As a Ride Restraint Design Team Captain with Gator Theme Park Engineering and Design, I led a team of 10 to design a class-5 type ride restraint as denoted in ASTM F2291 standards. Specifically, the goal of the team was to make a full-scale test seat that would act as if it were in the station of a roller coaster. Due to budget constraints, our coaster seat would not be able to withstand class-5 G-forces but it would have the redundancies and locking mechanisms required of a class-5 restraint.
The project began with me leading the team in a three-week design sprint to design an initial concept for our ride restraint. After conveying the long-term goal of the project and constraints, I guided the team to ask important questions about the project. Some examples of concepts that were noted through these questions were keeping in mind how we can make the ride restraint accessible and what kind of restraint system we would use to meet our constraints. Research was then conducted on existing restraints and restraint systems. Afterwards, everyone on the team brainstormed potential solutions using their research, additional brainstorming activities, and group discussions. Solution sketches and prototypes were then made, concluding the sprint.
We ultimately decided on an over the shoulder lap-bar ratcheting restraint with multiple redundant measures within the ratcheting system. From this point forward, I led the mechanical team in modeling the parts we needed to manufacture and research the parts we would need in order to assemble our restraint. I also coordinated the schedule for the mechanical, software, and controls teams to ensure everyone was staying on track to finish by the end of Spring 2024.
This is an ongoing project. We are currently in the design phase of the project. This includes designing and modeling our test seat as well as designing and programming our control system and panel.