Special effects techniques
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsRobert J. Cortelyou, Amanda Zielkowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a ground controller and an unmanned aerial vehicle including communications circuitry configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller. The system may also include a vehicle controller configured to execute a flight plan and at least one special effects module. The system may also include a special effects module controller configured to cause the special effect to be activated in response to an activation signal from the ground controller.
Claims23
An amusement park special effects system comprising:
- a ground controller;
- an unmanned aerial vehicle;
- communications circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller;
- a vehicle controller of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to execute a flight plan;
- at least one special effects module of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- a release mechanism of the at least one special effects module;
- a special effects module controller of the at least one special effects module, the special effects module controller configured to instruct the at least one special effects module to activate the release mechanism in response to an activation signal from the ground controller;
- and
- a special effects material disposed within the at least one special effects module, wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the special effects material from the at least one special effects module when activated by the special effects module controller, and wherein the special effects material is disseminated at release.
An amusement park special effects system comprising:
- a ground controller;
- an unmanned aerial vehicle;
- communications circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller;
- a vehicle controller of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to execute a flight plan in response to a signal from the ground controller;
- at least one special effects module of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- a release mechanism of the at least one special effects module;
- a special effects module controller of the at least one special effects module, the special effects module controller configured to instruct the at least one special effects module to activate the release mechanism in response to an activation signal from the ground controller and in response to a location feedback related to a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- and
- a special effects material disposed within the at least one special effects module, wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the special effects material from the at least one special effects module when activated by the special effects module controller, and wherein the special effects material is disseminated at release.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a signal at a ground controller, the signal comprising information about a guest achievement or a game play event;
- accessing guest information based on the signal;
- and
- transmitting a flight plan and a special effects activation signal to an unmanned aerial vehicle based on the signal to cause a special effects module of the unmanned aerial vehicle to disperse a special effects material in proximity of a guest in response to an activation signal from the ground controller and in response to a location feedback related to a position of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.