TELEMETRY SYSTEM FOR MONITORING STRESS AND VIBRATIONS ON AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES

Abstract

On amusement park rides, vibrations against the rails of the track and the cars’ wheels can strain and damage the track. This is especially true for older coasters, whose tracks have worn significantly over time. While manual inspection of the track is necessary, an automated system that monitors the stress on the track will help detect anomalies, ensuring a safe experience for the passengers. We have designed a system of sensors that can monitor these vibrations. Sensors placed on a segment of track will measure the lateral and vertical vibrations, wirelessly transmitting the level of strain on the track to a base station. If vibrations reach a threshold level, the base station will be alerted of excessive strain. The system will create a graph of points where vibration is worse than other points, to pinpoint what areas need to be fixed the most. This will decrease maintenance costs and ensure increased safety for patrons of these rides.