Abstract
Technical Project
For my technical project, I worked with a team of six other students to design and build a scale model of a theme park ride for the Ride Engineering Competition. The competition required that our ride feature at least 2G of acceleration, 45° of rotation, and 300 mm of change in elevation. The ride was limited in size to an operational envelope of 750 x 750 x 900 mm, and as an additional challenge the ride was limited to a portable envelope of 700 x 250 x 250 mm when disassembled. We were also required to ensure the ride was compliant with ASTM F2291-25b, the standard governing Design of Amusement Rides and Devices.
As a solution to this problem, we designed a 3-degree-of-freedom robotic arm consisting of a rotating base, two arm links, and a lightweight chassis that holds sixteen candy riders. The base of the ride is an acrylic box that houses the following: the base motor providing the primary rotation, a slip ring to deliver power to the rotating platform, a microcontroller for the motors, and a second microcontroller for the theme lights. There is another motor that controls the movement of the first link, and a third motor that controls the second link. The chassis features a ratcheting restraint mechanism to meet the ASTM requirements that correspond to the acceleration level the ride achieves. Also included in the design is a mechanical emergency stop system and an electrical control system.
The final aspect of this project was theming. As part of the competition, we needed to create a ride that would be marketable at an amusement park. Our ride is called Yesteryear and showcases an interesting and marketable steampunk theme, with decorative gears placed along the base and links, a clock face around the rotating platform, and flashing lights that coordinate with the ride profile while also acting as indicator lights for any errors that may occur during operation.
STS Project
Many people generally believe that American high-speed rail should be expanded beyond the Northeast Corridor, but there are hidden complications that are often not considered. For my STS project, I answered the research question: What are the benefits and drawbacks of expanding a highspeed rail (HSR) system beyond Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor? I also provided a recommendation for whether HSR should be expanded, and whether Amtrak should be the entity responsible for the expansion. I examined this research through the lens of infrastructure studies, using the tool of externalities as described in Deb Chachra’s How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World.
The main benefits of expanding HSR are reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth, and several social benefits. One drawback comes from complications surrounding Amtrak’s financial struggles and their status as a private company mostly funded by the federal government. Amtrak currently operates a high-speed train, the Acela, between New York and Boston. These are the only tracks Amtrak operates on that they also own. Beyond the Northeast Corridor, freight railroads own almost all tracks and let Amtrak use the tracks in exchange for annual payments.
Externalities are consequences, positive or negative, that apply to people who have no say in an action. Infrastructure always has incalculable externalities because they connect people and therefore have vast potential to help or hurt. When the benefits and drawbacks of HSR expansion are analyzed within the framework of externalities, the positive externalities far outweigh the negative ones. I recommend that high-speed rail should definitely be expanded in the United States, but Amtrak should not be the entity to take on this responsibility. Instead, private companies should work with the federal government to develop a larger high-speed network.
Synthesis
Both amusement park rides and high-speed rail systems are complex systems whose design and potential success are greatly affected by safety standards and regulations as well as user satisfaction. For my technical project, I focused more on the technical safety standards, but I also designed many aspects with the user experience in mind. For my STS project, I paid more attention to the social benefits and challenges, but technical considerations for HSR expansion definitely played a role in shaping my research and recommendation.
