Simulator ride

Simulator rides are a type of amusement park ride, where the audience is shown a movie while their seats move to correspond to the action on screen.

History

Until recently, constructing simulator rides was an expensive, high tech business. The first simulators were built to train military pilots. Long before the days of virtual reality, the view through the cockpit came from remote video cameras which moved on gantries above physical model landscapes. These model landscapes were huge, often the size of aircraft hangars. By the mid-nineties, computer virtual reality graphics replaced most physical models in simulators. Today's flight training simulators, like NASA’s, have virtual landscapes projected on multiple screens giving a 180 degree view. Much simpler simulators, running fixed video synchronised to the movement of the 'cabin', were introduced in funfairs in the same period. They seat about 12 people and require an operator.

Universal Studios originally invented the motion theater with their attraction The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. Disney uses a similar plan and opened their Star Tours attraction in 1987. Universal's attraction did not open until 1990. This first ride was soon followed by the Back to the Future-themed Back to the Future: The Ride, which opened in 1991 at Universal Studios Florida and was removed in 2007 to make way for The Simpsons Ride.

Motion Theaters

Passenger motion simulators are used as amusement rides with a seating platform remaining parallel to the ground while being moved in a circular motion along a vertical plane. Larger scale motion theaters include "Air Time" at Carowinds, "Corkscrew Hill" at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure, Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Mission: SPACE at Epcot, the new ride The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida, and the now closed Akbar's Adventure Tours in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Motion theaters found in a traveling carnival include the "Yellow Submarine."

Personal simulator rides

More recently, one to two person simulator rides have appeared. These run unattended and some types are interactive, like the original military flight training simulators. Unlike the military, however, most civilian similators are totally passive and have a choice of rides from which the user selects. The most advanced simulators are in totally enclosed capsules giving a much more immersive ride and allowing the person to be fully engaged in the simulation. The more recent two seaters, produced in 2005, have special effects added. These include fans which blast wind on the rider's face as the simulation goes faster, and heaters which heat the cabin when there is a virtual explosion or fire or a similar heat source is displayed on screen. Other effects include vibrations which add to the ride's realism. Due to the exclusivity of this type of simulator ride, there are only a few two seater simulator manufacturers in the world.

The first truly low-cost simulator is perhaps the £5k "Kidicoaster," which swings up and down in sync to a video of a roller coaster.

It is now practical for amateur enthusiasts to develop their own 'low tech' simulator ride. The motion and effects can be controlled by a micro controller (like a Stamp or an Arduino) and the video played on an ordinary DVD player. The micro controller only has to switch the play button on the player and the video and motion will then stay adequately in synch for the duration of the ride.

Installations

• 1987 - Star Tours
• 1989 - Body Wars
• 1990 - The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera
• 1991 - Back to the Future: The Ride
• 1993 - Batman Adventure – The Ride
• 1993 - In Search Of The Obelisk
• 1994 - The Bermuda Triangle
• 1994 - New York Skyride at the Empire State Building
• 1994 - Paramount Action FX Theater
• 1994 - Space Shuttle America at Six Flags Great America
• 1998 - Klingon Encounter at Star Trek: The Experience
• 1999 - The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure
• 2000 - Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu
• 2001 - Batman Adventure – The Ride 2
• 2001 - Soarin' Over California
• 2002 - MaxFlight - Virtual Rollercoaster
• 2003 - Mission: SPACE at Disney's Epcot theme park
• 2003 - Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
• 2008 - The Simpsons Ride
• 2008 - Fly Me to the Moon at Six Flags Great Adventure
• 2010 - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal's Islands of Adventure
• 2010 - Europe in the Air at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
• 2011 - Rocket Ship Theatre at Coney Island AstroWorld
• 2011 - Meteor Attack at the Dufan
• 2011 - Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
• 2011 - Wild Arctic
• 2012 - Despicable Me at Universal Studios Florida