S&S Unveils the Axis Coaster Concept

[I305Evan]

I was under the impression that the rotations are controlled by a motor in the chassis assembly connected via the seat hub connector based on footage of the demo cars being spun while the chassis remains locked into position - therefore all forces could be easily calculable as part of the design phase since the rotation is known in advance.

I don't have anything to cite this, but I am under the impression that the motor is only for display purposes. If you look at the first row, you can see the back is not as large as compared to the back row (bigger bump out behind the seats). Also, it has a pole underneath the seats for the electronics/ restraint system plus a guide wheel that will assumingly assist in the seat leveling once in the station.

In the Coaster Studios video that interviewed one of the S&S reps, they spoke about how they have a simulation to be able to predict the carts movement despite any weight differences in rider or the situation of the single riders. This leads me to believe that it will freely spin and won't have any motors.

 

[Ice]

I would be shocked if this was designed with motors to control rotation during the ride. It is really not complex to allow momentum and gravity to provide predictable rotation, and the motor gearing would have to be insanely robust to fight the forces that would be dealt to these seats by the very momentum and gravity that would cause the rotation anyway. The motor could possibly be to align the seats to horizontal upon arrival at the station and then gearing is switched to open flow during the ride, but the motor continuously operating throughout the ride would be a massive undertaking that would barely impact how confident one could be in the predicted rotation, not to mention add insane cost that would make it much less appetizing to any park.

 

[Jonesta6]

Welp, that makes better logical sense than a demo observation - I stand probably corrected. Now the real questions are who's ordering one, will it be a custom layout, and what will be the propulsion method?

 

[I305Evan]

Well looking at the concept art in this article, the Axis Coaster concept may have been sold. Looking closely at the concept art, there is clearly an Axis train drawn instead of a standard train. Cudo's to Coaster Studio's for pointing this out and certainly interesting/ strange that a FEC overseas would be one of the first buyers. But it seems like this project is far out and it's not official that one has been sold. Hopefully we still see one come here in the states soon.

 

[Jonesta6]

I'm skeptical - it's not impossible, and I'm not saying it's not happening as I know as much as anyone else.

But, how many times has there been concept art of a themed experience that depicts some kind of ride only for the end product to not really match up with the art in various ways?

For all we know the graphic designer is a thoosie and snuck the Axis reference into this design and the FEC gets something else.