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: 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 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 special effects system includes a retroreflective target, an object comprising one or more light sources disposed on an end of the object, where the end of the object is spatially oriented to face the retroreflective target such that light from the one or more light sources is emitted onto the retroreflective target, and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the one or more light sources, wherein the controller comprises a processor configured to adjust the light from the light source based in part on the on the one or more signals output by the one or more sensors, wherein the signals are indicative of a position of the object, or a condition of the one or more light sources.

Abstract: An attraction system includes a fluid source configured to emit a fluid stream with a geometry that facilitates internal reflection, a transmitter configured to transmit a signal through the fluid stream such that the signal is enclosed in the fluid stream via internal reflection and the signal comprises a parameter, a sensor configured to receive the signal via the fluid stream and provide data indicative of the parameter, and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system includes a processor and a memory, and the memory includes instructions that cause the processor to receive the data indicative of the parameter from the sensor, and operate the attraction system based on the parameter.

Abstract: A handheld object includes a reference element having an angle-identifying element that is captured differently in images depending on a viewpoint of a camera. The angle-identifying element generates a first characteristic in a first captured image from a first viewpoint of the camera, and a second characteristic in a second captured image from a second viewpoint of the camera. Based on the characteristic generated by the angle-identifying element in a captured image, the orientation of the handheld object is determined. A pointing target of the handheld object is also determined based on the orientation of the handheld object and determining the position of the reference element. The reference element also includes a device identifier. The camera captures a first portion of the device identifier a first image, and a second portion of the device identifier in a second image. The portions are combined together to form the complete device identifier.

Abstract: An attraction system includes a sensor configured to emit an output signal toward a guest area and receive a reflected signal from the guest area and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system is configured to receive data from the sensor, in which the data is indicative of a distance of signal travel based on the output signal and the reflected signal. The control system is also configured to compare the distance of signal travel with an unoccupied distance value corresponding to a distance between the sensor and the guest area being unoccupied, and determine whether the guest area is occupied based on comparing a difference between the distance of signal travel and the unoccupied distance value with a threshold.

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 attraction system includes a fluid source configured to emit a fluid stream with a geometry that facilitates internal reflection, a transmitter configured to transmit a signal through the fluid stream such that the signal is enclosed in the fluid stream via internal reflection and the signal comprises a parameter, a sensor configured to receive the signal via the fluid stream and provide data indicative of the parameter, and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system includes a processor and a memory, and the memory includes instructions that cause the processor to receive the data indicative of the parameter from the sensor, and operate the attraction system based on the parameter.

Abstract: A control system includes a ride controller configured to maintain a plurality of rules indicative of permitted states of the free-roaming ride vehicle within a game area and including gameplay rules. The ride controller is configured to receive monitoring data indicative of a current state of a free-roaming ride vehicle, receive a signal indicative of a user request to perform a requested action with the free-roaming ride vehicle, model performance of the requested action from the current state to determine a modeled state of the free-roaming ride vehicle, and determine whether the modeled state complies with the plurality of rules. In response to determining the modeled state does not comply with the plurality of rules, the ride controller is configured to determine a proximate action that complies with the plurality of rules and provide a control signal to instruct the free-roaming ride vehicle to perform the proximate action.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an electromagnetic animated figure control system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to techniques for actuating a figure, such as a plush toy, using addressable control nodes (e.g., electromagnetic coils) of an electromagnetic array. For example, an amusement park may include a control surface implemented to include the electromagnetic array. Further, an animated figure may include magnets in one or more components. Accordingly, while the animated figure may lack a power source, the animated figure may be controlled (e.g., actuated) via a controlled magnetic interaction between the control surface and the magnets.

Abstract: An augmented reality system includes a first scene and a second scene. Further, the augmented reality system includes a partially reflective surface positioned relative to the first scene, the second scene, and an audience to facilitate viewing of one of the first scene or the second scene through the partially reflective surface and to facilitate reflection of the other of the first scene or the second scene toward the audience as augmented reality imagery. A sensor of the augmented reality system is designed to detect and generate data indicative of a characteristic of the first scene, and a correlative effect system is operable to receive the data and adjust the second scene based thereon.

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: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for actuating a soft robot. An actuation system includes a camshaft, a motor configured to drive the camshaft to rotate around a rotational axis, and an air bladder configured to expel fluid from the air bladder during compression and draw fluid into the air bladder during decompression. The system further includes a cam coupled to the camshaft that is configured to rotate around the rotational axis when the camshaft is driven and compress or decompress the air bladder based on a physical profile of the cam as the cam rotates around the rotational axis. The system also includes a soft robot coupled to the air bladder, wherein the soft robot is actuated to move based on the fluid inserted into the soft robot during compression or the fluid removed from the soft robot during decompression.

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: 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: 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 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 granular material effect system includes a plurality of granular particles disposed in a container, a nozzle configured to activate to direct a fluid into the container, an actuator coupled to a prop and disposed in the container within the plurality of granular particles, and a controller communicatively coupled to the nozzle and the actuator. The controller is configured to instruct the nozzle to activate to direct the fluid into the container and to instruct the actuator to move the prop relative to the container while the nozzle is activated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an electromagnetic animated figure control system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to techniques for actuating a figure, such as a plush toy, using addressable control nodes (e.g., electromagnetic coils) of an electromagnetic array. For example, an amusement park may include a control surface implemented to include the electromagnetic array. Further, an animated figure may include magnets in one or more components. Accordingly, while the animated figure may lack a power source, the animated figure may be controlled (e.g., actuated) via a controlled magnetic interaction between the control surface and the magnets.