What Makes a Roller Coaster Smart?
Roller coasters work with computer hardware like cell phones - what could be the next step in the evolution towards the smart coaster?
MODULE 04 / CONTROLS & SDD
Software-Defined.
Ride behavior, programmed.
The controls are the onboard intelligence of every Spike system. Software-Defined Dynamics (SDD) makes ride behavior programmable, the safety-rated control monitors all critical functions throughout the entire ride, and updates improve the system continuously - without new hardware.
OPERATING PRINCIPLE
How the Spike controls works
01 / Ride behavior
Ride behavior by software
Speed, stops, reverse runs, and effect triggers are programmable. One track can be a family coaster during the day and a thrill ride in the evening.
02 / Safety
Safety across the whole ride
The onboard control monitors the safety functions including the restraint system continuously - not only during the station stop.
03 / Updates
Updates improve the system
An improvement developed on another Spike system can be transferred. The system gets better with every update - like a smartphone.
THE MODULES IN THIS LAYER
The components
of the onboard intelligence.
Software-Defined Dynamics
The core: the entire ride behavior - speed profile, stops, reverse runs, effect triggers - is defined by software and changeable at any time.
Onboard PLC
The safety-rated control onboard monitors all critical functions throughout the entire ride - not just in the station.
Multimedia PC
Controls the vehicle-integrated show - sound, LEDs, effects - exactly in sync with the vehicle's position.
Software-based headway monitoring
Autonomous headway control instead of fixed block zones - for short dispatch intervals and high capacity.
RELATED MODULES
Working with other layers