Abstract: A check-in system includes an amusement park attraction associated with a check-in process. The check-in system also includes a database and a controller. The database stores data indicating availability of the amusement park attraction. The controller receives a request from a guest to attend the amusement park attraction. In response to the request, the controller sends one or more forms, one or more waivers, or both, to the guest. The controller also receives the one or more forms, one or more waivers, or both, after completion. Moreover, the controller verifies the one or more forms, the one or more waivers, or both, to be in compliance for the amusement park attraction. Furthermore, in response to determining compliance, the controller sends an entrance code to the guest, which indicates a verified status.

Abstract: A wireless power system includes a control system configured to output radio waves to an environment and a wearable device having an energy harvesting device configured to receive the radio waves and to harvest energy from the received radio waves. The wearable device also includes a processor and a sensor configured to detect a state of the wearable device and output a state signal to the processor. The processor is configured to output a device control signal based on the detected state signal. The wearable device further includes a communicator configured to receive the device control signal from the processor and to provide an output to the control system based on the state of the wearable device. At least the processor, the sensor, or the communicator receive power via the energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: An interactive portrait system includes a camera configured to capture imagery of an environment and a controller. The controller is configured to analyze the imagery to identify a guest in the environment, instruct an output device to provide an initial output to attempt to interact with the guest, and analyze the imagery to identify a behavior of the guest during the initial output, after the initial output, or both. The controller is also configured to evaluate the behavior of the guest using one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to determine whether the guest responded to the initial output. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the guest responded to the initial output, instruct the output device to provide an additional output to continue to attempt to interact with the guest.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include guest activity detection devices configured to detect activity of guests of an amusement park, and to send data indicative of the detected activity; an artificial intelligence entity management system configured to analyze the data indicative of the activity of the guests, and to modify properties of guest-specific artificial intelligence entities based at least in part on the analyzed data indicative of the activity of the guests; and park features disposed within a physical environment of the amusement park and configured to be instructed by the guest-specific artificial intelligence entities to modify a guest experience for the guests of the amusement park in accordance with the properties of the guest-specific artificial intelligence entities.

Abstract: A ride system includes one or more sensors and a controller. The controller receives, from the one or more sensors, position data indicative of the position of a body and/or face of guest on the ride. Using the position data, the one or more controllers, determine a face direction, face rotation, or both of the guest, independent of sensor observations of the face direction and rotation. One or more features of the ride are controlled based upon the determined face direction and/or face rotation.

Abstract: An augmented reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality (AR/VR) system includes a wearable visualization assembly configured to be worn by a user and to display virtual features for visualization by the user during a ride stage of an attraction. The wearable visualization assembly includes a sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an attachment status of the wearable visualization assembly on the user. The AR/VR system also includes a retraction assembly coupled to the wearable visualization assembly via a tether and configured to retrieve the tether. The AR/VR system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the retraction assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to actuate the retraction assembly to retrieve the tether to transition the wearable visualization assembly to a storage configuration in response to the feedback indicating that the wearable visualization assembly is in a detached configuration during the ride stage.

Abstract: An attraction system of an amusement park includes a viewing area, a virtual area, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter is positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area through the beam splitter and visibility of a portion of the virtual area via reflection off the beam splitter. The attraction system also includes a controller configured to perform operations. The operations include generating image data that is distorted in correlation to a distortive parameter associated with a first element disposed in the viewing area. The distortive parameter is indicative of a distortion applied by the first element to light interacting with the first element. The operations also include transmitting the image data to cause display of a second element in the virtual area.

Abstract: An edible soft robot system may be used to display and/or interact with edible inflatable objects. In an embodiment, the edible inflatable object is configured to receive a fluid in an internal compartment. The edible inflatable object may be reversibly coupled to a container, wherein coupling the edible inflatable object to the container comprises aligning a port of the edible inflatable object to a fluid conduit to fluidically couple the internal compartment to the fluid conduit. A control system of the edible soft robot system is configured to receive instructions to adjust inflation of the internal compartment by activating fluid flow into or out of the internal compartment via the fluid conduit, wherein adjusting inflation of the internal compartment causes the edible inflatable object to actuate on or within the container.

Abstract: A ride system includes a track and an overhung ride assembly. The overhung ride assembly includes a transport platform coupled to the track, a ride vehicle, and a heave system extending between the transport platform and the ride vehicle. The heave system is configured to heave the ride vehicle relative to the transport platform. The heave system includes an extendible tube defining a variable volume configured to store a gaseous fluid. The extendible tube is configured to extend in response to a lowering of the ride vehicle away from the transport platform by the heave system such that the gaseous fluid within the variable volume of the extendible tube provides a fluid force that biases the extendible tube toward a contracted configuration to assist the heave system with a lifting of the ride vehicle toward the transport platform.

Abstract: An animated figure system includes an animated figure comprising a flexible skin layer, an actuating system coupled to a connection location of the flexible skin layer, and an automation controller. The automation controller is configured to access a digital model of the animated figure, in which the digital model comprises a vertex associated with the connection location, determine a first positioning of the vertex within the digital model, and control the actuating system to set a second positioning of the connection location based on the first positioning of the vertex.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include a venue system that includes a guest recognition system configured to recognize one or more guests in a venue, and a guest experience analysis system configured to receive data relating to the recognized one or more guests from the guest recognition system, to generate guest experience information relating to the recognized one or more guests based at least in part on the received data relating to the recognized one or more guests, and to transmit the guest experience information relating to the recognized one or more guests to an augmented reality display device for display on an augmented reality display of the augmented reality display device.

Abstract: An interactive Pepper's Ghost system includes a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of an orientation of a handheld device. The Pepper's Ghost system also includes a controller configured to receive, from the sensor, sensor feedback corresponding to the parameter indicative of the orientation of the handheld device. The controller is configured to control a Pepper's Ghost visual effect based on the sensor feedback.

Abstract: The virtual queue system includes a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor and is configured to receive a request, the request being associated with an individual guest, for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue in response to the request, receive ride schedule data for the attraction comprising information about a change in status of individual rides of the attraction, and determine a wait time for the individual guest for the attraction based at least on the position of the individual guest in the virtual queue, the ride schedule data, and historical guest throughput at the attraction. The virtual queue system is further configured to output a signal to a guest-associated device indicating the wait time for the attraction.

Abstract: An interface in accordance with present embodiments includes a base and a theme portion disposed on the base. A first layer is disposed on the base and includes a mixture with metallic powder suspended within a translucent medium. A second layer is disposed on the base over the first layer and over the theme portion, and includes the mixture. A third layer is disposed on the base and on the theme portion over only portions of the second layer. The third layer includes paint and paint thinner. A fourth layer is disposed on the theme portion over the third layer and exposed portions of the second layer. The fourth layer also includes the mixture.

Abstract: A system includes a gimbal, a shotgun microphone coupled to the gimbal, a camera, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to receive data indicative of an image or video feed from the camera. The at least one processor is also configured to determine, based on the data indicative of the image or video feed, a primary human speaker among a group of humans and a location of the primary human speaker. The at least one processor is also configured to control the gimbal to point the shotgun microphone at the location of the primary human speaker.

Abstract: An amusement park system includes an electronic post configured to be positioned within a receptacle of a base of the amusement park system. The electronic post is configured to receive power directed to the receptacle. The amusement park system also includes a control system configured to determine a location of the electronic post and instruct operation based on the location.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are configured to control welding systems, for example, controlling welding process variables based at least in part on nominal stresses estimated using finite element (FE) algorithms. The systems and methods described herein may be utilized to identify nominal stress in welded structures and components to enable adjustment of welding process variables for the manufacture of subsequent welded structures and components, for example, performed by the same welding system. The systems and methods described herein also allow readily available FE stress results to be utilized in a consistent manner, as well as providing user feedback regarding the accuracy of the nominal stress approximations. Furthermore, the systems and methods described herein are generally faster and less error prone than conventional techniques, and are relatively insensitive to mesh density of the FE stress calculations.

Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

Abstract: An interaction point includes a hardware-based processor, a local cache data store that stores attraction data pertaining to an entertainment attraction, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader that receives electromagnetic radiation of a wearable electronic device indicative of an interaction with the interaction point. The hardware-based processor, based upon the interaction with the interaction point: causes feedback to be rendered by the wearable electronic device, causes modification to at least a portion of the attraction data, or both.

Abstract: A method of dynamic media generation for presentation via projection on an animated figure includes defining, via processing circuitry, a computer-generated model of the animated figure, operating, via the processing circuitry, a manufacturing system to generate a tangible model based on the computer-generated model, generating, via the processing circuitry, a revised computer-generated model based on the tangible model, simulating, via the processing circuitry, projection of imagery onto the revised computer-generated model, and operating, via the processing circuitry, a projector to project the imagery onto the tangible model based on simulated projection of the imagery onto the revised computer-generated model.