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Roller Coaster Data Center

Posted by timothy on from the can't-let-you-do-that-dave dept.

stienman writes "The Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point Amusement Park may have more technology than your data center. From the article: "The parameters within which the Dragster has to operate are so finely tuned that variable load weights from people, wind speed and out-side temperature affect its performance. ... After every third launch, the data are averaged and compared with historic launch data in an effort to create that perfect ride - the roller coaster must go fast enough to clear the top of the tower, but slow to between 7 and 15 mph in order to give riders the maximum lift effect at the top."

3 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. Bah. by ScaryMonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How am I supposed to enjoy a roller coaster if I know that sophisticated computers are monitoring the experience and ensuring my safety? That's just being fed stimulus. Now, the Cyclone in Coney Island... that's a roller coaster! You experience a genuine fear of death, not because the ride is particularly scary, but because the roller coaster is about a hundred years old and feels like it is going to collapse at any moment! Woo!

    1. Re:Bah. by uncqual · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Amen...

      When I went to Magic Mountain many (many!) years ago, the rides were just a bit more thrilling just because the place didn't seem very well maintained. I particularly recall a ride where the operator pulled back with significant force on a couple levers about three feet long to brake the cars into the loading/unloading area. One of these levers had broken and been (sloppily) brazed back on at the bottom (and they hadn't even bothered to paint over the repair). I suspected that even if the operator did nothing, the car should have slowed down enough before the end of the track. However, I also suspected that the "failsafe" mechanism (and every other part of the ride) had probably been maintained by Mr. Brazing - which made the whole thing a bit more interesting.

      Lawyers, insurance companies, engineers, lawmakers, public inspectors, and zero-tolerance drug policies in the workplace have made amusement park rides a bit less thrilling than they once were :)

      --
      Why is there an "insightful" mod and why isn't it "-1"? If I wanted insight, I wouldn't be reading /.
  2. interesting failure mode by menscher · · Score: 3, Insightful
    From TFA:

    ..."the cars on the Dragster sometimes fall below the minimum speed needed, and drop backwards down the same 42-story building"...