Vertical motion drive system for a ride system

A method for controlling ride vehicle motion of a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride system, the method comprising:

• positioning and securing the ride vehicle on a platform assembly drivingly coupled to a motion drive system, wherein the platform assembly is configured to receive the ride vehicle, wherein the motion drive system comprises an upward drive pulley system configured to drive motion of the platform assembly in an upward direction along a vertical axis oriented along a gravity vector and a downward drive pulley system configured to drive the motion of the platform assembly in a downward direction along the vertical axis;
• and
• coordinating the ride vehicle motion with a plurality of entertainment shows positioned on corresponding levels by vertically displacing the platform assembly;
• wherein coordinating the ride vehicle motion comprises instructing a first entertainment show of the plurality of entertainment shows to execute a first show in response to the ride vehicle being positioned within a first vertical distance range;
• wherein coordinating the ride vehicle motion comprises instructing a second entertainment show of the plurality of entertainment shows to execute a second show in response to the ride vehicle being positioned within a second vertical distance range;
• wherein the second vertical distance range is above the first vertical distance range;
• wherein the ride vehicle is configured to transition from the first vertical distance range to the second vertical distance range in response to the upward drive pulley system driving the motion of the platform assembly in the upward direction, and wherein a clutch system is configured to selectively engage the upward drive pulley system to restrict the ride vehicle motion along the upward direction along the vertical axis;
• and
• wherein the ride vehicle is configured to transition from the second vertical distance range to the first vertical distance range in response to the downward drive pulley system driving the motion of the platform assembly in the downward direction, and wherein the clutch system is configured to selectively engage the downward drive pulley system to restrict the ride vehicle motion along the downward direction along the vertical axis.

An amusement park ride system configured to control ride vehicle motion, the amusement park ride system comprising:

• a ride vehicle of the amusement park ride system configured to transport a ride passenger;
• and
• a motion drive system, comprising:
• a platform assembly comprising a roller assembly, the roller assembly configured to enable motion of the platform assembly;
• an upward drive pulley system drivingly coupled to the platform assembly and configured to upwardly drive the motion of the platform assembly along a vertical axis oriented along a gravity vector;
• a downward drive pulley system drivingly coupled to the platform assembly and configured to downwardly drive the motion of the platform assembly along the vertical axis;
• and
• a clutch system configured to selectively engage the upward drive pulley system and the downward drive pulley system, wherein the motion of the platform assembly is restricted to being along an upward direction along the vertical axis when the clutch system engages the upward drive pulley system, and wherein the motion of the platform assembly is restricted to being along a downward direction along the vertical axis when the clutch system engages the downward drive pulley system.