moved into the first position as a result of interaction with the seat <NUM> and/or the target <NUM>. Accordingly, the platform <NUM> rotated approximately (e.g., within <NUM>% of, within <NUM>% of, within <NUM>% of) <NUM> degrees in the first rotation direction <NUM> or the second rotation direction <NUM> as compared to the position of the platform <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. While the discussion above generally focused on guest interaction causing rotation of the platform <NUM>, in other embodiments, the rotation of the platform <NUM> may be based on a position of the platform <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be configured to receive feedback from sensors <NUM> positioned along the ride path <NUM> to determine a position of the platform <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may then actuate rotation of the platform <NUM> based on a position of the platform <NUM> with respect to the ride path <NUM> (e.g., upon detection of the sensors <NUM>). In still further embodiments, rotation of the platform <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM> may be actuated as a result of guest interaction, a position of the platform <NUM> along the ride path, timing between a most recent rotation of the platform <NUM>, an arbitrary parameter (e.g., random rotation), or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the operation direction <NUM> of the platform <NUM> may change along the ride path <NUM>. For instance, the ride path <NUM> may include a dead end <NUM> (e.g., an end or an interruption in the structure <NUM>) that the platform <NUM> may reach when traveling along the ride path <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view of such an embodiment of the platform <NUM> being positioned at the dead end <NUM> in a first position <NUM>. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the platform <NUM> is positioned proximate to a distal end <NUM> of the structure <NUM> (e.g., rails or tracks) of the ride path <NUM>. Upon reaching the dead end <NUM>, movement of the ride vehicle <NUM> and the platform <NUM> may be stopped, such that the ride vehicle <NUM> and the platform <NUM> are substantially stationary and facing the operation direction <NUM>. In other words, the ride vehicle <NUM> and the platform <NUM> stop moving in the operation direction <NUM> along the ride path <NUM> when the ride vehicle <NUM> and the platform <NUM> reach a position proximate to the dead end <NUM>.

Upon stopping at the dead end <NUM>, the platform <NUM> may rotate in the first rotation direction <NUM> or the second rotation direction <NUM> about the guide axis <NUM> to cause the platform <NUM> and the seats <NUM> to move toward a second position <NUM> facing the direction <NUM>. For example, <FIG> is a top view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM>, the platform <NUM>, and the seats <NUM> facing the direction <NUM>. As such, the platform <NUM> in the second position <NUM> is approximately (e.g., within <NUM>% of, within <NUM>% of, or within <NUM>% of) <NUM> degrees from the first position <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The platform <NUM> may thus rotate at the dead end <NUM> to reorient the seats <NUM> and enable the guests to face the direction <NUM>. As such, the ride vehicle <NUM> may then move along the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> in the direction <NUM> to move away from the dead end <NUM> and along the ride path <NUM>. In other embodiments, the platform <NUM> may not rotate to reorient the seats <NUM> and to enable the guests to face the direction <NUM>. As such, the guests may be facing the direction <NUM> as the ride vehicle <NUM> moves in the direction <NUM>, which may provide enhanced excitement to the guests because the guests may not view a course of the ride vehicle <NUM>.

The ride vehicle <NUM> may be directed toward the dead end <NUM> along the ride path <NUM> in the operation direction <NUM> and then redirected from the dead end <NUM> along the ride path <NUM> in the direction <NUM>, opposite the operation direction <NUM>. In some embodiments, the ride path <NUM> may include junctions and/or transitions that enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to be directed along a different structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> in the direction <NUM> as compared to movement in the operation direction <NUM>. For instance, after reaching the dead end <NUM>, the ride vehicle <NUM> may rotate and begin moving in the direction <NUM> toward a junction in the ride path <NUM>. The ride vehicle <NUM> may transition to a different portion of the structure <NUM> of the ride path <NUM> as compared to a portion of the ride path <NUM> in which the ride vehicle <NUM> traveled to reach the dead end <NUM>. Accordingly, the route of the ride vehicle <NUM> may not be the same when traveling toward and away from the dead end <NUM>.

As discussed above, the seats <NUM> may be mounted to the platform <NUM> via a gimbal system to provide additional degrees of movement and/or to maintain a perspective of guests during at least a portion of the ride path <NUM>. For instance, <FIG> is a perspective view of an embodiment of one of the seats <NUM> mounted to the platform <NUM> via a gimbal system <NUM>. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the gimbal system <NUM> includes an inner ring <NUM>, a middle ring <NUM>, and an outer ring <NUM> that may each be configured to rotate about various axes. To facilitate discussion, the gimbal system <NUM> may be described with respect to a vertical axis <NUM>, a lateral axis <NUM>, and a longitudinal axis <NUM>. In some embodiments, the inner ring <NUM> is configured to rotate about the vertical axis, the middle ring <NUM> is configured to rotate about the lateral axis <NUM>, and the outer ring is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In other embodiments, the inner ring <NUM>, the middle ring <NUM>, and the outer ring <NUM> may be configured to rotate about any suitable axis.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of <FIG>, the seat <NUM> is coupled to the inner ring <NUM> via a support beam <NUM>, and thus, the seat is configured to move with the inner ring <NUM>. Further, the outer ring <NUM> is coupled to supports <NUM> that are coupled to the platform <NUM>. The outer ring <NUM> may be coupled to the supports <NUM> via rotatable joints <NUM> that facilitate rotation of the outer ring <NUM> about the longitudinal axis <NUM>. Further, the middle ring <NUM> is coupled to the outer ring <NUM> via rotatable joints <NUM> that enable the middle ring <NUM> to rotate about the lateral axis <NUM>. Further still, the inner ring <NUM> is coupled to the middle ring <NUM> via rotatable joints <NUM> to enable rotation of the inner ring <NUM> about the vertical axis. In some embodiments, the inner ring <NUM> is coupled to the support beam <NUM> via static joints <NUM> that do not enable movement of the support beam <NUM> and the inner ring <NUM> with respect to one another.

In some embodiments, the gimbal system <NUM> may include one or more actuators <NUM> (e.g., motors) that control rotation of the inner ring <NUM>, the middle ring <NUM>, and/or the outer ring <NUM>. Accordingly, the controller <NUM> may be configured to actuate movement of the rings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as the ride vehicle <NUM> moves along the ride path <NUM>. In some embodiments, the gimbal system <NUM> is configured to maintain a position of the seat <NUM> with respect to the ride path <NUM> and/or a direction of travel (e.g., the operation direction <NUM> and/or the direction <NUM>) of the ride vehicle <NUM>. In other embodiments, the gimbal system <NUM> is configured to move the seat <NUM> in any suitable direction or orientation to enhance an experience of the guests. As such, the controller <NUM> may control the actuators <NUM> to adjust the position of the seat <NUM> to provide an additional degree of movement to the ride vehicle <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for an amusement park, comprising:
a bogie system (<NUM>) configured to move along a ride path (<NUM>);
a platform (<NUM>) coupled to the bogie system (<NUM>), wherein the platform (<NUM>) is centered at a guide axis (<NUM>) and configured to rotate about the guide axis (<NUM>) with respect to the bogie system;
a plurality of seats (<NUM>) coupled to a surface of the platform (<NUM>) and configured to rotate about the guide axis (<NUM>) with the platform (<NUM>), wherein each seat of the plurality of seats (<NUM>) is configured to rotate by a same degree of rotation as the platform (<NUM>); wherein each seat (<NUM>) can tilt or rotate with respect to the platform (<NUM>);
a sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to detect the tilt or rotation position of a respective seat (<NUM>) with respect to the platform (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to receive feedback indicative of the tilt or rotation position of the respective seat (<NUM>) from the sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) and to control the rotation of the platform (<NUM>) about the guide axis (<NUM>) based on the feedback from the sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>).