A roller coaster ride includes a pair of spaced apart parallel tracks and a
car assembly. The car assembly includes a superstructure with wheels which
engage the track and a passenger compartment which is coupled to the
superstructure but force-isolated from it by force controlling devices.
According to the presently preferred embodiment, the force controlling
devices include springs and pneumatic cylinders. The pneumatic cylinders
are preferably controlled by an electrically operated pump/valve in
response to signals from the roller coaster operator and/or a computer.
The passenger compartment is preferably provided with a plurality of
sensors for sensing velocity and acceleration as well as the condition of
doors and restraints. According to one embodiment of the invention, the
outputs from sensors are transmitted to the roller coaster operator and
the operator manually activates pumps/valves to alter the forces acting on
the passenger compartment. According to a second embodiment, the outputs
from sensors are transmitted to a central computer which sends signals to
the pumps/valves in response to a program which responds to the sensor
signals. According to a third embodiment, the outputs from sensors are
transmitted to an onboard computer which sends signals to the pumps/valves
in response to a program which responds to the sensor signals.