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US 12,466,450 B2Granted
Systems and methods for inspection of a track of an amusement attraction
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorHoward Bruce Mall, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An attraction system includes a track, a support vehicle having a wheel assembly configured to adjustably engage the track and having a sensor configured to capture a characteristic of the attraction system. In addition, the attraction system comprises a control assembly configured to control the support vehicle to traverse the track via the wheel assembly and receive, from the sensor, sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the attraction system.
Claims20
An attraction system, comprising:
- a track comprising a rail;
- a support vehicle having a wheel assembly configured to adjustably engage the track, and having a sensor configured to acquire sensor data indicative of a characteristic of the attraction system;
- and
- a vehicle controller configured to:
- determine a cross-sectional dimension of the rail;
- control the wheel assembly to engage the support vehicle with the rail based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail;
- control the support vehicle to traverse the track via the wheel assembly;
- receive, from the sensor, the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the attraction system;
- and
- instruct performance of an action based on the sensor data.
7 more elements
An autonomous support vehicle comprising:
- a robotic leg assembly coupled to a wheel assembly, wherein the wheel assembly is configured to roll on a track of an attraction system;
- a robotic arm configured to receive an additional component of the autonomous support vehicle;
- a modular payload platform coupled to the robotic arm;
- and
- a vehicle controller configured to:
- determine at least one size characteristic of the track;
- control, based on the at least one size characteristic of the track, the robotic leg assembly to move the wheel assembly toward the track;
- determine a cross-sectional dimension of a rail of the track;
- control, based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail, the wheel assembly to engage the autonomous support vehicle with the rail;
- control the robotic arm to cause a movement of the additional component relative to the modular payload platform;
- and
- control the autonomous support vehicle to traverse the track.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- adjusting, based on a spacing between a first rail of a track and a second rail of the track, a robotic leg assembly of an autonomous support vehicle such that a configuration of a wheel assembly coupled to the robotic leg assembly corresponds to the spacing;
- adjusting, based on a first cross-sectional dimension of the first rail, a second cross-sectional dimension of the second rail, or both, the wheel assembly to engage the autonomous support vehicle with the first rail, the second rail, or both;
- traversing the track via the autonomous support vehicle;
- receiving sensor data via a sensor of the autonomous support vehicle;
- and
- based on the sensor data, controlling a robotic arm to perform a maintenance operation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.