Abstract: A face orientation system of a ride that includes one or more sensors and a controller. The controller receives ride cart data from the one or more sensors indicative of a presence and position of the ride cart on the ride. Further, the controller determines the ride cart's orientation based on the ride cart's data and receives position data of a guest from the one or more sensors indicative of a position of a body, a face, or a combination thereof, of the guest. Additionally, the controller determines the face orientation, the face rotation, or a combination thereof, of the guest based on the ride cart's orientation and the position data. Finally, the controller transmits data indicative of the determined face orientation, face rotation, or a combination thereof, to a downstream controller for subsequent control based upon the determined face orientation, face rotation, or the combination thereof.

Abstract: An amusement park system includes a modular attraction system having a ride vehicle having seats to accommodate passengers, an on-board system integrated with the ride vehicle and having on-board game systems connected via a network. Each on-board game system is configured to provide an augmented reality (AR) experience, or a virtual reality (VR) experience, or both, via a respective visual experience generator device. The AR experience, or the VR experience, or both, is provided within a game shared between the on-board game systems. The on-board game systems are integrated into the ride vehicle, and are connected via the network to one another in a manner that allows for ready removal of all or a portion of one of the on-board game systems without affecting operation of the remaining on-board game systems.

Abstract: A ride system includes a base, a ride vehicle, a platform assembly positioned between the base and the ride vehicle, and an extension mechanism coupled to the platform assembly and positioned between the base and the ride vehicle. The platform assembly includes a first platform, a second platform, and six legs extending between the first platform and the second platform, and the platform assembly is configured to actuate each of the six legs so as to move the first platform relative to the second platform in different configurations based on which of the six legs is actuated. The extension mechanism is configured to extend and contract so as to move the ride vehicle away from and toward, respectively, the base of the ride system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that dynamically and laterally shift each virtual object displayed by an augmented reality headset by a respective distance as the respective virtual object is displayed to change virtual depth from a first virtual depth to a second virtual depth. The respective distance may be determined based on a lateral distance between a first convergence vector of a user's eye with the respective virtual object at the first virtual depth and a second convergence vector of the user's eye with the respective virtual object at the second virtual depth along the display, and may be based on an interpupillary distance. In this manner, display of the virtual object may be adjusted such that the gazes of the user's eyes may converge where the virtual object appears to be.

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: Present systems and methods are directed to a ride system that includes a personal electronic device (PED) holding system for a ride vehicle. The PED holding system includes a lock that is configured to move from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration to lock a PED of a passenger of the ride vehicle to the ride vehicle during a ride cycle. The PED holding system also includes a charging system that is configured to charge an energy storage component of the PED during the ride cycle.

Abstract: A reaction controlled system of includes a track, a trolley that travels along the track, an animated figure coupled to the trolley, at least one reaction control element coupled to a portion of the animated figure (e.g., on the features, limbs, and/or body of the animated figure), and a controller. The controller detects presence of a ride vehicle or a guest. The controller also controls the trolley to position the animated figure based on the presence of the ride vehicle or the guest. The controller also controls animation of the animated figure by operating the reaction control element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide contextual tracking information to tracking sensor systems to provide accurate and efficient object tracking. Contextual data of a first tracking sensor system is used to identify a tracked object of a second tracking sensor system.

Abstract: A system may include an inflatable assembly having a plurality of members. The system may also include a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of positions inside or around the inflatable assembly, such that the plurality of sensors may acquire data related to a shape of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes one or more valves, each configured to direct a fluid into a corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes a processor that adjusts positions of the one or more valves to cause the fluid to be directed into the corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly based on the data and a desired shape of the inflatable assembly.

Abstract: A crowd management system includes at least one local controller associated with an attraction area of an individual attraction within a theme park. The crowd management system includes a transceiver of the at least one local controller, where the transceiver receives guests data via wireless signals from guest-associated devices within a detection range of the local controller. The crowd management system includes a remote central controller in communication with the at least one local controller and the guest-associated device. The remote central controller receives the guest data from the at least one local controller and determines one or more crowd metrics of the individual attraction based on the guest data. The remote central controller generates an activity command based on the one or more crowd metrics. The remote central controller transmits the activity command to at least one guest-associated device of the guest-associated devices.

Abstract: A system for guiding a vehicle is provided. The system includes multiple paths on a surface, wherein each path is defined by light projection characteristics of a respective light projection defining a respective path. The system also includes the vehicle. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect the light projection characteristic of the respective path of the multiple paths, and a controller guide the vehicle along the respective path with a light projection characteristic that matches an expected light projection characteristic that is assigned to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system may include a virtual reality system configured to present one or more virtual objects via an electronic display. The system may also include one or more inflatable objects that correspond to the one or more virtual objects, such that the one or more inflatable objects matches one or more shapes of the one or more virtual objects. The system may also include a processor configured to cause at least one of the one or more inflatable objects to inflate based on feedback from the virtual reality system.

Abstract: A resistance control system for a passenger support of an amusement attraction includes a first foundation, a second foundation, and a support extending between the first foundation and the second foundation. The second foundation is pivotably coupled to the support at a pivot joint. The resistance control system also includes a motor and a linkage system coupled to the motor and to the second foundation such that the motor is configured to output a torque to adjust, via the linkage system, a resistance to movement of the second foundation about the pivot joint and relative to the first foundation.

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: An interactive display includes a transparent display panel configured to simulate a windowpane. The interactive display also includes a motion-tracking device located behind the transparent display panel and configured to perform tracking of movement of a device directed at a front of the transparent display panel, wherein the device is configured to be manipulated by a user. The transparent display panel is configured to display feedback indicative of the tracked movement of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include light field displays configured to display primary autostereoscopic images and to simultaneously project (e.g., in real time, while displaying their own primary autostereoscopic images) light rays toward display devices (e.g., either reflective devices or cameras) to display secondary autostereoscopic images via the display devices. The light rays projected from the light field displays are controlled by a control system based at least in part on positional data (e.g., position, orientation, and/or movement) of the display devices, which may be determined by the control system based at least in part on detection of light rays that are reflected off the display devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include light field displays configured to display primary autostereoscopic images and to simultaneously project light rays toward display devices (e.g., either reflective devices or cameras) to display secondary autostereoscopic images via the display devices. The light rays projected from the light field displays are controlled by a control system based at least in part on positional tracking data (e.g., position, orientation, and/or movement) of the display devices and/or of a portion of humans associated with the display devices, which may be detected via sensors of the display devices and/or via cameras disposed about a physical environment within which the display devices and the humans are located. Specifically, the control system calculates light field vector functions for light rays to be projected toward each individual display device based at least in part on positional tracking data for that particular display device and/or its associated human.

Abstract: A ride system includes eyewear configured to be worn by a user. The eyewear includes a display having a stereoscopic feature configured to permit viewing of externally projected stereoscopically displayed images. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the eyewear, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the eyewear, generate one or more virtual augmentations superimposed on the streaming media of the real world environment, and to transmit the streaming media of the real world environment along with the one or more superimposed virtual augmentations to be displayed on the display of the eyewear, and project stereoscopic images into the real world environment.

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: A quick disconnect system for an accessory electrically coupled to a component of an amusement attraction includes a multi-part electrical enclosure including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first opening on the first side, and a relief pass through. The multi-part electrical enclosure is configured to: have a first electrical cable coupled to the accessory pass into the multi-part electrical enclosure via the first opening and have a second electrical cable pass into the second side of the multi-part electrical enclosure to enable the first and second cables to be coupled together within the multi-part electrical enclosure. The relief pass through is configured to provide strain relief to both the first electrical cable and the second electrical cable and to prevent disconnection of the accessory from the multi-part electrical enclosure.