What Makes a Roller Coaster Smart?

The smartphone has transformed cell phones into mini-computers that can be used for a wide variety of purposes with more and more additional functions. The decisive factor is the use of software, which makes the device incredibly flexible and versatile.
Roller coasters work with computer hardware like cell phones - what could be the next step in the evolution towards the smart coaster?

An excellent basis for this is the complete control of the ride via software as implemented in powered coasters and especially in Spike coasters. The control system knows the position of the vehicle at all times during the ride (to the centimeter in the case of Spike) as well as its exact operating status. On all other roller coasters, however, the control system loses contact with the vehicle outside the station and only receives information about its position at the block brakes or other mechatronic elements.

The advantages of precise and consistent position information and software-controlled motion are manifold. They can make the roller coaster ride comfortable and interesting for both the passenger and the operator:

• Accurate vehicle positioning and control in the station without additional friction wheel drives etc.
• Precise triggering of events depending on the vehicle position, e.g. sound and show effects, animatronics or photo shooting. When recording video, it is possible to follow the vehicle with great precision  by panning the external cameras.
• Ride profile can be set by the operator, e.g. intensive riding for thrill-seekers and reduced speed for children
• For racing and dueling coasters, precise and varied control of the racing behavior of the individual vehicles. Who is ahead and who wins can be controlled differently and even interactively.
• Simple integration of additional ride effects such as reversing or slow driving in show sections for exciting storytelling, can even be added later if required
• Fine-tuning of the ride profile to optimize and further adapt the ride experience
• Easy expandability of the ride, be it with additional trains or longer track

Further advantages result from knowing the exact operating status of the vehicle:

• All safety functions, such as the seat safety system, are not only checked at the station, but monitored throughout the ride. This makes it possible to react immediately to unusual events, resulting in a significant increase in safety.
• All existing and additionally installed sensors are permanently monitored and can be used for evaluations.  Changes in sensor values indicate problems and can be used to carry out maintenance work on the component at an early stage and prevent major damage ("predictive maintenance"). For example, wear and/or temperature monitoring of the wheels could be considered.

A real smart coaster shows its strengths in all areas of the user experience (UX). This includes the continuous control of sound and light effects on the vehicle during the ride as well as the possible integration of interactive gaming elements, ranging from shooting and selection buttons or touchscreens for the passenger to interactive influencing of the ride, such as adjusting the seat position or taking over the speed control.

As with a smartphone, the Smart Coaster has interfaces (API) to the world outside the roller coaster so that external systems such as show control or maintenance apps etc. can be easily integrated. Video systems, such as those supplied by Maurer Rides for the Spike Coaster, can benefit from the capabilities of the Smart Coaster and produce a perfectly edited video from different camera angles. The Smart Coaster video system not only generates additional revenue for the operator fully automatically, but also provides evidence similar to a dashcam in a car in the event of complaints from passengers.

The smart concept should cover the entire life cycle of the ride and provide smart solutions for as many areas as possible. For example, in addition to a comprehensive, AI-supported maintenance app and easy-to-use e-commerce platform for identifying and ordering spare parts, Maurer Rides also offers extensive e-learning material for many maintenance and operator tasks.

Last but not least, a Smart Coaster should also be a Green Coaster and make full use of today's possibilities for manufacturing and operating a sustainable product. A 20% higher electrical efficiency and energy recuperation during braking of an assumed one third leads to only half the energy consumption and a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Maurer Rides has already been able to implement many measures with the publication of a comprehensive sustainability report, intensive efforts with regard to resource efficiency and the considerable energy savings with the Spike Launch System.

The similarity between the characteristics of a smart coaster as outlined here and the Spike system is not just coincidental. In fact, Spike is the first and currently the only roller coaster system that meets the above requirements. Software already makes many hardware components superfluous in this product, making Spike an extremely flexible and powerful system.
Over the last 10 years, Maurer Rides has also transformed itself from a traditional mechanical engineering manufacturer into a smart coaster producer  and now employs 25% of its workforce with young and enthusiastic talents who are exclusively involved in software development and automation.
Just as the smartphone has become standard in cell phones, roller coasters will also become increasingly smart in the future.