Abstract: A free-ranging ride vehicle for an amusement park ride. The vehicle includes a vehicle base supporting a passenger compartment. The vehicle includes a drive system with a support platform supporting the vehicle base. The drive system imparts a set of motions including translation, cornering, sway, and heave to the support platform and, in turn, to the vehicle base and passenger compartment. The drive system includes first, second, and third leg assemblies each with a rigid leg pivotally coupled at an inner end to the support platform and supporting a wheel at an outer end. Drive motors are mounted on the legs above the wheels to, independently and concurrently, rotate the wheels and change the directional offset angle of each wheel.

Abstract: A whip ride is provided for amusement parks. A platform is provided with a guide slot extending through the platform. A drive assembly is positioned beneath the platform and includes a drive member (e.g., drive cable) moving on a constrained path. A track follows a path horizontally offset from the drive path. The drive assembly includes a bogie or drive truck mounted on the track and pivotably linked to the drive member to be driven by the drive member. A passenger whip vehicle is provided on the platform upper surface and pivotably attached via a connector extending through the guide slot to the bogie. The bogie path includes inside and outside curves, and the bogie track is vertically offset from the drive member such that its path may crossover the drive member to vary the horizontal offset and to locate the bogie track on either side of the drive member.

Abstract: A whip ride is provided for amusement parks. A platform is provided with a guide slot extending through the platform. A drive assembly is positioned beneath the platform and includes a drive member (e.g., drive cable) moving on a constrained path. A track follows a path horizontally offset from the drive path. The drive assembly includes a bogie or drive truck mounted on the track and pivotably linked to the drive member to be driven by the drive member. A passenger whip vehicle is provided on the platform upper surface and pivotably attached via a connector extending through the guide slot to the bogie. The bogie path includes inside and outside curves, and the bogie track is vertically offset from the drive member such that its path may crossover the drive member to vary the horizontal offset and to locate the bogie track on either side of the drive member.