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What’s So Difficult About Controlling Coasters?. Nick Mansur Vice President Scientific Systems Walt Disney Imagineering. Topics. Environment Approach Next Generation. Operational Environment. High Capacity High Availability Continually Changing Operations & Maintenance Staff
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What’s So Difficult About Controlling Coasters? Nick Mansur Vice President Scientific Systems Walt Disney Imagineering
Topics Environment Approach Next Generation
Operational Environment • High Capacity • High Availability • Continually Changing Operations & Maintenance Staff • Site-Dependent Regulations
Political Environment • The Public Believes a Disney Park Is Intrinsically Safe • We Live in a Litigious Society • We’re an Entertainment Company • “Real” Requirements Are Often Subjective
Development Environment • Small Teams • Short Timeframes • Parallel Installation Activities
Hazards • Collisions • Excessive Accel/Decel • Unplanned/Unwanted Motion
Other Considerations • System Initialization • System Repair/Test Modes • Station Operation • Adding/Removing Vehicles • User Interface
Safety Philosophy • Stop If There’s a Problem • “One Way Down the Mountain” • No Reasonable Failure Shall Jeopardize Guest Safety • Integrate Control and Safety
Design Process • Employ the “Right” People • Follow Standards & Procedures • “Two Sets of Eyes”
The Design • Proven Technologies • Redundancy • Checking Algorithms
Disney Ride Control System Architecture Field Equipment Output (sensors, monitors, Cards Input • Each Processor Sees the Same Inputs • Each Processor Runs Identical Software • Only Control Processor Controls Field Equipment • Either Processor Can Remove Power • Sync/Vote Signals Used to Minimize Disagreements Control Processor buttons, switches, Field Equipment Cards etc.) (motors, valves, solenoids, etc.) Power Output Cards Sync, Votes Power Bus Bus Status Controller Sync, Votes Output Cards Monitor Processor Ride Status Message Input Cards System Ride Status
Typical Block Zone Zone 2 Entry Sensor Zone 3 Exit Sensor • At Least One Set of Closed Brakes Between Vehicles • Exit Sensors Control Brake Operation • Entry Sensors Detect Intrusion • Sensor Sequencing and Sensor/Subzone Timing Zone 2 Exit Sensor Zone 3 Entry Sensor Zone 3 Brakes Zone 2 Brakes
The Next Generation • Drive for Bigger “Wow” • Requires More Sophisticated Technology • Increases Complexity • Decreases Comfort Level • California Legislation