Perpetually in search of new theme park thrills? You just might find it with the KUKA RoboSim 4D Simulator, a robotic ride currently being installed for exhibition at the Innoventions Pavilion in Epcot at Disney World, Florida.
At first glance, the rig looks like a giant robotic arm that picks you up and hoists you in the air – like you’d expect them to do before hurling you into the distance to meet your death. Fortunately, it’s not designed to do that. Instead, the two-passenger ride will look to leave you dizzy and disoriented by playing with you like a giant’s newfound toy.
The RoboSim 4D Simulator features a spherical carbon fiber cabin that will seat two passengers, with their legs and arms hanging out. Using six axes and six degrees of directional freedom, the ride can toss you around in a variety of ways, making for an area of movement that – far as I can tell – is unprecedented in theme park rides. It doesn’t stop at high-speed motions either. Inside the cabin, the rider is treated to a mix of high-definition video and audio, along with computer-controlled wind movements, making for a one-of-a-kind simulation that actually involves realistic climate settings.
We’re not sure what the simulation will be about, but Kuka will have plenty to pick from. Personally, I’m hoping it will be Godzilla picking the passengers up and juggling them in the air, before popping them like a popcorn into her fangled mouth. I’m pretty sure that won’t be it, though.
According to the company, the KUKA RoboSim 4D Simulator is TUV certified and integrates numerous safety devices, including smoke alarms, a security camera with mic and temperature monitoring, among others. The installation is set to open to the public beginning tomorrow.
[Press Release via Plastic Pals]