Patents by Inventor WILLIAM WILLCOX

WILLIAM WILLCOX has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10357721
    Abstract: A ride control system that uses a state determination assembly to determine vehicle position and speed of the vehicle. The control system automatically prevents collisions between the controlled vehicle and other vehicles and obstacles along the vehicle's path without human operator intervention based on its position and speed as well as that of the other vehicles and the position and current operating state of upcoming obstacles. The control system automatically maintains a predetermined clearance between the controlled vehicle and other vehicles and obstacles, such as on a ride path, without human operator intervention regardless of vehicle inertia. The control system may be configured to automatically position and/or park a vehicle anywhere along the ride path with a high degree of accuracy in a minimum amount of parking time, without human operator intervention, and regardless of vehicle inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Allan Bloemsma, William Willcox
  • Publication number: 20190001227
    Abstract: A ride control system that uses a state determination assembly to determine vehicle position and speed of the vehicle. The control system automatically prevents collisions between the controlled vehicle and other vehicles and obstacles along the vehicle's path without human operator intervention based on its position and speed as well as that of the other vehicles and the position and current operating state of upcoming obstacles. The control system automatically maintains a predetermined clearance between the controlled vehicle and other vehicles and obstacles, such as on a ride path, without human operator intervention regardless of vehicle inertia. The control system may be configured to automatically position and/or park a vehicle anywhere along the ride path with a high degree of accuracy in a minimum amount of parking time, without human operator intervention, and regardless of vehicle inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: ALLAN BLOEMSMA, WILLIAM WILLCOX