Disney Designs Rotating Roller Coaster Car for Guardians of the Galaxy Ride in Epcot

We all know that the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster is well underway in Epcot. But based on some new patents filed by Disney, it looks like the roller coaster cars themselves are going to have some amazing technology allowing them to move in ways never before possible on similar attractions.

The patent is called: “Roller Coaster with Passenger Compartment Motion Powered Through Stored Onboard Energy,” and while the patent doesn’t list the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster in it, this goes perfectly with the innovative designs we’ve already seen for the train cars that were leaked.

This is what the leaked photos of the roller coaster cars being developed for the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster look like:

What this patent talks about are roller coaster cars (or attractions on tracks like a roller coaster) being able to swivel and rotate in directions other than where the track is going, pointing them towards screens and other displays to add even more to theming elements.  This is different than standard, slower moving rides that are already in the Disney parks, which are able to use a power source to perform their movements. This so far is unheard of for a roller coaster-like attraction and this patent would allow riders to see the attraction from different angles each time they rode increasing the re-ride-ability factor and the thrill factor.

The only problem with getting the cars to rotate is they need a power source which is a very complicated process for a whole train full of cars.

The patent explains: “However, it is very difficult to provide bus bar systems that are effective in corners and other sections of the track such as very steep sections where the vehicle is traveling rapidly. Hence, existing designs would not be able to provide any motion of the passenger compartment in many sections of conventional roller coasters as each includes many corners and other sections where it is impractical to provide a bus bar system. Further, track access, maintenance costs and procedures, and vehicle speed cause a bus bar system to be undesirable or even infeasible to implement for a long gravity-based coaster-type experience or ride.“

The design Disney has come up with would allow the vehicle to use both the bus bar charging system for when the vehicle is in motion and a track-based capacitor while it’s at the loading station. Essentially charging up and then storing that energy to make movements when needed on the go.

Here are a few shots of what it looks like:

Throughout the ride there will be multiple charging station, giving it enough energy.

The patent continues: “For example, there may be ten locations along the track where it is desirable to provide yaw or other motions to the passenger compartment, and one of the opportunity charging stations may be provided upstream of each of these ten locations. In other cases, though, each charge provided by one of the opportunity charging stations will be large enough to allow operations of the compartment positioning mechanism in two, three, or more of the locations on the track where motion is programmed in a motion profile or where motion is triggered such as by a flag/triggering element nearby the track.”

This is incredible stuff and will provide new and innovative designs and possibilities to the future Disney attractions. Again Disney didn’t specifically mention Guardians in the patent, but based on the car design and the fact they have said it will include an innovative ride system never before seen before on a Disney attraction, its pretty obvious this will be the first use of this technology.

Don’t forget to check out my latest Disney World Construction Updates including:

• Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster Epcot – Preparation for Panels and Launch Tunnel Come Into Focus
• Tron Roller Coaster Magic Kingdom – Construction Update October 2018, Drainage Canals Re-Routed around the Site
• Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios – Construction Update October 2018 – Buildings Gain Theming Elements and Rockwork
• Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – Millennium Falcon Construction Underway in Disneyland
• Disney Springs – Reimagined World of Disney Store Ready for Grand Opening
• Disney Skyliner Gondola – New Video and Details as Cables Ready to Go Up

Your Thoughts:

I want to know what you think about the patent for rotating roller coaster cars…

• Do you want it to be used in the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster?
• What other features would you like to see included?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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