Passenger‑carrying devices for amusement rides are mainly divided into two major categories: rigid and flexible. A simple distinction is that a rigid passenger‑carrying device is a hard load‑bearing structure for sitting inside, while a flexible passenger‑carrying device is a soft, wearable load‑bearing structure.Rigid passenger‑carrying devices are the most prevalent. Constructed mainly from hard rigid materials, they feature fixed‑form skeletal structures such as complete seats, cabins and gondolas. Seats and enclosed cabins of Ferris wheels, roller coasters and carousels all fall into this category. They support passenger weight via hard structures and provide stable riding spaces for occupants. Equipped with separate restraining devices including safety belts and safety lap bars, their load‑bearing components and protective components are independent of each other. They are widely applied to conventional land‑based and high‑altitude amusement rides.
Flexible passenger‑carrying devices are integrated flexible equipment without any rigid seats or cabin frames. They are entirely constructed from flexible materials such as webbing and slings, combining flexible load‑bearing and flexible restraint into one unit. Typical examples include wearable components like safety harnesses, which hold and restrain the human body directly via slings.
These devices are exclusively used for special aerial amusement attractions without rigid cabins, such as zip‑lines, cliff swings and bungee jumping. Their body‑hugging feature adapts to dynamic high‑altitude motion scenarios, providing both load‑bearing capacity and dual‑layer protection.
Passenger restraining devices are supporting safety accessories. Common items such as safety belts, safety lap bars and safety restraint bars fall into this category. Restraining devices are not designed for primary load‑bearing purposes; they serve only as supplementary protection to prevent passengers from being separated from the passenger‑carrying device during ride operation, lifting and flipping motions. They are not part of the passenger‑carrying device itself but must be reliably attached to its steel structural frame.In short, the passenger‑carrying device is responsible for “carrying and holding passengers”, while the restraining device takes charge of “locking and protection”. Together they form a complete passenger‑carrying system, establishing dual safeguards for amusement‑ride safety.