Abstract: An amusement ride system includes a ride vehicle configured to carry a passenger, one or more sensors configured to detect a face and a body of the passenger while the passenger is in the ride vehicle, and a display assembly configured to be viewable by the passenger while the passenger is in the ride vehicle. The amusement ride system also includes a controller configured to generate an animation based on signals received from the one or more sensors and to instruct display of the animation on the display assembly. The signals are indicative of movement of the face and the body of the passenger, and the animation mimics the movement of the face and the body of the passenger.

Abstract: A system for providing seating guidance for an attraction ride vehicle of an amusement park attraction includes a computing device associated with a display, one or more processors of the computing device, and one or more memory devices of the computing device storing information about the attraction ride vehicle and storing instructions corresponding to a seating application. The seating application, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing device to: provide an interface to receive seating input data for a guest or a group of guests, process the seating input data in combination with the information about the attraction ride vehicle based on seating logic to provide guidance data, and outputting guidance, based on the guidance data, for loading the guest or the group of guests onto the attraction ride vehicle via the display.

Abstract: A system may include a housing that may hold a body of water, an inflatable assembly disposed within the body of water, and a processor. The processor may receive an indication related to a speed of a flow of the body of water and send a signal to at least one valve coupled between the inflatable assembly and a fluid source in response to the indication. The signal may cause the at least one valve to fluidly couple the inflatable assembly to the fluid source to cause the inflatable assembly to expand to an inflated configuration.

Abstract: An interactive video game system includes at least one sensor and at least one display device disposed near a play area. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one display device, wherein the controller is configured to: receive, from the at least one sensor, the scanning data of the player in the play area; generate at least one model from the scanning data of the player; identify an action of the player in the play area based on the at least one model; generate the virtual representation for the player based on the at least one model and the action of the player; and present, on the display device, the virtual representation of the player in a virtual environment, wherein an action of the virtual representation is augmented relative to the action of the player.

Abstract: A sanitization system for an amusement park includes a sanitization station disposed along a ride path of a ride of the amusement park. The sanitization station includes a housing configured to receive a ride vehicle as the ride vehicle travels along the ride path, an ultraviolet light source configured to transmit ultraviolet light toward a surface of the ride vehicle, and a control system configured to detect a position of the ride vehicle along the ride path and to activate the ultraviolet light source when the control system determines that the ride vehicle is positioned at a first particular position relative to the housing.

Abstract: A sanitization system for an amusement park includes a compartment disposed in a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride, where the compartment is configured to receive an article of the amusement park ride, an ultraviolet light source disposed in the compartment, where the ultraviolet light source is configured to transmit ultraviolet light toward a surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment, and a nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a sanitizing fluid toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling performance of a digital character depicted at a display device are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment, a method for controlling performance of a digital character depicted at a display device includes: determining a presence of a person located in a physical environment; and in response to determining the presence of the person, facilitating control of the performance of the digital character depicted at the display device by a human operator, by an artificial intelligence (AI) game-engine, or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: A ride system includes ride vehicles. Each ride vehicle includes a rider support configured to carry a rider, a support actuator coupled to the rider support and a base of the ride vehicle and configured to move the rider support relative to the base, and a ride vehicle movement system integrated with the base and configured to move the ride vehicle relative to a ride area. The ride system also includes a controller configured to control the support actuator and the ride vehicle movement system of each ride vehicle individually based on a choreographed routine and an input received from a selected ride vehicle. The input is indicative of an adjustment to the support actuator, the ride vehicle movement system, or both, of each ride vehicle. The input is based on a correlative adjustment to the support actuator, the ride vehicle movement system, or both, of the selected ride vehicle.

Abstract: A threshold detection system may include multiple wireless devices, wherein each individual wireless device may include a transmitter to transmit a wireless signal. The threshold detection system may also include a receiver array of multiple receivers to detect the wireless signal of each individual wireless device in response to the individual wireless device being in range of the receiver array. The threshold detection system may also include a controller to receive detection signals from the receivers and determine a direction of travel of an individual wireless device relative to a predetermined threshold based on the received detection signals. The controller may also determine that the individual wireless device has crossed the predetermined threshold and trigger an audio or visual alert in response to the determination that the wireless device has crossed the predetermined threshold and is traveling in an exit direction based on the determined direction of travel.

Abstract: An interactive system includes one or more processors that are configured to receive a first signal indicative of an activity of a user within an environment and to receive a second signal indicative of the user approaching an animated character head. The one or more processors are also configured to provide information related to the activity of the user to a base station control system associated with the animated character head in response to receipt of the second signal to facilitate a personalized interaction between the animated character head and the user.

Abstract: A ride attraction system includes a tower track and a ride vehicle configured to accommodate one or more riders. The ride vehicle is coupled to and configured to move relative to the tower track and the ride vehicle includes one or more user input devices. The ride attraction system further includes an image system configured to display a ride environment, wherein the user input devices are configured to enable the one or more riders to interact with elements of the ride environment via the one or more user input devices. The ride attraction system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the ride vehicle and the image system and configured to control movement of the ride vehicle relative to the tower track based on signals from the one or more user input devices.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a dual-track loop including a first track loop and a second track loop, a single-track loop spaced apart from the dual-track loop, and a cross-track extending between the dual-track loop and the single-track loop. The system also includes a platform disposed on the cross-track. The platform is configured to translate between a position aligned with the first track loop and the second track loop of the dual-track loop and a position aligned with a first portion and a second portion of the single-track loop. The system further includes a turntable coupled to the platform and configured to rotate a ride vehicle positioned on the turntable and to change an orientation of the ride vehicle relative to a fixed portion of the platform.

Abstract: A gap covering system for an amusement park attraction includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a ride vehicle coupled, through the gap, to a transport. The transport is configured to propel the ride vehicle along a loading path of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a magnetic zipper positioned adjacent to the loading platform and configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration in at least a portion of the magnetic zipper. The magnetic zipper is configured to cover the gap in the first configuration and is configured to allow the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position on the loading platform in the second configuration.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag having a memory that stores identification information. The wearable device also has a power harvesting circuit configured to harness power from electromagnetic radiation. Further, the wearable device has a sensor coupled to the power harvesting circuit and configured to utilize the power to monitor a condition of the wearable device. Even further, the wearable device has a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and configured to write data indicative of the condition to the memory of the RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is configured to transmit the identification information and the data in response to receipt of the electromagnetic radiation from an RFID reader.

Abstract: A system includes a head-mounted virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) display system, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to display an image on a graphical display of the head-mounted VR/AR display system. The system further includes a scaffolding system comprising a headpiece configured to be worn by a user; wherein the headpiece comprises at least one fastener configured to fasten and unfasten the head-mounted VR/AR display system to the headpiece, and configured to fasten and unfasten a headgear to the headpiece.

Abstract: A special effects communication system may include a camera system at a first location that generates a first dataset based on one or more images or impressions of a first user at the first location. The special effects communication system may also include a control system communicatively coupled to the camera system and a special effects system. The control system may receive a second dataset corresponding to a second user present at a second location or to one or more users at one or more locations while the first user is present at the first location. The control system may also provide one or more control signals to cause the special effects system at the first location to generate special effects to present a visual and/or auditory likeness of the second user using special effects material and/or mediums.

Abstract: Techniques for improving ride experience provided by a virtual reality ride system, which includes an electronic display that presents virtual reality image content to a rider of a ride vehicle, sensors that measure sensor data indicative of movement characteristics of the ride vehicle, and virtual reality processing circuitry. The virtual reality processing circuitry determines a predicted movement profile of the ride vehicle based on the sensor data, in which the predicted movement profile indicates that the ride vehicle is expected to move a predicted movement magnitude during a predicted movement duration, determines a target perceived movement magnitude greater than the predicted movement magnitude by applying a movement-exaggeration factor to the predicted movement magnitude, and determines movement-exaggerated virtual reality image content to be presented on the electronic display at least in part by adapting default virtual reality image content to incorporate the target perceived movement magnitude.

Abstract: Present systems and methods are directed to an audio system integrated into a restraint system for an amusement park ride vehicle. Specifically, a system includes a restraining system for a ride vehicle of an amusement park. The system includes an audio system comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein the audio system is positioned inside of the restraining system and configured to produce audio via the speaker in response to a received audio activation signal.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of ride vehicle modules, where each of the plurality of ride vehicle modules includes an interlock system configured to perform linking operations to join to other ride vehicle modules to form a cluster and delinking operations to separate from the other ride vehicle modules throughout a ride, control circuitry configured to control the interlock system and movement of the respective ride vehicle module independently or as a part of the cluster, and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with the other ride vehicle modules internal and/or external to the cluster. The cluster may change sizes throughout the ride by performing linking and delinking operations as desired. A method for changing the size of clusters of ride vehicle modules throughout a ride is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image projection system may include a translucent or transparent projection screen and multiple lenticules disposed on or within the projection screen. The image projection system may also include a projector to project multiple images onto the projection screen. The images may include multiple views of a scene, and the projector may simultaneously project the images to generate a three-dimensional display of the scene.