Systems And Methods For Fluid Bearing-Based Translation Systems

Abstract

A fluid bearing system includes a rotor and a linear motor subsystem having a plurality of linear motors that provide a forward thrust to the rotor. The fluid bearing system also includes a fluid bearing subsystem having a plurality of fluid conduits and a pump. Further, the fluid bearing system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fluid outlets and the pump. The control system activates the pump to direct a fluid flow from the plurality of fluid outlets, wherein the provides e a lift force to the rotor via the plurality of fluid outlets that is substantially perpendicular to the forward thrust.

1 . A fluid bearing system, comprising:
 a ride platform;   a linear motor subsystem comprising a plurality of linear motors configured to provide a forward thrust to the ride platform;   a fluid support subsystem comprising a plurality of fluid conduits and a pump; and   a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of linear motors and the pump, wherein the control system is configured to:   activate the pump to direct a fluid flow from the plurality of fluid conduits, wherein the pump is configured provide a lift force to the ride platform via the plurality of fluid conduits.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to:
 receive position information indicating a location of the ride platform; and   open a subset of the plurality of fluid conduits based on the position information.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , wherein the ride platform is configured to support one or more guests within an amusement park attraction. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , wherein the ride platform comprises a support frame physically coupled to a plate, wherein the plurality of linear motors is configured to provide the thrust by providing an electromagnetic field to the plate. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , comprising one or more lateral confinement structures configured to maintain a position of the ride platform along a transverse axis. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , comprising a track that guides the ride platform along in the direction of the forward thrust, wherein the plurality of linear motors is disposed along the track. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid support subsystem and the linear motor subsystem are fixed in position relative to the ride platform. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift force is imparted by a pressure of the fluid flow. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid supply configured to supply the fluid for the plurality of fluid conduits. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid bearing system of  claim 1 , comprising a catchment configured to receive the fluid after the fluid provides the lift force to the ride platform. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid bearing track system, comprising:
 a plurality of track pieces, wherein each track piece comprises a plurality of linear motors;   a fluid support subsystem coupled to the plurality of track pieces and configured to receive and retain a fluid; and   a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of linear motors and the fluid support subsystem, wherein the control system is configured to adjust fluid flow into the fluid support subsystem and an amount of current supplied to the plurality of linear motors.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid bearing track system of  claim 11 , wherein controller is configured to selectively activate the plurality of linear motors of individual track pieces of the plurality of track pieces. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid bearing track system of  claim 11 , comprising one or more sensors positional configured to generate data indicating a position of a ride platform moving along a direction of travel, wherein the control system is configured to activate the fluid support subsystem based on the data indicating the position of the ride platform. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid bearing track system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust the amount of current supplied to the plurality of linear motors such that an average force in a direction of travel along the plurality of track pieces is substantially equal. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid bearing track system of  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of ride platforms disposed on a track comprising the plurality of track pieces, wherein the control system is configured to individually control the plurality of ride platforms. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 determining, via one or more processors, a presence of a ride platform along a track;   adjusting, via the one or more processors, operation of a fluid support subsystem based on the presence of the ride platform to provide an upward force to the ride platform via a fluid emitted by a plurality of fluid conduits; and   adjusting, via the one or more processors, operation of a linear motor subsystem based on the presence of ride platform to move the ride platform along a direction of travel along the track.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting, via the one or more processors, the operation of the fluid support subsystem comprises activating one or more pumps to circulate the fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting, via the one or more processors, the operation of the linear motor subsystem comprises increasing a magnitude of current flowing through the motors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 determining one or more game elements corresponding to guests supported by the ride platform; and   adjusting, via the one or more processors, the operation of the linear motor subsystem based on the one or more game elements.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 adjusting a position of the ride platform along the track based on the adjustment to the operation of the fluid support system and the adjustment to the operation of the linear motor subsystem.