LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 14, 2009 – Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) today unveiled the Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. This new ride is a unique experience that lets park guests custom-design their own thrill ride using mathematical tools, an innovative touch-screen table and a robotic simulator. As the first ride to be located within INNOVENTIONS at Epcot, Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ is the latest example of Raytheon’s innovative approach to help educate and inspire young students about the power of math and math-related activities.
“Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ is an example of how Raytheon is using innovation to encourage students to develop and sustain an interest in math and science,” said William H. Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company. “By experiencing the “thrill” of math in this environment, students have the opportunity first hand to feel the excitement and possibilities of careers that are possible with math and science. We hope young people and adults alike will enjoy this innovative experience.”
Interactive and customizable, Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ lets guests of all ages create their own experience by first choosing a ride theme, including a roller coaster, bobsled or jet plane. Using multi-touch, object recognition tables with instructions available in six languages, guests use math and engineering based tools, such as rulers and speed dials, to design and customize their ride by adding corkscrews, inversions or steep hills. Guests learn and apply mathematical and engineering principles to determine how much energy is needed for a jet to take off or for a roller coaster or bobsled to make it up its first climb.
When the design of the ride is complete, it is saved on a personal card with a unique bar code. The card is then utilized to allow each guest to experience their custom ride from beginning to end on the robotic KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator. Inside the simulator, guests experience their ride on immersive high definition video combined with stereo sound and controlled air motion for a complete sensory experience. The KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator creates a four-dimensional experience through 3-D robotic motion and “wind” that controls air movement to stimulate the senses, providing a more realistic simulation experience.
“Disney parks are well known for their creativity and innovation. Raytheon’s Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ is a perfect addition to INNOVENTIONS, which was built in part to showcase cutting-edge technology,” said Dan Cockerell, vice president of Epcot. “This immersive experience, our first-ever INNOVENTIONS ride, will inspire young guests to embrace math and science and the important role these subjects play in our lives.”
In addition to the experience at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot, today, Raytheon unveiled a virtual Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ experience on-line at MathMovesU.com. The Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ world, aimed at middle school students, combines the three ride elements of the theme park experience into one multidimensional ride. Students answer math-related questions to unlock elements that enable them build their own ride on-line.
Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ is the latest initiative in Raytheon’s MathMovesU program which is committed to increasing students’ interest in math and engineering by engaging them with activities they enjoy most, such as sports, fashion and music. Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ joins Raytheon’s other MathMovesU programs including the “In the Numbers” game, partnership with the New England Patriots on display at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon, the company’s three year sponsorship of the National MATHCOUNTS competition and the MathMovesU scholarship and grant program, which provides over $1 million in funding to students and teachers each year.
Raytheon also announced today the findings from a study of U.S. middle school students revealing their feelings about math and the need for more innovative approaches to help motivate them around the subject. An executive summary of the survey findings is available at www.raytheon.com/responsibility/stem.
More information on Sum of all Thrillsâ„¢ can be found at www.raytheon.com.
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