Ride a Robot

It's cool that passengers won't be able to ancipitate their next moment of terror, but how will you be able to tell if the guy next to you is about to become ill? :)

CNet had a story about it too(and more pictures of the ride). I still don't get what the "shooting game" is that riders play in the Machine News article. I do like that you can program that ride when you get on. I know certain motions are more likely to make me sick.
Still give me a joystick and a screen and it would make the be-all-end-all combat flight simulator.

It must have sensors for people of different weight. I kind of see the appeal but I think I'd prefer the old rides.

KUKA was very creative in coming up with robo-ride idea. A History channel TV program was shown about the ride a robot. KUKA's robot does have 500kg payload, but not as impressive payload interia and moment charactristics. Subtract the load of the seats and one can barely fit two good size guys there.

Compare KUKA robot to FANUC's M900iB 6-axis servo driven articulated industrial robot, which has longer reach, 20percent more payload (600 kg vs 500). M900iB Wrist moment and interia are ~50percent more than KUKA's. FANUC introduced this super heavy payload robot in 2004. If one is cosidering robo-rides design, this is a real one to use at amusement parks.

This is just a friendly note about the design alternatives in the current robot market.

This note is a courtesy of www.midwestroboticsltd.com. Midwest Robotics is a US (OH) based robot and vision systems integration company. Midwest Robotics provides robot programming and design services for different makes of robots such as: FANUC. ABB, Motoman or KUKA.