Epcot Exhibit Captures 'Thrills' of Learning

(AP/Raytheon, Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Rollercoaster enthusiasts have used computer software to design their own thrill rides for years. Experiencing these rides, however, has been limited to staring at a monitor while leaning side to side and making "swoosh" noises. Raytheon and KUKA Robotics are looking to change that. On Oct. 14, the companies are unveiling a new experience at Epcot in Walt Disney World called Sum of all Thrills.

The attraction, which is located in Epcot's Innoventions pavilion, is a simulator that will allow kids and adults alike to design their own thrill ride and then experience their creation on KUKA's RoboSim 4-D Simulator ride system. Sounds fun, right? Well, it won't be as easy as slapping together a rollercoaster with the sickest drop ever followed by 15 consecutive loops. The purpose of Sum of all Thrills is to educate as well as entertain, so you'll have to consider one critical detail while you build your thrill ride: physics.

The experience begins at a multi-touch, object recognition table, where guests use mathematical tools, such as speed dials and rulers, to put together their thrill ride. According to Raytheon, guests can choose various themes, from roller coasters to a bobsled run or jet flight. Using the tools, you can add corkscrews, inversions and hills to your ride, but you have to take into account the amount of energy necessary to make it through the entire course. According to a spokesperson, the software will tell designers whether they need to, for example, lower a hill or increase the speed of the vehicle to maintain momentum.

Once the design process is finished, your ride will be saved onto a card with a unique bar code. Take the card to the RoboSim 4-D Simulator and you'll experience your very own thrill ride in high-definition video with stereo sound and controlled air motion to create the sense of movement. According to a spokesperson, those who are unable to finish the design process will be able to experience a default ride. But if you go down that path, you're missing out on the best curve in the ride, the learning curve.

"Sum of all Thrills is an example of how Raytheon is using innovation to encourage students to develop and sustain an interest in math and science," William H. Swanson, chair and CEO of Raytheon, said in a press release. "By experiencing the 'thrill' of math in this environment, students have the opportunity first-hand to feel the excitement and possibilities of careers that are possible with math and science."

Sum of all Thrills is part of Raytheon's MathMovesU program, which seeks to engage students by combining historically stodgy subjects like algebra, geometry, decimals and fractions with topics students are typically interested in, like sports, music and fashion. Another MathMovesU initiative, called "In the Numbers," is an exhibit at the New England Patriots' Patriot Place that uses football to teach math and science.

Epcot's Innoventions pavilion, an interactive play area and showcase for technology, appears to be a natural venue for MathMovesU's newest experience. "Disney parks are well-known for their creativity and innovation," Dan Cockerell, vice president of Epcot, said in a press release. "This immersive experience, our first-ever Innoventions ride, will inspire young guests to embrace math and science and the important role these subjects play in our lives."

If you can't make it down to Epcot, don't worry. A virtual version of Sum of all Thrills can be found at MathMovesU.com

SOURCES

• Raytheon Company (October 14, 2009). "It all adds up! Raytheon’s Sum of all Thrills™ experience opens today". Press release. Retrieved October 2009
• Montminy, Scott. "RE: Sum of All Thrills." E-mail to author. 12 Oct. 2009.