A track-based swing ride system providing passengers a unique swinging ride experience. The ride system includes a ride track that supports a moving bogie coupled to the ride track that includes a drive assembly driving the bogie along a ride path defined by the ride track. The ride apparatus includes a pendulum arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the bogie, whereby the pendulum arm is suspended below the ride track and moves along the ride path with the bogie. The ride apparatus includes a passenger vehicle coupled to a second end of the pendulum arm opposite the first end of the pendulum arm. To provide the swinging sensation, the ride apparatus includes a roll driver rotating, concurrently with the drive assembly of the bogie, the pendulum arm about a roll axis extending through the first end of the pendulum arm.

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.

In a rollercoaster trigger system to output a data signal to a control unit for triggering and controlling an event at a predetermined track position, a beacon plate with a certain aperture pattern and a sensor set is provided to send a trigger signal and a data signal to the control unit. The sensor set includes a first and a second trigger sensor which provide together the trigger signal to readout the data of the beacon plate when together simultaneously detecting a first and second trigger aperture of the aperture pattern. A read sensor is provided for reading data from the aperture pattern by detecting a presence or absence of a read aperture. The data signal is obtained by the control unit when the trigger signal is generated.

In a rollercoaster trigger system to output a data signal to a control unit for triggering and controlling an event at a predetermined track position, a beacon plate with a certain aperture pattern and a sensor set is provided to send a trigger signal and a data signal to the control unit. The sensor set includes a first and a second trigger sensor which provide together the trigger signal to readout the data of the beacon plate when together simultaneously detecting a first and second trigger aperture of the aperture pattern. A read sensor is provided for reading data from the aperture pattern by detecting a presence or absence of a read aperture. The data signal is obtained by the control unit when the trigger signal is generated.

A water ride system with a flume that includes one or more sections in which a raft is unguided (except with flume sidewalls) to provide a dynamic experience with side-to-side movement and rotation. Further, the flume is configured to include one or more controlled or guided sections in which a raft is funneled or directed into a keyed guided portion of the ride path and then later released into one of uncontrolled or unguided sections of the flume. A raft includes a keyed guide assembly, mounted upon a lower surface of the raft body, that includes a pair of spaced apart guide members. In a guiding subsection of the flume, the bottom wall or lower surface of the flume includes a raised portion that includes a guideway or groove for receiving the guide assembly, whereby the raft has it directional and rotational movements guided in the flume.

A water ride system with a flume that includes one or more sections in which a raft is unguided (except with flume sidewalls) to provide a dynamic experience with side-to-side movement and rotation. Further, the flume is configured to include one or more controlled or guided sections in which a raft is funneled or directed into a keyed guided portion of the ride path and then later released into one of uncontrolled or unguided sections of the flume. A raft includes a keyed guide assembly, mounted upon a lower surface of the raft body, that includes a pair of spaced apart guide members. In a guiding subsection of the flume, the bottom wall or lower surface of the flume includes a raised portion that includes a guideway or groove for receiving the guide assembly, whereby the raft has it directional and rotational movements guided in the flume.

An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.

An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.

In a rollercoaster trigger system to output a data signal to a control unit for triggering and controlling an event at a predetermined track position, a beacon plate with a certain aperture pattern and a sensor set is provided to send a trigger signal and a data signal to the control unit. The sensor set includes a first and a second trigger sensor which provide together the trigger signal to readout the data of the beacon plate when together simultaneously detecting a first and second trigger aperture of the aperture pattern. A read sensor is provided for reading data from the aperture pattern by detecting a presence or absence of a read aperture. The data signal is obtained by the control unit when the trigger signal is generated.