London Eye Engineering – Structure & Systems

The Eye behaves like an enormous bicycle wheel: a rim stabilized by tensioned spokes anchored to a hub and giant A‑frame.

1) Structural Anatomy

2) Rotation & Controls

• Rotation ~30 minutes per cycle; speed low enough to allow boarding without full stops in normal conditions.
• Drive systems and brakes are redundantly configured; operators can pause for accessibility boarding.

3) Wind & Weather

• High winds increase dynamic loading; thresholds trigger slow/stop procedures.
• Lightning protection and continuous monitoring layer safety margins.

4) Maintenance

• Bearings, cables and fasteners undergo scheduled inspections.
• LED lighting and control firmware receive periodic upgrades.

Bottom Line

Tension, redundancy and conservative wind policies make the Eye both elegant and reliable.