A vehicle motion control system comprising: a sliding surface; a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface; and a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the sliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface.

The invention is a car for a fairground ride with at least one axle arranged on a rotatable carrier structure and a coupling element for coupling a further car, wherein the coupling element is movably mounted and connected to the carrier structure via a mechanical operative connection so that a movement of the coupling element leads to a rotation of the carrier structure and of the wheel axle arranged thereon and a rotation of the rotatable carrier structure leads to a movement of the coupling element, and a method for controlling the rotation of a mounted carrier structure of a wheel axle of a car of a fairground ride with a coupling element for a further car, wherein a position change of the relative position of the car in relation to another is translated into a position change of the coupling element.

The invention is a car for a fairground ride with at least one axle arranged on a rotatable carrier structure and a coupling element for coupling a further car, wherein the coupling element is movably mounted and connected to the carrier structure via a mechanical operative connection so that a movement of the coupling element leads to a rotation of the carrier structure and of the wheel axle arranged thereon and a rotation of the rotatable carrier structure leads to a movement of the coupling element, and a method for controlling the rotation of a mounted carrier structure of a wheel axle of a car of a fairground ride with a coupling element for a further car, wherein a position change of the relative position of the car in relation to another is translated into a position change of the coupling element.

A motion assembly that produces pitch and roll motions includes lower and upper plates. A pivotable coupling having upper and lower shafts extending from its center is coupled between the upper and lower plates. At least two linear actuators are coupled between the plates. Extension and retraction of the actuators pivots the upper plate about the pivotable coupling relative to the lower plate. A vehicle includes two steerable propulsion wheels coupled to a chassis. A lower plate of a pitch and roll assembly, similar to that just described, couples to the chassis via a slew bearing. Seating is coupled to the upper plate. The seating rotates with respect to the chassis via controlled rotation of the slew bearing with reference to the chassis. The seating can be rotated to point in any direction with respect to the chassis regardless of the direction the steerable propulsion wheels move the chassis.

A motion assembly that produces pitch and roll motions includes lower and upper plates. A pivotable coupling having upper and lower shafts extending from its center is coupled between the upper and lower plates. At least two linear actuators are coupled between the plates. Extension and retraction of the actuators pivots the upper plate about the pivotable coupling relative to the lower plate. A vehicle includes two steerable propulsion wheels coupled to a chassis. A lower plate of a pitch and roll assembly, similar to that just described, couples to the chassis via a slew bearing. Seating is coupled to the upper plate. The seating rotates with respect to the chassis via controlled rotation of the slew bearing with reference to the chassis. The seating can be rotated to point in any direction with respect to the chassis regardless of the direction the steerable propulsion wheels move the chassis.

A flying simulator ride in accordance with present embodiments may include a suspended rotator ring capable of motion in six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride may also include a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring wherein the passenger support system includes a first passenger support unit; and a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration.

A flying simulator ride in accordance with present embodiments may include a suspended rotator ring capable of motion in six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride may also include a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring wherein the passenger support system includes a first passenger support unit; and a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration.

An apparatus for magnetic spin control includes a main chassis, a passenger chassis, a circular magnetic array, and a chassis-mounted fin. The main chassis is configured to ride on a track. The passenger chassis is rotatably supported on the main chassis and the passenger chassis is configured to support one or more passengers. The circular magnetic array is coupled to the passenger chassis such that the passenger chassis rotates with the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin is coupled to the main chassis and extends into a magnetic field of the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin includes a conductive material and operates as an eddy current brake to dampen rotation of the passenger chassis with respect to the main chassis. The chassis-mounted fin extends into the magnetic field and leaves at least a portion of the magnetic field unobstructed to allow a track-mounted fin to pass into the magnetic field. The circular magnetic array is configured to interact with a system of track mounted fins. The chassis-mounted fin provides rotational dampening of the passenger chassis, while the track-mounted fin(s) induce or inhibit rotation of the passenger chassis.

An apparatus for magnetic spin control includes a main chassis, a passenger chassis, a circular magnetic array, and a chassis-mounted fin. The main chassis is configured to ride on a track. The passenger chassis is rotatably supported on the main chassis and the passenger chassis is configured to support one or more passengers. The circular magnetic array is coupled to the passenger chassis such that the passenger chassis rotates with the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin is coupled to the main chassis and extends into a magnetic field of the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin includes a conductive material and operates as an eddy current brake to dampen rotation of the passenger chassis with respect to the main chassis. The chassis-mounted fin extends into the magnetic field and leaves at least a portion of the magnetic field unobstructed to allow a track-mounted fin to pass into the magnetic field. The circular magnetic array is configured to interact with a system of track mounted fins. The chassis-mounted fin provides rotational dampening of the passenger chassis, while the track-mounted fin(s) induce or inhibit rotation of the passenger chassis.

A flying simulator ride in accordance with present embodiments may include a suspended rotator ring capable of motion in six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride may also include a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring wherein the passenger support system includes a first passenger support unit; and a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration.