Round ride systems and methods

Abstract

A round ride system includes a center wheel, a first drive system configured to drive rotation of the center wheel, and multiple spokes coupled to the center wheel. The round ride system also includes multiple ride vehicles, wherein each ride vehicle of the multiple ride vehicles is coupled to a respective spoke of the multiple spokes. The round ride system further includes a second drive system configured to independently drive each spoke of the multiple spokes in a circumferential direction relative to the center wheel to adjust respective angles defined between respective pairs of adjacent spokes of the multiple spokes.

1 . A round ride system, comprising:
 a center wheel;   a first drive system configured to drive rotation of the center wheel;   a plurality of spokes coupled to the center wheel;   a plurality of ride vehicles, wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles is coupled to a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes; and   a second drive system configured to independently drive each spoke of the plurality of spokes in a circumferential direction relative to the center wheel to adjust respective angles defined between respective pairs of adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes.   
     
     
         2 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises a respective first end portion connected to the center wheel and a respective second end portion positioned radially outwardly from the respective first end portion, and each spoke of the plurality of spokes is configured to couple to at least one ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles at the respective second end portion or at an attachment area located between the respective first end portion and the respective second end portion. 
     
     
         3 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one additional spoke that supports at least one additional ride vehicle and is in a fixed position relative to the center wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , comprising an outer ring disposed about the center wheel, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises a first end portion that is coupled to the center wheel via a respective movable connection and a second end portion that is supported on the outer ring. 
     
     
         5 . The round ride system of  claim 4 , wherein the second drive system comprises a plurality of bogies configured to travel along the outer ring at different rates over a ride cycle, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises the second end portion that is coupled to a respective bogie of the plurality of bogies to enable the different rates to independently drive each spoke of the plurality of spokes in the circumferential direction relative to the center wheel to adjust the respective angles defined between the respective pairs of adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         6 . The round ride system of  claim 4 , wherein the second drive system comprises a plurality of bogies configured to travel along the outer ring, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises the second end portion that is coupled to a respective bogie of the plurality of bogies via a key-slot interface. 
     
     
         7 . The round ride system of  claim 4 , wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises a respective ride vehicle trolley that is configured to slide along a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         8 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , comprising a ride controller configured to provide instructions to the first drive system and the second drive system to coordinate movement of the plurality of ride vehicles with a show set. 
     
     
         9 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an outer ring, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises a respective first end portion that is coupled to the center wheel and a respective second end portion that is coupled to a respective bogie configured to travel along the outer ring and that is part of the second drive system;   a third drive system that comprises a plurality of ride vehicle trolleys that are configured to slide along the plurality of spokes to move a respective ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles along a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes; and   a ride controller configured to provide instructions to the first drive system, the second drive system, and the third drive system to coordinate movement of the plurality of ride vehicles with a show set.   
     
     
         10 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises a respective ride vehicle actuator system that is configured to cause the respective ride vehicle to shake, pitch, roll, rotate, or any combination thereof, relative to a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         11 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles is removably coupled to a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes to enable each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles to be picked up from a first location along a path by the respective spoke of the plurality of spokes, then carried in the circumferential direction by the respective spoke of the plurality of spokes, and then released to a second location along the path by the respective spoke of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         12 . The round ride system of  claim 1 , comprising a platform positioned proximate to the center wheel to facilitate loading of one or more guests into the plurality of ride vehicles, unloading of the one or more guests from the plurality of ride vehicles, or both. 
     
     
         13 . A round ride system, comprising:
 a center wheel;   a first drive system configured to drive rotation of the center wheel;   a plurality of spokes coupled to the center wheel;   a plurality of ride vehicles coupled to the plurality of spokes;   a second drive system configured to independently drive each spoke of the plurality of spokes relative to the center wheel;   a third drive system configured to independently drive each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles along a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes; and   a ride controller configured to provide instructions to the first drive system, the second drive system, and the third drive system to move the plurality of ride vehicles through a show set.   
     
     
         14 . The round ride system of  claim 13 , comprising an outer ring, wherein each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprises a respective first end portion that is coupled to the center wheel and a respective second end portion that is coupled to a respective bogie of a plurality of bogies that are configured to travel along the outer ring and that are part of the second drive system. 
     
     
         15 . The round ride system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of bogies are configured to travel along the outer ring at different rates over a ride cycle to independently drive each spoke of the plurality of spokes relative to the center wheel to adjust respective angles defined between respective pairs of adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         16 . The round ride system of  claim 13 , wherein the third drive system comprises a plurality of ride vehicle trolleys that are configured to slide along the plurality of spokes to move the plurality of ride vehicles along the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         17 . The round ride system of  claim 13 , wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises a respective ride vehicle actuator system that is configured to cause the respective ride vehicle to shake, pitch, roll, rotate, or any combination thereof, relative to a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         18 . The round ride system of  claim 13 , wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles is suspended from a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         19 . The round ride system of  claim 13 , comprising a platform positioned proximate to the center wheel to facilitate loading of one or more guests into the plurality of ride vehicles, unloading of the one or more guests from the plurality of ride vehicles, or both. 
     
     
         20 . A ride system, comprising:
 a loading station;   a round ride system;   one or more paths configured to support movement of one or more ride vehicles from the loading station to the round ride system, wherein the round ride system comprises:
 a center wheel; 
 a first drive system configured to drive rotation of the center wheel; 
 a plurality of spokes coupled to the center wheel; and 
 a plurality of payload portions, wherein each payload portion of the plurality of payload portions is coupled to a respective spoke of the plurality of spokes and is configured to receive a respective ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles from the one or more paths.