ETF Ride Systems, a leading ride designer and manufacturer, has opened a record-breaking ride in the historic French city of Marseille.
Opening last Saturday, “La Restitution de la Grotte Cosquer” includes a dark ride delivered by ETF Ride Systems which features 44 trackless Multi Mover vehicles, the highest number used in a single ride produced by the firm.
Heritage site
The new experiential museum educates visitors on a prehistoric underwater cave discovered by explorer Henri Cosquer in 1985. The cave’s entrance has actually been used by few people to date, as it is found 37 meters below current sea levels and is only navigatable by a thin, unlit 175-metre long tunnel.
The cave was a significant discovery as it hosted drawings dating back to approximately 18,500 BC, of which roughly 80% were underwater, making them largely inaccessible to tourists. The solution by ETF means the cave can be explored by larger audiences, exclusively at La Restitution de la Grotte Cosquer.
ETF president Ruud Koppers says: “Our customer asked for a very low speed of 4.7cm per second. We had never made such a low speed before. This project asked for different engines and engine settings which we carefully tested and successfully implemented.”
In-depth dark ride
During the experience, visitors are immersed below sea level, as if they were in the real cave, before boarding the ride vehicles. Each one comprises an audio guide and black matt finish carefully crafted so as to not ruin the atmosphere of the experience.
The ride slowly passes by cave discoveries and water reflections, recreating the ambience of the genuine sunken cave. The ride duration is almost 40 minutes, requiring ETF to deliver a record 44 vehicles to ensure the ride can run at capacity.
Koppens continues: “In addition, the client asked for a not fixed but a flexible ride profile. This allows, on the fly, to change the ride speed without stopping the ride. This also requires adjustment of the programming in order to guarantee the level of safety. In this ride, our vehicles move exactly 50 cm apart from each other in the slow sections. As soon as a vehicle slows down or speeds up, this has an effect on the programming, especially on a track with many curves and tight corners.
“Our vehicles are therefore equipped with smart technology – as soon as the ride changes speed, the vehicles will adjust themselves adaptively to each other. The visitor does not notice this, keeps the experience and can enjoy the ride to the fullest.”
ETF Ride Systems has also recently announced the appointment of Jos Sloesen as its new director for sales and marketing, with whom the company has plans to take new steps in the market.
Photo: Patrick Aventurier
