Sectors/Solutions | Solutions database | Robocoaster Legoland

ROBOCOASTER LEGOLAND

Starting point / Task definition

The LEGOLAND Park in Billund, Denmark was looking for a new ride that would fit in with its corporate theme: “Hands-on, Minds-on”. It was important that the park’s visitors should not merely get in the ride and sit there, but instead take an active, creative role in the process.

Implementation / Solution

Robocoaster Legoland

The final decision was for ten Robocoasters – the world’s first ride that can be programmed by the passengers themselves. At the same time, the Robocoaster, which is based on the KUKA KR 500 heavy-duty , is the first robot to be approved for carrying human passengers. The visitors can select from various motion profiles and speeds, depending on how brave they want to be. They can choose a gentle, easy-going pace, or reveal what daredevils they are, opting for a totally wild experience, whirling them up, down and sideways through the air. Here they experience considerable g forces: while the positive g force of +1.9 G represents a near-doubling of body weight, the -1.9 G which also occurs provides a sensation of weightlessness. In the steel-structured environment of the hall where the are installed, which is up to nine meters high, smoke and 100 light beam guns, which pulse in different colors, create an unreal science-fiction atmosphere.

The individual passengers use touch-screen terminals to customize their own 90 second long program. A total of 1.4 million combinations are possible. First of all, the two passengers who want to ride together enter their heights. Passengers must be at least 120 cm tall, and the highest program level which is permitted depends on the height of the smaller passenger. In the second step, a profile from level 1 (slow) to level 5 (wild) is selected. Small passengers can only select levels 1 and 2. Then the motion profile is selected. The profiles are the same for all levels, but are carried out more slowly at the lower levels. Furthermore, the Robocoaster is not permitted to swing passengers from 120 to 140 cm upside down. Finally, the passengers receive a coded chip card. Once the card has been inserted in the control terminal of a robot and the passengers have taken their places in the twin seat, the operator enables the ride. First, however, the controller checks if there is a child riding who has selected a program which is only permitted for adults. If this is the case, the controller automatically switches to a lower level.

System components / Scope of supply  Ten Robocoasters  Ten gondolas for two passengers each  Ten retractable platforms used by passengers to board the gondolas  Ten PC-based KUKA robot controllers for the robots and platforms, including control panel with familiar Windows interface  Robot programming  Commissioning

Results / Success  High flexibility Compared with conventional amusement park rides, the high flexibility of the Robocoaster is a major advantage. Using the PC-based KUKA robot controller, new ride sequences can be programmed, in order to update the LEGOLAND software and create an even more attractive ride. New motions would be possible, for example, or even joysticks for steering the ride while it is underway.  Highly cost-effective The Robocoasters are highly cost-effective, since they were no more expensive than other rides in the park, and operate with high availability.