14 replies to this topic

[sds]

I am in a "zoo immersion" class at a university. This class contains Biology and animal science majors who are interested in a career at a zoo. The class requires us to complete a project for a local zoo.

One of our ideas is to somehow incorporate an audio system into a local zoo's ski lift "skyride." This would allow the zoo to provide riders with auditory tours. Ideally this pre-recorded message could be intercepted by a live audio feed in case of emergency. I am having difficulty finding information for something like this. I am meeting with someone from the zoo on monday to get more details about the ride. What kind of information about the ski lift itself should I find out? Also, could anyone give me any information about audio systems used for ski lifts?
(sorry if I posted this in the wrong place)

This post has been edited by sds: 07 February 2008 - 04:30 PM

[skierdude9450]

I assume that this is a detachable gondola that you are talking about, correct? I think that the easiest way to do this would be to have a short-range wireless system, with transmitters along different spots in the lines, or a single transmission system with different audio loops that change as the cabin passes a certain point on the line (such as a tower.) I have seen systems where the audio system is transmitted through the haul rope, but this is only on jig-back trams, and I don't know how that would work with a detachable grip. Vail's Eagle Bahn Gondola has some sort of audio system, but I don't know whether it is wireless or integrated into the cable.

[RibStaThiok]

Would need to be some source of power for the speakers as well.... this could be interesting.

[sds]

Yes, it is a detachable gondola. I have also talked to the head of our communications dept and he suggested an MP3 player attached to the chair somehow and suggested I talk to the electronics guys to come up with some more ideas. Maybe I could find solar powered speakers. Thankyou, you've given me some ideas. Like I said before, I am a biology student, so this is all new to me.

[skierdude9450]

For power (I don't know if this technology is patented or not) a good source would be to do something like the heated seat Doppelmayr chairs, where it quickly charges the battery in the terminal. I don't know exactly how this works, but there are articles on it. It would probably work to power speakers also.

[Lift Kid]

Matt, the Vail gondola has a wireless emergency message system. It is powered by a batter attached to the cabin. The batteries are charged at night in the top and bottom terminals when the cabins are on the parking rails.

[necskibum]

Killington's gondolas used to have music on them which was a battery powered radio and speakers. They were charged nightly when the cabins were parked. I never rode them with music but I doubt you could change the station or anything. A mechanic said that they did not use the radios on the Skye Ship because the interconnect drive created some sort of interference with the radios.

[floridaskier]

There are speakers in Deer Valley's gondola, but either they're only for emergencies, aren't activated, or don't work

[lastchair_44]

floridaskier, on Feb 8 2008, 05:08 PM, said:

There are speakers in Deer Valley's gondola, but either they're only for emergencies, aren't activated, or don't work

If I remember correctly, the FCC shut them down. It doesn't work anymore and the batteries are dead.

[skisox34]

Killington's Gondolas also have batteries to power the fan for the heaters. They get parked in the barn everynight and plugged in to be recharged. Each heater also has an automatic diagnostic system which is indicated by a code sequence in the flashing light on the control dial. The heat itself comes from a kerosene tank in each cabin which has to be refilled every 3rd night.

[necskibum]

skisox34, on Feb 9 2008, 10:08 AM, said:

Killington's Gondolas also have batteries to power the fan for the heaters. They get parked in the barn everynight and plugged in to be recharged. Each heater also has an automatic diagnostic system which is indicated by a code sequence in the flashing light on the control dial. The heat itself comes from a kerosene tank in each cabin which has to be refilled every 3rd night.

Not any more! No more heat in the cabins, to expensive. And I thought that they ran on diesel, not kero. I know they are similar enough....

[cjb]

I don't think you would want it to be a detachable lift, or if you do still run it at 300ish fpm. But at that speed save the money and go fixed grip. Think about it, you have been at the zoo walking to all the exhibits, pushing a stroller, carrying kids. What is the rush? It is a scenic ride right? Give people time to sit and relax, catch their breath, and enjoy the ride. For the audio, however??? Maybe you could have speakers strung on the comline like christmas lites, every 15' you ride past another speaker playing the message you want them to hear. The speakers could be wired to different loops so that as the passengers pass from one area to another they are hearing a different topic. Maybe 4-5 speakers in a row have one message and then another topic starting at the next tower, or area. Also go for a gondola if possible, that way a whole family can ride together. We go to seaworld and all of us can ride in one cabin, but when we go to the SD zoo it is a double(I think) and I know that we have to split up.

[Lift Dinosaur]

cjb, on Feb 9 2008, 05:57 PM, said:

I don't think you would want it to be a detachable lift, or if you do still run it at 300ish fpm. But at that speed save the money and go fixed grip. Think about it, you have been at the zoo walking to all the exhibits, pushing a stroller, carrying kids. What is the rush? It is a scenic ride right? Give people time to sit and relax, catch their breath, and enjoy the ride. For the audio, however??? Maybe you could have speakers strung on the comline like christmas lites, every 15' you ride past another speaker playing the message you want them to hear. The speakers could be wired to different loops so that as the passengers pass from one area to another they are hearing a different topic. Maybe 4-5 speakers in a row have one message and then another topic starting at the next tower, or area. Also go for a gondola if possible, that way a whole family can ride together. We go to seaworld and all of us can ride in one cabin, but when we go to the SD zoo it is a double(I think) and I know that we have to split up.

This all makes perfect sense both from the cost and guest service side. The drawback is you can't unload a fixed grip gondola at 300 fpm. Depending on the length, perhaps a pulse gondola would fit the application.
$0.02

Dino

[cjb]

Yeah, I meant even if you have a detach run it at 300fpm. We run a double lift for sledding and run it at about 150fpm just to control the line and make unlolading easy.

This post has been edited by cjb: 10 February 2008 - 01:46 PM

[sds]

Here is a pic of the ride. I will get more detail later today and some specs on the ride (hopefully). I did find out that they are benches ( hold 3 people) not gondolas, but do detach (taken down in the winter). Does that change anything? They are also going to add cameras somehow to keep an eye on people so I will find out how they are doing that also. It is a scenic ride. It goes over their African area. It is a fairly small zoo (Fort Wayne Children's zoo), so I think they just got whatever they could afford. I believe the pickup/drop off is in the same location (ie a loop). Thanks again everyone.
*edit: pic not working. Will try to get one posted.

This post has been edited by sds: 11 February 2008 - 05:53 AM