Topic starter
23/02/2012 7:01 pm
Hi,
I am doing some research for a potential steamship simulation for a museum on the Great Lakes. This is meant to be a 5 minute museum experience, so we aren't looking to do a strict simulation, but instead to give visitors a close impression about whats involved while providing them with an exciting fun experience.
We are envisioning two parts two the interactive, one is a pilot house simulation equipped with a ship's wheel and an engine order telegraph.
The other half is an engine room equipped with a co-responding telegraph, a shovel with fake coal that gets shoveled into a boiler (equipped with sensors to tell when coal is shoveled), valves, pressure gauges, etc.
The pilot will steer their ship through a simulated 3d world. If there is only one visitor, their E.O.T. will act as a simple throttle. If there is a second visitor however, we would like it to function like an actual E.O.T. and require the visitor taking the roll of engineer to take appropriate action in response.
Through my research, I have a pretty good handle on the pilot side of this interactive, and how an E.O.T. works, but I have no clue what goes on in the engine room. I was hoping someone here could give me some photo's and explanation of the engineer's experience with which I can design the engineering side of this interactive exhibit.
One other thing. We are flexible about the type of boat, but this is a Great Lakes museum, so we are looking for information about a steamship that would have traveled on the great lakes. I don't know how much this matters in terms of the engineering experience, but I thought I would let you know.
Thanks much,
-Matthew Woods
Animation and Interactive Designer
Monadnock Media
23/02/2012 7:53 pm
What time period are you thinking about? That would make a difference as to the type of steam machinery and engine room lay out. Most modern day steam ships have turbines, but there are one or two boats that still have reciprocating engines on the Lakes. I believe that some of the car ferries were even steam electric.
Topic starter
23/02/2012 8:40 pm
We were thinking late 19th century, early 20th. I actually wasn't aware that there were any modern steam ships. I thought modern ships were all diesel.
The area of the museum where this interactive takes place, focuses more on industry, so we are leaning towards a cargo ship, though from what I understand most cargo ships from that era still used sail power as it was more economical.
I was looking at some of the cargo vessels here:
Lake Huron Lore: Steamboats and Sailing Ships
We have some flexibility, so a lot depends on what we have the most resources for.
Thanks,
-Matt