Acceleration attenuation systems and methods

Abstract

A ride system may include a ride vehicle having a chassis and a seating area that supports one or more passengers. The ride system may also include an attenuation device mechanically coupled between the seating area and the chassis. The attenuation device may attenuate a first acceleration, relative to a reference frame, of the seating area compared to a second acceleration, relative to the reference frame, of the chassis in response to the first acceleration meeting or exceeding a threshold acceleration.

1 . A ride system comprising:
 a ride vehicle comprising a chassis and a seating area, wherein the seating area is configured to support a passenger; and   an attenuation device mechanically coupled between the seating area and the chassis and configured to attenuate a first acceleration of the seating area, relative to a reference frame, compared to a second acceleration of the chassis, relative to the reference frame, in response to the first acceleration meeting or exceeding a threshold acceleration.   
     
     
         2 . The ride system of  claim 1 , comprising a locking mechanism configured to, when engaged, resist a relative motion between the seating area and the chassis at least until a shear force, corresponding to the threshold acceleration, between the seating area and the chassis is met. 
     
     
         3 . The ride system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a locking mechanism configured to, when engaged, resist a relative motion between the seating area and the chassis; and   a control system configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism so as to allow relative motion between the seating area and the chassis.   
     
     
         4 . The ride system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism in response to determining that a collision of the ride vehicle has occurred or in response to estimating that a future collision of the ride vehicle will occur within a future time period. 
     
     
         5 . The ride system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to determine that the collision has occurred or to estimate that the future collision will occur based on sensor data of one or more accelerometers of the ride system, one or more radar sensors of the ride system, one or more optical sensors of the ride system, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The ride system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism in response to a local stop control signal from an input device accessible to the passenger, a network stop control signal, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The ride system of  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a shear pin configured to break at a threshold shear force between the seating area and the chassis. 
     
     
         8 . The ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the seating area comprises a seat coupled to the chassis via the attenuation device. 
     
     
         9 . The ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the attenuation device comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The ride system of  claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a magnetorheological fluid, and wherein the ride system comprises a control system configured to adjust an attenuation amount of the hydraulic cylinder by regulating an electrical current to an electromagnet that applies a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 maintaining, via a locking mechanism, a secure coupling between a seating area of a ride vehicle of a ride system and a chassis of the ride vehicle;   releasing, via the locking mechanism, the secure coupling; and   attenuating, via an attenuation device, a first acceleration, relative to a reference frame, of the seating area compared to a second acceleration, relative to the reference frame, of the chassis.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising determining, via control circuitry, to release the secure coupling in response to sensor data indicative of the second acceleration of the chassis increasing above a threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the seating area comprises a cabin comprising one or more seats, and wherein the attenuation device is coupled between the cabin and the chassis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the attenuation device is configured to attenuate the first acceleration of the seating area in a longitudinal direction relative to the ride vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first acceleration is a deceleration relative to a previous velocity of the ride vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising, in response to the ride vehicle achieving an at rest state, resetting the attenuation device. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 determining, via a control system, that a collision of a ride vehicle with an obstacle may occur in a future amount of time;   braking, via the control system, the ride vehicle such that a chassis of the ride vehicle decelerates relative to the obstacle; and   activating, via the control system, an attenuation device coupled between a seating area of the ride vehicle and the chassis such that a first peak deceleration of the seating area, relative to the obstacle, is less than a second peak deceleration of the chassis, relative to the obstacle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating the attenuation device comprises unlocking a locking mechanism configured to, when locked, resist relative motion between the seating area and the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising adjusting an attenuation rate of the attenuation device based on a user preference, a weight of a passenger of the ride vehicle, a speed of the ride vehicle, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising not attenuating accelerations less than a threshold acceleration.