Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling a ride vehicle restraint in a ride system. A system is configured to identify one or more ride vehicles stopped at a passenger loading platform, the one or more ride vehicles including one or more seats, determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or out-of-service based at least in part on data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles, instruct to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service, and instruct to unlock one or more other restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat other seats of the one or more seats determined to be in-service.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for oscillating transparent digital displays to generate a three-dimensional (3D) holographic image. A holographic imaging system includes a plurality of digital screens, wherein each screen of the plurality of digital screens is positioned parallel to an x-axis and a y-axis, and the screens are stacked along a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis, a propulsion system configured to oscillate the plurality of digital screens along the z-axis, and a control system. The control system is configured to generate a digital image, display different slices of the digital image on the plurality of digital screens, and activate the propulsion system to oscillate the plurality of digital screens in synchronization with the display of the different slices on the screens to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image.

Abstract: An augmented reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality (AR/VR) system includes a wearable visualization assembly configured to be worn by a user and to display virtual features for visualization by the user during a ride stage of an attraction. The wearable visualization assembly includes a sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an attachment status of the wearable visualization assembly on the user. The AR/VR system also includes a retraction assembly coupled to the wearable visualization assembly via a tether and configured to retrieve the tether. The AR/VR system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the retraction assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to actuate the retraction assembly to retrieve the tether to transition the wearable visualization assembly to a storage configuration in response to the feedback indicating that the wearable visualization assembly is in a detached configuration during the ride stage.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an articulated joint. The articulated joint includes a first rotatable joint member including a first socket cavity, and a second rotatable joint member including a second socket cavity. The articulated joint further includes an elongated member including a first end haying a spherical shape and a second end having the spherical shape, the first end of the elongated member being moveably secured in the first socket cavity and the second end of the elongated member being moveably secured in the second socket cavity, The elongated member is configured to rotate the second rotatable joint member in response to a rotation of the first rotatable joint member.

Abstract: A show effect system may include an applicator configured to apply a detectable marker, a camera configured to generate image data representative of an environment with the detectable marker, and a control system communicatively coupled to the camera and comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The detectable marker may include an ultra-violet (UV) component with a detectable wavelength range corresponding to UV-A, UV-B or UV-C. The processor may execute the instructions that cause the processor to determine a motion of the detectable marker based on the image data and determine that the motion of the detectable marker corresponds to a target motion. The processor may also identify a show effect that may be associated with the target motion and trigger generation of the show effect in the environment.

Abstract: A food and/or drink container includes an enclosure forming a space configured to receive a food and/or drink, a display coupled to the enclosure, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display. The processor is configured to receive an indication of a current location of the food and/or drink container and cause the display to output imagery based on the current location.

Abstract: An augmented reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality (AR/VR) system includes a wearable visualization assembly configured to be worn by a user and to display virtual features for visualization by the user during a ride stage of an attraction. The wearable visualization assembly includes a sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an attachment status of the wearable visualization assembly on the user. The AR/VR system also includes a retraction assembly coupled to the wearable visualization assembly via a tether and configured to retrieve the tether. The AR/VR system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the retraction assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to actuate the retraction assembly to retrieve the tether to transition the wearable visualization assembly to a storage configuration in response to the feedback indicating that the wearable visualization assembly is in a detached configuration during the ride stage.

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: 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: 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 steam effect nozzle includes a housing section configured to receive a fluid having a mixture of steam and liquid condensate and baffles disposed in the housing section. The baffles are configured to separate the steam of the fluid from the liquid condensate of the fluid, enable the steam to travel from a first end wall of the housing section to a second end wall of the housing section, and bias the liquid condensate of the fluid toward a sloped lower surface of the housing section, the sloped lower surface sloping downwardly from the second end wall toward the first end wall. The steam effect nozzle also includes a nozzle outlet adjacent to the second end wall of the housing section, where the nozzle outlet is configured to output the steam to an external environment.

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: 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 drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.

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 drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.

Abstract: A movable railing assembly includes a first railing segment having a first bogie and a first barrier coupled to the first bogie. The first bogie is configured to engage a track positioned below the first barrier and to facilitate movement of the first railing segment along the track, and the first barrier is configured to block access across the first railing segment. The movable railing assembly also includes a second railing segment having a second bogie and a second barrier coupled to the second bogie. The second bogie is configured to engage the track and to facilitate movement of the second railing segment along the track, and the second barrier is configured to block access across the second railing segment. Furthermore, the movable railing assembly includes a connector coupling the first railing segment to the second railing segment.

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: An augmented reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality (AR/VR) system includes a wearable visualization assembly configured to be worn by a user and to display virtual features for visualization by the user during a ride stage of an attraction. The wearable visualization assembly includes a sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an attachment status of the wearable visualization assembly on the user. The AR/VR system also includes a retraction assembly coupled to the wearable visualization assembly via a tether and configured to retrieve the tether. The AR/VR system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the retraction assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to actuate the retraction assembly to retrieve the tether to transition the wearable visualization assembly to a storage configuration in response to the feedback indicating that the wearable visualization assembly is in a detached configuration during the ride stage.

Abstract: A segmented bending system includes multiple linkages coupled to one another in a stacked arrangement. The segmented bending system also includes multiple rotation assemblies coupled to one another to extend through the multiple linkages. The multiple rotation assemblies include multiple cam members, and each cam member of the multiple members extends into a respective opening formed in a corresponding linkage of the multiple linkages. At least one cam member of the multiple cam members is offset from at least one other cam member of the multiple cam members in a circumferential direction about a center axis of the multiple rotation assemblies.