Star Wars motion simulator?

[SorcererGrandma]

We went on the Star Wars ride last week and I'm curious how they manage to achieve a sense of motion? It didn't seem like the ride actually moved along rails or anything and yet there was this feeling like gravity was increased as the scene displayed the shuttle picking up speed. Pretty neat effect. So am I wrong? Does the ride actually move like a roller coaster or something? If not, how to they achieve that feeling?

 

[loveofamouse]

The ride is a simulator. There are no tracks. You are in a room suspended about 16ft off the floor on 16(?) hydraulic lifts. The effect of speed is acheived by the simulator tipping the room upward so you are thrown back in your seat while the screen shows you images that indicate speed(stars streaking by, etc).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Tours

 

[erasure fan1]

They tilt the simulator back so you feel pressure like if you were accelerating.

 

[Jerm]

It looks like this from the bottom as you move all around!

 

[SorcererGrandma]

Ah cool. The effect is so well done that I had no idea that I was being tilted back like that. Had I known this, however, I wouldn't have been so willing to put my camera under the seat where it was in contact with some nuts and bolts. I'm so glad it didn't get damaged. You'd think they'd have a suspended bag like Soarin does.

 

[SorcererGrandma]

Thanks for the great picture, Jerm. That really clears up exactly how everything is done.:sohappy:

 

[loveofamouse]

It looks like this from the bottom as you move all around!

I remember, as a kid, going on a tour at WoL at epcot. We were taken to an observation area under the Body Wars sim. I believe they told us there were 4 pumps for each corner but I could be wrong. It was really cool to see, though

 

[StageFrenzy]

I miss back in the day when you could watch the seaworld simulator in action

 

[Jerm]

I remember, as a kid, going on a tour at WoL at epcot. We were taken to an observation area under the Body Wars sim. I believe they told us there were 4 pumps for each corner but I could be wrong. It was really cool to see, though

That is a star tours sim, so the BW was the same set up.

 

[mp2bill]

I remember, as a kid, going on a tour at WoL at epcot. We were taken to an observation area under the Body Wars sim. I believe they told us there were 4 pumps for each corner but I could be wrong. It was really cool to see, though

I think you're right...one for front, back, left, and right.

 

[loveofamouse]

No, we saw pumps on the corners, not in the middles. I wish I had a pic but that was back in the 90s.

 

[Kamikaze]

Ah cool. The effect is so well done that I had no idea that I was being tilted back like that. Had I known this, however, I wouldn't have been so willing to put my camera under the seat where it was in contact with some nuts and bolts. I'm so glad it didn't get damaged. You'd think they'd have a suspended bag like Soarin does.

Its not rough at all. Its quite tame. For a few months, anyway.