Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a plurality of wearable devices and a virtual queue control system configured to maintain respective virtual queues for respective attractions and in communication with the plurality of virtual queuing attraction stations. The virtual queue control system is configured to receive communications from the plurality of virtual queuing stations and add guests to the respective virtual queues based on the communications.

Abstract: A projected target location of a handheld object is determined based on applying translation factors, scaling factors, and offsets to a location of a reference element of the handheld object detected by a camera on a two-dimensional plane. The translation factors are determined based on a difference between a calibration location on the plane and an initial location of the reference element corresponding to the calibration location, and serve to shift the location of the reference element to generate the projected target location. The scaling factors are determined based on an estimated length of a user's arm holding the handheld object, and serve to scale the location of the reference element to generate the projected target location. The offsets are determined based on polynomial equations, and serve to extend the distance between the projected target location and the calibration location.

Abstract: An amusement park system in accordance with present embodiments includes multiple separated park areas, an autonomous vehicle configured to drive along ground surfaces within the multiple separated park areas, and a gondola system configured to transport the autonomous vehicle between the multiple separated park areas. The amusement park system further includes a control system configured to operate the autonomous vehicle to engage with and disengage from the gondola system to facilitate transport of the autonomous vehicle by the gondola system.

Abstract: An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.

Abstract: A system for detecting specular surfaces, the system including an image sensor that captures image data from an area, a first light emitter that emits a first light into the area from a first position, a second light emitter that emits a second light into the area from a second position, and control circuitry. The control circuitry operates to acquire first image data from the image sensor while the first light emitter is active and the second light emitter is inactive, acquire second image data from the image sensor while the second light emitter is active and the first light emitter is inactive, and process the first image data with the second image data to identify non-overlapping image data between the first image data and the second image data as a specular surface.

Abstract: A queue monitoring system includes at least one sensor configured to monitor guests admitted from an entrance and generate a sensor signal. The system also includes a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and communications circuitry, wherein the virtual queue controller is configured to: communicate guest admittance information to an operator device, the guest admittance information causing the operator device to display a target number of guests to be admitted during a time interval; determine a count of guests admitted from the entrance during the time interval based on the sensor signal; determine a remaining number representative of remaining guests to be admitted based on the target number and the count of guests admitted from the entrance; and communicate a standby admit signal to the operator device to cause the operator device to display the remaining number.

Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes an amusement park system having one or more hardware components and a controller. The controller includes a memory device having a game layer and a software layer stored thereon. The game layer includes game logic, and the software layer includes a game API communicatively coupled to the game layer, a wrapper API communicatively coupled to the game API, and multiple wrappers communicatively coupled to the wrapper API. The controller further includes a processor configured to execute instructions to cause the processor to receive a signal indicative of a change in the hardware components, and, based on the signal indicative of the change in the hardware components, communicate with the hardware components via a wrapper to receive an input from the hardware components, or drive operation of the hardware components.

Abstract: An interactive energy effect system that includes one or more sensors configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a user-associated object in the system. The interactive energy effect system also includes a system controller that receives the signal and generates a first and second set of instructions based on the signal. The system controller transmits the first instructions to an energy emission system to cause the energy emission system to reposition and activate an energy emitter. Additionally, the system controller transmits the second instructions to a multi-layer display system to cause the multi-layer display system to move towards or away from the user-associated object.

Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a distributed control system of an interactive video system. The distributed control system includes a switched fabric network, which includes an input node implemented to collect scanning data for a participant. The switched fabric network also includes a set of processing nodes implemented to generate a virtual representation for the participant based at least in part on the scanning data for the participant. Further, the switched fabric network includes an output node, which includes an output device implemented to present the virtual representation of the participant in a virtual environment.

Abstract: An amusement park attraction system includes a plurality of autonomous vehicles configured to accommodate one or more guests and located in an attraction dispatch area. An individual autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle controller including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the vehicle controller to receive an indication that the individual autonomous vehicle is loaded at capacity within the dispatch area and drive autonomous operation of the individual autonomous vehicle from the dispatch area to enter the ride path.

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: A lensed display system includes a projector configured to project an image. The lensed display system includes a lens formed of a glass or crystalline material. The lens includes a first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface includes a coating that is configured to display the projected image. The lens includes a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a transparent curved surface that is configured to face toward a user and to enable the user to view the image projected onto the coating through the transparent curved surface.

Abstract: A ride system for an amusement park includes a ride vehicle configured to carry one or more passengers. The ride system further includes a first evacuation platform comprising a first section configured to be moved and disposed underneath the ride vehicle, wherein in use, the one or more passengers evacuate the ride vehicle by exiting onto the first section.

Abstract: An interactive token system includes one or more interactive tokens, such as an interactive coin. The interactive token includes a display that displays one or more images. The interactive token may be releasably engaged with a slot disposed on a wearable device or an interactive token station. Once engaged, the wearable device or interactive token station is able to wirelessly communicate with the interactive token, receive information from the interactive token, display information relating to the interactive token, control actions of the interactive token, and/or use the interactive token as part of a game or trading interaction.

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 three-dimensional display system includes a first display and a second display spaced apart from the first display having one or more light sources configured to emit light and to illuminate the first display, where the first display is at least partially transparent such that the second display is visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a special effect system disposed at least in part between the first display and the second display and is configured to be activated to cause a special effect to be visible through the first display. The three-dimensional display system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first display, the second display, and the special effect system.

Abstract: A ride system includes at least one ride vehicle. The at least one ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger. The ride system includes electronic goggles configured to be worn by the ride passenger. The electronic goggles include a camera and a display. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the electronic goggles, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the electronic goggles, 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 electronic goggles.

Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.

Abstract: A carousel ride system includes a first rotatable platform and multiple second rotatable platforms. Each second rotatable platform of the multiple second rotatable platforms is positioned within a respective opening in the first rotatable platform. A first drive system is configured to drive rotation of the first rotatable platform and multiple second drive assemblies are configured to drive rotation of the multiple second rotatable platforms. Multiple figures extend over the multiple second rotatable platforms and multiple figure drive assemblies are configured to independently lift and rotate the multiple figures relative to the multiple second rotatable platforms. One or more processors are configured to coordinate operation of the first drive system, the multiple second drive assemblies, and the multiple figure drive assemblies to maintain the multiple figures in a forward-facing orientation relative to a direction of travel of the first rotatable platform during operation of the carousel ride system.

Abstract: A ride vehicle system includes a ride track and a ride vehicle. The ride track includes a vehicle rail and an accessory rail. The ride vehicle includes a ride vehicle base, a show element coupled to the ride vehicle base, and a mechanical linkage. The ride vehicle base is configured to interface with the vehicle rail of the ride track and to move along the vehicle rail of the ride track. The show element coupled to the ride vehicle base is configured to actuate with respect to the ride vehicle base. The mechanical linkage includes a first end coupled to the show element and a second end coupled to the accessory rail of the ride track. The mechanical linkage is configured to move along the accessory rail and to actuate the show element based at least in part on a position of the accessory rail with respect to the vehicle rail.