Amusement ride vehicle with pneumatically actuated cabin and motion base

An amusement ride vehicle, comprising:

• a. a frame;
• b. a pneumatic motion platform operatively connected to the frame, the pneumatic motion platform comprising:
• i. a deck;
• ii. a base;
• iii. a plurality of inflatable actuators attached to at least one of the deck or the base at predetermined locations intermediate the deck and the base, the plurality of inflatable actuators adapted for use as an active motive force with respect to the deck;
• iv. a plurality of compliant stabilizers disposed intermediate the deck and the base, at least one portion of each compliant stabilizer disposed proximate a predetermined one of the plurality of inflatable actuator;
• and
• v. a fluid controller in fluid communication with the plurality of inflatable actuators;
• c. a source of fluid in fluid communication with the fluid controller;
• d. a cabin operatively secured to the pneumatic motion platform, the cabin adapted to contain a human being;
• and
• e. a ride controller, operatively in communication with the fluid controller.

An amusement ride system, comprising:

• a. a track;
• b. an amusement ride vehicle adapted to traverse a predetermined portion of the track, the amusement ride vehicle further comprising:
• i. a frame;
• ii. a pneumatic motion platform operatively connected to the frame, the pneumatic motion platform comprising:
• (1) a deck;
• (2) a base;
• (3) a plurality of inflatable actuators, attached to at least one of the deck or the base at predetermined locations intermediate the deck and the base, the plurality of inflatable actuators adapted for use as an active motive force with respect to the deck;
• (4) a plurality of compliant stabilizers disposed intermediate the deck and the base, at least one portion of each compliant stabilizer disposed proximate a predetermined one of the plurality of inflatable actuators;
• and
• (5) a fluid controller in fluid communication with the plurality of inflatable actuators;
• and
• iii. a source of fluid, operatively in fluid communication with the fluid controller;
• iv. a cabin adapted to contain a human being;
• and
• v. a rotator adapted to controllably rotate the cabin;
• c. a ride controller, operatively in communication with the fluid controller and the rotator;
• and
• d. a station adapted to accept the amusement ride vehicle and to allow ingress and egress of human beings into and out from the amusement ride vehicle.

A method of providing, for independent, simultaneous motion of a deck mounted to a base, the motion in three axes, comprising:

• a. providing a plurality of inflatable actuators at predetermined locations of a base;
• b. attaching each inflatable actuator to a corresponding location a deck;
• c. providing a fluid controller adapted to selectively inflate or deflate each inflatable actuator independent of each other inflatable actuator;
• and
• d. producing pitch, roll, and heave motion of the deck by the combined and relative operation of the plurality of inflatable pneumatic actuators being selectively inflated or deflated.

A method of providing an amusement ride system, comprising:

• a. providing an amusement ride vehicle, the amusement ride vehicle comprising:
• i. a deck;
• ii. a passenger seat mounted to the deck;
• iii. a lap bar disposed proximate the passenger seat;
• iv. a turntable mounted to the deck on a side of the deck opposite a side of the deck on which the passenger seat is mounted;
• v. a multiple degree of freedom pneumatic motion base mounted to the turntable;
• b. providing a station for ingress and egress of people into and out from the amusement ride vehicle;
• c. during guest loading, positioning the lap bar within at least one of (i) a forward wall of the amusement ride vehicle or (ii) a flooring pocket of the amusement ride vehicle;
• d. propelling the amusement ride vehicle about a track along a predetermined path under the guidance of a programmable controller;
• and
• e. actuating the motion base under the control of the programmable controller by selectively adding or removing a fluid from at least one inflatable pneumatic actuator positioned at a predetermined portion of the motion base.