Resistance control systems and methods for amusement attractions

A ride system, comprising:

• a ride vehicle comprising a spring plate and a plurality of spring columns engaged with the spring plate, wherein the spring plate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider, and each spring column of the plurality of spring columns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight of the rider;
• a virtual reality (VR) device;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the VR device, wherein the controller is configured to operate the VR device based on movement of the spring plate and the plurality of spring columns.

A resistance control system of an amusement attraction, the resistance control system comprising:

• a spring plate, wherein the spring plate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider;
• a plurality of spring columns engaged with the spring plate, wherein each spring column of the plurality of spring columns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight of the rider, and each spring column of the plurality of spring columns comprises a helical spring and a cable extending within the helical spring;
• and
• a plurality of locking devices, wherein each locking device of the plurality of locking devices is configured to selectively secure a corresponding spring column of the plurality of spring columns at a respective adjusted height during a ride cycle of the amusement attraction, and a respective locking device of the plurality of locking devices is configured to capture the cable of a respective spring column of the plurality of spring columns to retain the helical spring of the respective spring column at the respective adjusted height.

A resistance control system of an amusement attraction, the resistance control system comprising:

• a spring plate, wherein the spring plate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider;
• a plurality of spring columns engaged with the spring plate, wherein each spring column of the plurality of spring columns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight of the rider;
• and
• a plurality of locking devices, wherein each locking device of the plurality of locking devices is configured to selectively secure a corresponding spring column of the plurality of spring columns at a respective adjusted height during a ride cycle of the amusement attraction, and the plurality of locking devices are ratcheting devices that are each configured to secure a respective ribbed end of a rigid or flexible elongate shaft of each spring column of the plurality of spring columns.