Attractions developer Simworx has teamed up with themed entertainment designers Katapult to design a cops and robbers themed ride concept for Simworx’s Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) Dark Ride.

Called Overdrive: Ultimate Heist, the concept was officially launched at IAAPA Expo Europe in London in September, where a vinyl wrapped police car-styled ride vehicle was showcased on the company’s stand.

Guests are pitted against one another from the outset; during the queue they are separated into cops and robbers before boarding the ride vehicle and being briefed on their chosen mission. Riders then navigate a series of scenes from the backstreets of the Metropolis to underground tunnels, parking garages and construction sites, with the AGVs interacting with the media as each vehicle follows its own path.

The ride uses a trackless system, which enables flexible movement around show spaces, where the ride vehicles can chase and duel one another in a variety of locations while avoiding hazards and other obstacles in the ride.

The finale sees the race spill out onto the city’s busy highway culminating in a final death-defying pursuit across the city’s suspension bridge.

“Katapult looked at all the unique elements that really made the AGV special and worked that into the concept. We wanted to highlight the unpredictable motion of a trackless ride and how it could work in a duelling format where riders are pitted against one another as they experience multiple ride experiences and endings.” said Simworx CEO, Terry Monkton

“With the AGV being the fastest trackless dark ride within the themed entertainment market, acceleration was a key component to integrate and focus on when imagining the kind of story we wanted to tell.” added Simworx lead designer, Matt Clarkson.

Overdrive is designed to fit into a large sprawling footprint, made up of 10 scenes, with the last two interchangeable to suit the result of the chase. The layout uses 10 AGV vehicles, delivering a throughput of 1,100 riders an hour.