In the lower left is the orientation pod, where visitors purchase travel permits for the ride pods.
In the four ride pods, visitors lie prone in the saddle and steer the creature using voice signals. The pods shift and tilt on a hydraulic motion base.
Riders can travel alone or in groups in the same virtual space. Wind and mist are provided by concealed jets. Full size animated skybaxes hang from the ceiling above.
At center is a robotic Bix, who interacts with visitors waiting for their turn in the ride pods.
The robotic Stegosaurus orients to voices and responds to requests. The rider platform can be installed as a high saddle on a sauropod. The wraparound screen lowers into position.
Why didn't this get built? Well, the engineering for such a concept is prohibitively expensive and prone to failures. But such a concept is probably more fun to dream about than the idea of people on a couch with VR headsets strapped to their faces.
Love your blog. Love your active brain.
ReplyDeleteHi James.
ReplyDeleteYour concept for a Dinotopia ride is fascinating, although as you said, it's expensive to implement. What I find amazing, though, is the level of detail in this sketch which to me approaches that of an oil painting. What size is the original image?
VR does not have to be "on a couch" - indeed, it is shaping up to be the opposite. Modern untethered VR headsets allow you to move around freely within available physical space and interact with the simulated environment.
ReplyDeleteNot that the robotics and animatronics aren't fun... :)