Abstract: A passenger restraint system of a vehicle includes a passenger restraint article with an interface, and a locking device that secures the interface. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes a vertical channel that enables the locking device to travel up and down. The locking device may include a camera that enables the locking device to align with the interface, and once aligned, the locking device secures the interface. In additional or alternative embodiments, the locking device includes two C-bars and a biasing element that urges the locking device into an open position. When the passenger sits or leans against the opened C-bars, the force caused by the interface on the C-bars overcomes the force applied by the biasing element, urging the C-bars into a closed position. The locking device is then secured by engaging a locking bar that pushes against a surface of the C-bars.

Abstract: A system includes a virtual queue controller configured to receive an indication of a reduced capacity event from an amusement park attraction, determine a reduction in capacity of the attraction, identify each guest having a return time in a virtual queue of the attraction that is affected by the reduced capacity event, remove guests having affected return times from the virtual queue, and generate a reaccommodation time slot for the guests removed from the virtual queue, select two or more updated return times within the reaccommodation time slot for each of the guests removed from the virtual queue, provide a notification to each guest removed from the virtual queue requesting guest input to select a single updated return time from the two or more updated return times, and return each guest to the virtual queue upon receiving a corresponding selection of the single updated return time.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an amusement show system. The amusement show system includes guest seating, a background display, a conveyor, and a set piece disposed on the conveyor. The conveyor moves the set piece with respect to the guest seating between the guest seating and the background display. The amusement show system also includes a projection mapping system that includes one or more projectors configured to project images onto the set piece such that a first image is projected onto the set piece at a first point in time and a second image is projected onto the set piece at a second point in time.

Abstract: An amusement park attraction effects system includes a dynamic display for viewing by a user traveling through an attraction, a display monitor to provide status data indicative of a status of the dynamic display, a location identification system to determine a location of the user, a thrust-vectoring flow effect generator to generate and direct a fluid flow toward any particular target location of a range of target locations, and an automation controller communicatively coupled to the display monitor, the location identification system, and the thrust-vectoring flow effect generator. The automation controller is configured to receive the status data, receive the location of the user, set a target location based on the location of the user, instruct the thrust-vectoring flow effect generator to direct the fluid flow based on the target location, and instruct the thrust-vectoring flow effect generator to control the fluid flow based on the status data.

Abstract: A system for providing an actuated-wall visual effect in an amusement park environment, the system comprising a panel mounting frame and a panel coupled to the panel mounting frame via a damper. The system also comprises a transducer mounting frame and a transducer configured to convert an audio signal into mechanical energy. The transducer comprises a first portion coupled to the transducer frame and a second portion coupled to the panel such that the transducer is configured to oscillate the panel relative to the transducer mounting frame in response to receiving the audio signal.

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 mobile character control system includes a platform, a character assembly, a control system, and a transportation assembly. The platform is configured to support an operator. The character assembly is engaged with the platform and includes actuatable features configured to simulate movement of a creature. The control system is configured to control activation of the actuatable features of the character assembly in response to signals received from control features controlled by the operator. The transportation assembly is configured to direct movement of the platform and to support the character assembly.

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 vehicle system includes a ride vehicle including a seat configured to accommodate a passenger, a restraint system of the ride vehicle, where the restraint system includes a restraint configured to secure the passenger within the seat, and a forced air system of the ride vehicle, where the force air system is configured to generate an air flow, direct the air flow internally through the restraint, and discharge the air flow toward the passenger via a discharge port of the restraint.

Abstract: An orientation tag provides orientation information and, by affixing the orientation tag to an object, orientation information of the object. The orientation tag displays different orientation information based on viewing the orientation tag at different angles. In particular, the orientation tag displays an angle and direction that the orientation tag is rotated about a horizontal axis relative to a viewer, and an angle and direction that the orientation tag is rotated about a vertical axis relative to the viewer. Viewing the orientation tag enables determining an angle and direction (e.g., depth information) that the orientation tag is rotated about a depth axis relative to the viewer. The orientation information and the depth information facilitate determining the orientation of the orientation tag in three dimensions. An output device outputs a user interactive experience based on the orientation information and the depth information provided by the orientation tag.

Abstract: A ride vehicle for an attraction of an amusement park includes a ride seat, a pivot adapter configured to rotate relative to the ride seat, a gear of the pivot adapter comprising a first set of teeth, a passenger restraint piece coupled to the pivot adapter and configured to rotate with the pivot adapter between a closed and an open position, and a cap having a second set of teeth. The cap is configured to be positioned to engage the gear of the pivot adapter such that the second set of teeth of the cap engages with the first set of teeth of the gear, and engagement between the second set of teeth and the first set of teeth substantially blocks movement of the pivot adapter relative to the ride seat in a rotational direction.

Abstract: A resistance control system of an amusement attraction includes a support assembly having a base, a pivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivot joint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled to the pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least one spring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistance control system includes an actuator plate positioned between the spring plate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least one actuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at least one actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator plate relative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about the pivot joint.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide directional speakers and haptic devices for each guest of a ride vehicle. A controller may receive a vehicle location, seat location data, input audio data, and input haptic data. The seat location data may include a guest's seat location in the ride vehicle and/or the guest's preferences (e.g., a preferred language, volume preferences, or content rating preference). The controller may generate different audio output signals corresponding to different guests based on the input audio data, the vehicle location, and/or the seat location data, and generate different haptic output signals corresponding to different guests based on the input haptic data, the vehicle location, and/or the seat location data. The controller may then instruct directional speaker directed at the seat locations of the different guests to output the different audio output signals and instruct haptic devices directed at the seat locations to output the different haptic output signals.

Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a loading platform. The loading platform includes a rotational portion configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform and a stationary portion extending between a first edge and a second edge of the loading platform. The first edge and the second edge of the stationary portion include respective interfaces of the stationary portion with the rotational portion. The rotational portion rotates from the first edge to the second edge. The attraction loading system further includes a loading path disposed about a circumference of the loading platform.

Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a riding assembly configured to carry a rider, a base configured to couple to the riding assembly, and a control system configured to control the coordination of movements of the ride vehicle with movements of separate ride vehicles. The base includes a surface movement system configured to move the ride vehicle along a surface, a vertical movement system configured to move the riding assembly vertically relative to the base, and a roll system configured to move the riding assembly angularly relative to the base.

Abstract: A queue control system controls a queue structure of a queue in an amusement park. The queue control system includes a controller and a queue structure control associated with the queue structure. The controller receives, from an input device that monitors a queue characteristic of the queue, data feedback indicative of the queue characteristic. The queue characteristic is indicative of a queue length, queue wait time, queue rate, or queue throughput. The controller also outputs a control command based on the data feedback. The queue structure control receives the control command and changes at least one aspect of the queue structure based on the control command.

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: A faceted screen system includes a curved backing surface, a first planar panel coupled to the curved backing surface, and a second planar panel coupled to the curved backing surface. The first planar panel and the second planar panel are angled towards a hypothetical focal point of the curved backing surface. The faceted screen system also includes a first plurality of light sources disposed on the first planar panel and a second plurality of light sources disposed on the second planar panel. Individual light sources of the first plurality of light sources are oriented at respective different angles relative to the first planar panel to emit light towards the hypothetical focal point. Individual light sources of the second plurality of light sources are oriented at respective different angles relative to the second planar panel to emit light towards the hypothetical focal point.

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 dynamic quest-based experience system of an amusement park includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the processor to receive a user input from a computing device indicative of starting a dynamic quest-based narrative, in which the dynamic quest-based narrative includes a plurality of sets of information. The instructions further cause the processor to place an identifier associated with the computing device in a virtual queue associated with a narrative endpoint of the amusement park, select a set of information from the plurality of sets of information based on a determined parameter, wherein the set of information is associated with a requested task, and output the set of information to the computing device.