Amusement ride vehicle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION To these ends, the present invention provides an amusement ride vehicle that moves along a track and allows for a passenger cabin to be rotated or pointed to any position.
In a preferred embodiment, an amusement ride vehicle moves through environments created by fixed and dynamic scenery as well as visual effects on projection screens located throughout the ride.
The screens can provide the normal 2-D display, but in a preferred embodiment, the projection screens provide for 3-D display.
The passenger cabin moves in coordination with visual effects provided on the screens, or the fixed and dynamic scenery encountered during the course of the ride.
Sound effects and lighting, as well as other special effects, can also be provided to the passenger cabin to further enhance the ride experience.
The vehicle advantageously includes a motion base connected to a chassis.
The motion base provides, for example, six degrees of freedom using actuators.
The vehicle chassis preferably is guided by a track and provides forward and reverse motion, as well as accelerating and decelerating the vehicle.
Preferably, the track has curvatures that cause the vehicle to move from side to side.
A yaw drive system on the chassis turns the passenger cabin up to 360 degrees, in clockwise or counter-clockwise (bi-directional) rotation with very fine accuracy.
The six degrees of freedom provided by the motion base combined with the 360 degree yaw movement allows for placement of sets, screens, special effects, and other features to be placed in almost any location throughout the course of the ride.
Advantageously, the passenger cabin is rotated or pointed to control the sight lines of the passengers, preventing them from seeing certain areas of the ride or directing their sight to a specific area.
The invention also permits a spinning sensation to be added to the ride, heightening passenger ride experience.