Systems and methods for controlling special effects of reactive show action equipment

A reactive show action equipment system, comprising:

• an animated figure;
• one or more actuators that are configured to move a portion of the animated figure;
• a show action controller configured to instruct the one or more actuators;
• a special effects system comprising:
• an effects source;
• and
• a nozzle assembly configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide a special effect;
• an effect sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the special effect and transmit sensor data indicative of the characteristic;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• receive the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the special effect;
• and
• control the one or more actuators to move the portion of the animated figure based on the characteristic of the special effect.

A method of operating a reactive show action equipment system, the method comprising:

• receiving input data from an input source as received input;
• determining, based on the received input, a type of special effect to produce from a special effect system having components disposed onboard or offboard show action equipment as a determined type of special effect;
• controlling the special effect system to produce the determined type of special effect as a produced special effect, wherein the special effect system comprises an effects source and an effect emitter configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide the produced special effect;
• receiving sensor data indicative of a characteristic of the produced special effect from a sensor configured to detect the characteristic of the produced special effect;
• and
• controlling one or more actuators to move a portion of the show action equipment based on the characteristic of the produced special effect.