Amusement park ride tunnel
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorPatrick Devin Boyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path, a ride vehicle, and a projection system. The tunnel includes a first end and a second end and is curved between the first and second ends. The vehicle ride path extends within the tunnel from an entrance at the first end of the tunnel to an intermediate position within the tunnel. The second end of the tunnel is not visible from the intermediate position. The ride vehicle travels along the vehicle ride path and decelerates as the ride vehicle approaches the intermediate position. The projection system projects images onto one or more walls of the tunnel, such that the images are synchronized with the deceleration of the ride vehicle and a perceived speed of the ride vehicle, as perceived by a guest in the ride vehicle, exceeds an actual speed of the ride vehicle.
Claims17
A method for simulating movement in a ride vehicle, comprising:
- directing a ride vehicle into a walled area;
- coupling the ride vehicle to a motion base configured to tilt or vibrate the ride vehicle;
- controlling movement of one or more set pieces within the walled area;
- projecting images onto a wall in the walled area via a projection system;
- communicating with the motion base and the projection system via a controller;
- and
- coordinating the motion base and the projection system via the controller to simulate speed or direction of the ride vehicle.
A ride system, comprising:
- a ride vehicle configured to travel along a path to a walled area;
- a motion base configured to detachably couple to the ride vehicle in the walled area;
- one or more set pieces configured to move through the walled area;
- a projection system configured to direct an image onto a wall of the walled area;
- and
- a controller interfaced to the motion base and the projection system, wherein the controller coordinates movement of the motion base and the image projected by the projection system to simulate speed or direction of the ride vehicle.
A control system comprising:
- processing circuitry;
- and
- memory, accessible by the processing circuitry, and storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:
- directing a ride vehicle into a walled area, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to be coupled to, or supported by, a motion base;
- causing one or more set pieces to move within the walled area;
- causing images to be projected, via a projection system, onto a wall of the walled area;
- and
- coordinating the motion base and the projection system to simulate speed or direction of the ride vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.