Each person sits in a separate mini-carriage, and there's a lever or joystick that lets you control which way you go every time the track forks. You might want to buy a map of the entire coaster network before getting on that ride, so you can plan and see where you're heading.

The choices you can make at each fork or junction means you can literally have dozens or hundreds of different ride experiences. It also means that while some routes are relatively short, others can be longer and more twisted. You can even return to a previous part of the route, thus having the option to repeat the circular route ad infinitum (until you're tired of it and want to get out).

For a quick exit, just press the exit button and the carriage will navigate towards the nearest exit, of which there are plenty and clearly marked so that your fun doesn't end prematurely.
-- baboo, Apr 10 2002

Wouldn't this result in death for the honest, rollercoastering, public? What happens if I want to change route and smash into the back of another pod? And if they're fitted with technology to ensure all carriages remain a minimum distance apart, won't that lead to boring stops and delays as other carriages cross track lines? Why am I suddenly reminded of my train journey home every night?
-- salachair, Apr 10 2002


Limit the number of pods on track simultaneously to 1. No crashes, no waiting time. Probably expensive, though.
-- herilane, Apr 10 2002


Aye. Make it so the tracks don't cross each other.

Better yet, make it so each car takes a different (computer selected) route to the end of the ride. That way you never know which route you're going to take and every ride is a surprise.
-- phoenix, Apr 10 2002


I thought that part of the "joy" of rollercoasters is the lack of control - the fact that, no matter how hard you scream, you *are* going to go upside down again and again and you can't do a n y t h i n g about it. If you can choose where you want to go, well ... meh, what's the point?
-- calum, Apr 10 2002


This is remarkably close to an idea I've resisted posting so far because I continue to harbor the unlikely hope that it might make me money some day. I think my version has some important advantages, though, so maybe I'll keep hoping for a little while longer.
-- beauxeault, Apr 10 2002


If all cars start in a single line on a 'main' starting track, and then if each car travels an exact constant speed, and each juncture of the track is exactly the same length - if one car comes back onto the same span as another car, they'll still be separated by the same distance they were when they started. No collisions.

Hardly a thrilling ride, though.
-- waugsqueke, Apr 10 2002


have a normal train of cars linked together but get a computer to randomly select the route so that you get a different ride every time, keep the lack of control and prevent collisions
-- chud, Apr 14 2002


Much easier to do using the three-d image and movement thing that works the "SpiderMan" ride at Universal islands of adventure in Florida. The images change, and the carriages would move up and down differently, but the track would be the same for all routes. If you've not been there - well, I might come back and try and explain it later.
-- goff, Apr 15 2002


Google for PRT
-- pashute, Apr 09 2008



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