How does unlimited energy enable new ride elements?
The basic principle of the Gravity Coaster is that the vehicles roll freely along the track after a single energy supply, be it from a lift or a launch. The design of the ride figures must therefore be based on the current energy state of the vehicle. This means that the vehicles should be able to complete the maneuvers without getting stuck, but should not be overloaded with excessive forces. This raises the question of what would be possible if the vehicle's energy were freely controllable.
Unlike gravity coasters, the vehicles on powered coasters have built-in motors and brakes for permanent speed control. Spike Coasters are additionally equipped with a 100% gear drive that allows the ride speed to be adjusted in all positions, including vertical and overhead. This means that instead of matching the ride element to the energy level, the energy level is optimized to the ride element, eliminating previous design limitations.
Unlimited Energy
This is especially interesting when designing unique landmarks. Thanks to the permanent energy supply, ride figures of any size can be built, creating breathtaking Mega Loops, and overhead figures can be strung together in any order - the energy never runs out. This results in seemingly impossible figures that coaster designers and enthusiasts have always dreamed of, such as the Standing Eight, a Four-Leaf Clover, or spectacular tower structures.
Maurer Rides Concept Shamrock: Watch the Video >
Precise control
There is also great potential in controlling the speed of the ride as riders go through the figures. Vertical Airtime, for example, is a new kind of coaster experience. Here, the speed is slowed down during a vertical ascent to give riders the feeling of weightlessness, similar to an elevator that slows down rapidly during a fast ride to the next stop.
Spiral rides up or down are only made interesting by the speed control, which can be either constant or precisely varied, e.g. to ride through an Airtime Spiral with banking to the outside as a world premiere.
Dramatic effects
Of course, energy and control also help to create a surprising ride sequence. It is common to go forward and backward, but with spike control this becomes a real drama: a backward passage can happen anywhere and spontaneously, so that the passengers never know if and when it will go back. Suddenly, and completely unexpectedly, a hill can no longer be climbed, but the vehicle rolls back and takes another run-up.
Stopping on the track, e.g. at a high point before a fall, also creates tension. What is new is that additional forward and backward movements increase the uncertainty about the direction in which to continue, to the point of bursting.
In general, there are many ways to add surprises to the game. Inclined ascents are well known, where a sudden push at the end provides a thrilling sensation - why not boost on the way down too?
Maurer Rides Concept Tower 55: Watch the video >
Unusual layouts
Braking before the turn and accelerating again after the turn, or even inside the turn with Centrifuge Launch, not only creates more surprises, but also optimizes the layout to save space and fit perfectly into the existing architecture. In general, sensational layout sections can be built that wind their way through tight turns and street canyons, creating a completely new roller coaster experience.
A very important factor for outstanding layouts is the possibility to add a brilliant finale and a highlight in the form of a final big ride figure just before entering the station.
Variations on demand
Depending on the speed, very different forces occur during the ride figures. The speed control can take advantage of this effect and vary the ride experience in a targeted manner, be it for multiple passes in multi-lap operation, with a forward/backward sequence or for specific target groups. For example, a steep turn can be taken either with pure compression or, for thrill-seekers, with increased speed and additional outward pulling lateral forces.
Maurer Rides Concept Giant-8-Loop: Watch the video >
The use of additional energy and its control creates unprecedented coasters that do not have to be characterized by track length or maximum speed, but rather offer maximum attraction and uniqueness through special ride elements.
We are looking forward to exploiting the enormous potential for new and extraordinary roller coasters and to meeting and exceeding the expectations of parks and fans.
