RoboCoaster
{{Short description|British amusement ride manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = RoboCoaster Ltd.
| logo = RoboCoaster logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
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| industry = Entertainment
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| foundation = {{Start date|2000|12}}
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| location_city = Warwickshire
| location_country = England
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Gino Daniel De-Gol
| products = RoboCoaster
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| subsid = Simworx
| homepage = {{URL|robocoaster.com}}
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RoboCoaster Ltd is an amusement ride design firm based in Warwickshire, England. Through partnerships with KUKA and Dynamic Attractions, RoboCoaster has installed its namesake products at locations around the world.
History
In December 2000, RoboCoaster Ltd was founded with the goal of integrating robotic technology into the entertainment and leisure industry.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.robocoaster.com/about|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd.|access-date=7 December 2013}} In the company's first year of operation, Gino Daniel De-Gol invented the concept of a robotic-arm-based amusement ride.{{cite patent|country=US|number=6776722|status=patent|title=Ride apparatus|pubdate=17 August 2004|fdate=12 June 2001|inventor=Gino Daniel De-Gol|assign1=RoboCoaster Ltd|assign2=KUKA}} In December 2001, a partnership with German robotic arm manufacturer KUKA saw the patenting and manufacturing of the initial Robocoaster G1 design. In 2004, RoboCoaster partnered with AMEC Dynamic Structures (now Dynamic Attractions) to develop the RoboCoaster G2 system, which utilises track-mounted KUKA arms.{{cite patent|country=US|number=6871596|status=patent|title=Moving means, particularly for amusement parks, fairs and the like|pubdate=29 March 2005|fdate=28 January 2003|inventor=Gino Daniel De-Gol|assign1=RoboCoaster Ltd|assign2=KUKA}}
RoboCoaster's partnership with KUKA has also seen robotic arms integrated into films, including Die Another Day, The Da Vinci Code, and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.{{cite web|title=Media Projects|url=http://www.robocoaster.com/media-projects|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=7 December 2013}}
In 2015, The British Growth Fund invested £4.5M in a company called Simworx, a media based attraction manufacturer, allowing them to acquire RoboCoaster and boost their working capital as well as buying out their previous private equity investor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bgf.co.uk/3162-2/|title=BGF invests £4.5m in Simworx|date=2015-07-17|website=BGF|access-date=2019-11-27}}
Ride systems
{{multiple image
| footer = First and second generation RoboCoasters pictured at Epcot and Universal's Islands of Adventure
| align = right
| image1 = SumOfAllThrillsRide.jpg
| height1 = 105
| alt1 = RoboCoaster G1
| image2 = Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey station.jpg
| width2 = {{#expr: (150 * 2000 / 1102) round 0}}
| alt2 = RoboCoaster G2
}}
- RoboCoaster G1 – the original RoboCoaster design, where pairs of riders are attached to a stationary KUKA arm. From 2014, four-seater vehicles from the G2 series will be offered in stationary form for smaller family entertainment centers.{{cite web|url=https://www.simworx.co.uk/robocoaster/|title=RoboCoaster G1|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=7 December 2013}}
- RoboCoaster G2 – the second generation of robotic product, where four-seater KUKA robotic arms run along a two-dimensional track throughout a show building. The track is designed by Dynamic Attractions.{{cite web|url=http://www.robocoaster.com|title=G2 Robot Systems|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=7 December 2013}}
- RoboCoaster G3 – a conceptual third generation of the technology, where trains of four-seater KUKA robotic arms run along a traditional three-dimensional roller coaster track.{{cite web|url=http://www.robocoaster.com/|title=G3 Robot Systems|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=7 December 2013}}
- AGVs – automated guided vehicles for trackless dark rides developed with Dynamic Attractions.{{cite web|url=https://www.simworx.co.uk/agv-darkride/|title=AGV|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=8 December 2013}}{{cite web|title=Dark Rides|url=http://www.dynamicattractions.com/products/dark-rides/|publisher=Dynamic Attractions|access-date=8 December 2013}}
- Motion Theatre – a flight simulator where rows of riders are elevated in front of a large dome screen.{{cite web|url=https://www.simworx.co.uk/360-flying-theatre/|title=Flying Theatre|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd|access-date=8 December 2013}} The attraction is developed with Dynamic Attractions, who has previously developed the ride system for the Soarin' rides at Disney parks.{{cite web|title=Flying Theatre|url=http://www.dynamicattractions.com/products/flying-theatre/|publisher=Dynamic Attractions|access-date=8 December 2013}}{{cite journal|title=Dinosaurin' Over China|journal=Park World Magazine|date=23 December 2011|url=http://parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/2137/Dinosaurin__Over_China.html|access-date=8 December 2013}}
- HSA – high-speed amphibious vehicles developed with Gibbs Sport Amphibians Inc. of the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.robocoaster.com|title=HSA|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd.|access-date=8 December 2013}}
{{clear}}
Installations
{{Expand list|date=December 2013}}
As of 2012, over 200 individual RoboCoasters have been installed, including some travelling models.{{cite web|url=http://www.robocoaster.com/|title=History|publisher=RoboCoaster Ltd.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531012800/http://www.robocoaster.com/history|archive-date=31 May 2011|access-date=8 December 2013}}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Robocoaster}}
- {{Official}}
{{Amusement rides}}
Category:Amusement ride manufacturers
Category:Design companies established in 2000