Abstract: A selective illumination system for use with amusement park rides and other attractions. The system includes a first light source illuminating a first set of items in a physical set and also includes a second light source illuminating a second set of items in the physical set. The system further includes a first set of optical filters operating in time synchronization with the first light source to pass light from the illuminated first set of items and also includes a second set of optical filters operating in time synchronization with the second light source to pass light from the illuminated first set of items. The optical filters of the first and second sets may be shutter glasses or other filters that are operated at high rates to selectively pass received light, and the first and second light sources are operated in a time multiplexed manner synchronized with the optical filters.

Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a tactile or physical contact system. The ride vehicle moves along a path or track. The path or track can be outdoors or partially or entirely indoors, i.e., in a dark ride. The system provides a touch effect by causing a physical or solid touch element to make physical contact with a part of a rider's body. Alternatively, the system can operate by projecting or spraying a gas, such as air, a vapor, such as water vapor or steam, or even a liquid, such as water, toward or onto part of a rider's body or the rider's clothing. The system is advantageously substantially self-contained aboard the vehicle, but may receive power or working fluid from off-board sources, either at discrete locations, or continuously along the ride path.

Abstract: A personalized audio system for an amusement ride includes an audio selection system, a guest identification system and a ride vehicle enabled to reproduce audio selections made using the selection system in a specific seat of the ride vehicle corresponding to the seat occupied by the guest who selected the audio during that guest's ride on the amusement ride.

Abstract: A waterfall effect for an amusement ride has a diverter system for creating a gap through a waterfall curtain timed to closely coincide with the arrival of a ride vehicle for providing a simulated effect of crashing through the waterfall curtain.

Abstract: An amusement ride has a track defining a ride vehicle path with a section of the track that can be decoupled from the main track and is subsequently movable on or about up to three axes with between one and six independent degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An air cannon for projecting a coherent mass of air in a targeted direction. The air cannon has a membrane inside a frustoconical shell that is placed under tension and released suddenly to force air out the small diameter end of the cannon past a lip. The cannon can have a port for injecting a scent, smoke or fog into the cannon for delivery as a coherent mass with the air. The mass of air remains coherent a relatively long distance so that the air, scent, smoke or fog is experienced by a person located at the target location.

Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a tactile or physical contact system. The ride vehicle moves along a path or track. The path or track can be outdoors or partially or entirely indoors, i.e., in a dark ride. The system provides a touch effect by causing a physical or solid touch element to make physical contact with a part of a rider's body. Alternatively, the system can operate by projecting or spraying a gas, such as air, a vapor, such as water vapor or steam, or even a liquid, such as water, toward or onto part of a rider's body or the rider's clothing. The system is advantageously substantially self-contained aboard the vehicle, but may receive power or working fluid from off-board sources, either at discrete locations, or continuously along the ride path.

Abstract: An image correction method of compensating for point of view image distortion in pictures includes the steps of obtaining an image at a first position within a predetermined frame, wherein at the first position the image is distorted due to point of view image distortion. The image obtained comprises an array of pixels. The distorted image is transformed into a compensated image by re-mapping the array of pixels of the distorted image using a predetermined transforming function that stretches the distorted image to fill the entire frame. The transformation function depends on the geometric orientation of the camera, projector, projecting surface, and viewer. The compensated image is projected at a second position different from the first position, wherein the projection of the compensated image substantially reduces point of view image distortion at the first position. This method can be employed for stationary and moving point of views.