Vehicle guidance via infrared projection

A system for vehicle guidance, comprising:

• a plurality of paths projected on a surface, wherein each path is defined and distinguished from other paths of the plurality of paths by light projected characteristics of corresponding light projections, wherein each path of the plurality of paths corresponds to a respective vehicle occupant experience of a plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences provided by an attraction, wherein each vehicle occupant experience of the plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences comprises one of a plurality of alternative experiences of the attraction, one of a plurality of thrill levels of the attraction, or both, wherein paths providing the plurality of alternative experiences of the attraction define respective locations and respective themes for vehicles to travel to and wherein paths providing a relatively higher thrill level comprise a relatively higher number of curved portions, sharp turns, spins, or any combination thereof, than paths providing a relatively lower thrill level;
• and
• a plurality of vehicles, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles comprises:
• an assigned light projection characteristic defining a path to follow that provides a desired vehicle occupant experience of the plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences provided by the attraction associated with one of the respective themes, one of the plurality of thrill levels, or both;
• a sensor configured to detect the light projected characteristics of the plurality of paths projected on the surface;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• identify a respective path of the plurality of paths to follow based upon a match between the light projected characteristics of the respective path of the plurality of paths and the assigned light projection characteristic;
• and
• control the vehicle to move along the respective path.

A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• obtaining, at a controller of the vehicle, an assigned light projection characteristic defining a path to guide the vehicle along that provides a desired vehicle occupant experience of a plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences provided by an attraction associated with one of respective themes, one of a plurality of thrill levels, or both, wherein the path is among a plurality of paths projected on a surface, and each path among the plurality of paths is defined and differentiated from other paths of the plurality of paths by differing light projection characteristics, wherein each path of the plurality of paths corresponds to a respective vehicle occupant experience of the plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences provided by the attraction, wherein each vehicle occupant experience of the plurality of available vehicle occupant experiences comprises one of a plurality of alternative experiences of the attraction, one of the plurality of thrill levels of the attraction, or both, wherein paths providing the plurality of alternative experiences of the attraction define respective locations and the respective themes for vehicles to travel to and wherein paths providing a relatively higher thrill level comprise a relatively higher number of curved portions, sharp turns, spins, or any combination thereof, than paths providing a relatively lower thrill level;
• identifying the path, by detecting, via a sensor on the vehicle, a light projected characteristic defining the path and, via the controller, a match of the light projected characteristic defining the path and the assigned light projection characteristic;
• and
• control, via the controller, the vehicle to move along the path.