Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle includes a vehicle chassis that rolls on caster wheels. Pinch drive wheels, driven by on-board electric motors, engage a guide rail and propel the vehicle along a rack. A motion base is positioned on top of the vehicle chassis. A yaw ring is rotatably supported on the motion base. A passenger cabin is mounted on to the yaw ring. A slip ring assembly extends from the vehicle chassis to the passenger cabin, to provide electrical power and audio signals to the passenger cabin. A yaw drive motor turns the yaw ring, allowing the passenger cabin to spin on the motion base, and to provide continuous yaw movement. The motion base provides pitch and roll movements, as well as heave, slip and surge movements.

Abstract: An amusement attraction provides a set transformation effect. The audience watches a presentation in a viewing area. A moveable, open-bottomed flying set piece is located at a raised position above the viewing area. The flying set piece is hidden from the audience when the audience enters the viewing area. The flying set piece is attached to an overhead rigging system. A drive system lowers the flying set piece from the raised position above the viewing area to a lowered position such that the flying set piece surrounds the audience in the viewing area. The audience perceives that they have been transported back to different location within the attraction.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for creating a wave or water vortex effect, a bridge or platform is positioned within a semi-cylinder having a downward facing curved inside surface. Nozzles shoot water onto the curved surface, creating a water layer which follows the curved surface up and around the semi-cylinder. The water layer remains against the curved surface via centrifugal force. A spiral flow path is created by declining the semi-cylinder.