Motion-base ride simulator with improved passenger loading and unloading method and apparatus

摘要

A motion-base ride simulator includes a passenger cabin which is carried by a plurality of actuators within a limited operating envelope. During operation of the ride the movements of the passenger cabin simulate G-forces associated with an audio-visual presentation to the passengers within the cabin. The combination of sight, sound, and feeling (i.e., G-forces) provides the passengers of the ride with a sense of riding on a vehicle, such as a racing car or rocket ship. In order to facilitate one or both of passenger ingress and egress of the cabin, the motion base is so associated with a stationary passenger platform that the passenger cabin may be moved to a passenger access position immediately adjacent to but not touching an adjacent edge of this platform. In this passenger access position of the cabin passengers may enter into or leave from the passenger cabin without use of a movable passenger platform. An alternative embodiment of the invention has these same features, but also includes a singular movable passenger platform on a side of the passenger cabin other than the location of the stationary passenger platform and allowing through-flow of passengers during a passenger loading and unloading phase of ride operation. Another alternative embodiment of the invention allows passenger through flow.