Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
and How they Created the Flying Bench
and How they Created the Flying Bench
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a high-flying adventure that takes guests to some of their favorite locations in Hogwarts. Journeying from the Quidditch field, to the Chamber of Secrets, and even to the whomping willow, guests will soon learn what dangers can come from this wizarding world. Luckily, the familiar faces of Ron, Harry, and Hermione help them safely navigate their way safely back to the Great Hall.
One of the most interesting components of this ride, both technically and from the standpoint of an enjoying guest, is the bench ride vehicle guests sit on.
These benches allow guests just enough time to move into place and get settled, before lifting them up into the air to fly among the broomsticks.
While, to the untrained eye, it may be easy to spot the omnimover-like continuous movement of these vehicles, there is a much more impressive element at play.
This effect is actually pulled off using what is called a Kuka Arm, which allows for full range of motion from a single point. This arm has a joint on it, creating a 6-axis level of movement, even allowing riders to tilt upside down (an effect used during the Whomping Willow scene of this ride). The Kuka Arm is attached to a track similar to an omnimoveer, and the arm itself provides all the perspective change and movement that creates the guest experience.
Guests are even tricked into believing they are actually taking flight and moving into the air, as a flash of green light, meant to be the floo poweder network, is displayed in front of them while the Kuka Arm lifts them ever so slightly above the ground. From this airborn feeling, and no ground beneath their feet, the fluid movements of the arm, as well as the beautifully designed sets around them, makes guests feel as though they are actually flying through the air, even though they are just feet above the ground.
This Kuka Arm, which was showcased at the IAAPA Expo in 2015, can have different ride vehicle attachments with the same base function of the joints and movement. It has been used on other rides, but its most famous and succesful application has certainly been at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Between the movement along its track, as well as the movement in the air it provides, it creates an unreplicated illusion of flying, that will hopefully be utilized in other rides across the globe.
For more information on this Kuka Arm as its used in this ride, I actually found an article about this affect, and a few others used in the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction, as well as the history behind the attraction some itself.
