CAD Software Builds Thrills

by Angelique Gervais
angelique.gervais@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

As an amusement park ride has you careening around curves and up hills at a dizzying 60+ mph you are not thinking about what went into the making of the ride. However, today’s thrill ride designers are fortunate enough to have computer aided design or CAD software to make their job easier.

Computer Aided Design Increases the Thrill and Reduces Threats

One of the most famous names in the thrill ride industry is Richard H. Brown; he passed away in June of this year after a life devoted to safety and fun in amusement park rides. His interest was piqued after a new roller coaster in Ohio gave several teen riders broken collar bones. Brown set out and built a precise replica of the coaster in his own basement and, using technology that was then only available to aerospace engineers, found the problem. One section of the roller coaster’s track was too steep, resulting in the violent jostling of its lighter passengers.

Today, thrill ride designers still use Brown’s biomechanical testing as a final testing. The work involved in fixing design flaws has become much simpler though. With designers working from the very first stage of an idea with CAD software, there are few errors to correct at the end. Computer aided design software accurately factors in the effects of physics and biology into the design process. Inertia, centrifuge, and gravity, as well as their effects on the human biology are all replicated by CAD software. This allows the designers to correct problems at the earliest stages, saving time, money, and keeping the public safe.

What a Career!

CAD thrill ride engineers have to have one of the most exciting careers imaginable. A degree in computer aided design could lead you into just such a position. Imagine spending your days dreaming up ever more heart stopping rides then designing them with CAD software. What a feeling of accomplishment to strap yourself into the seat of a ride you designed. The financial compensation for such a position is considerable as well. If thrills are a passion of yours and the field of engineering appeals to you, perhaps CAD training can help you build your thrills for the world.

Sources

Auto Desk
Monterey Herald — Richard H. Brown Obituary
Learner.org — Park Physics

About the Author

Angelique Gervais holds a degree in Biblical Studies, and she is currently expanding her education in the areas of psychology and human development at the Masters level.