Vehicle transfer during operation of an omnimover ride

A track and vehicle assembly, comprising:

• a track assembly including a length of track upon which a plurality of vehicles are conveyed by a drive system at a ride speed including during loading and unloading of passengers into the vehicles;
• a receiver positioned between two of the vehicles and connected to the drive system, the receiver comprising a receiving surface with a connection mechanism;
• a transfer vehicle with a base adapted for selective attachment to the connection mechanism;
• and
• a transfer assembly with a transfer arm for releasably supporting the transfer vehicle, wherein the transfer assembly operates to position the transfer arm adjacent the receiving surface of the receiver whereby the transfer vehicle is transferred between the transfer arm and the receiving surface of the receiver with the receiver traveling substantially at the ride speed.

A method of transferring vehicles to a moving amusement park ride such as an omnimover-type ride, comprising:

• providing a receiver vehicle within a train of ride vehicles, the train being conveyed at a substantially continuous velocity on a track and the receiver vehicle including a connection mechanism;
• loading a vehicle body with a passenger, wherein the vehicle body is supported upon a turntable positioned adjacent the track and locked into a stationary load position;
• determining with a sensor when the receiver vehicle passes a synchronization point on the track:
• after the determining, rotating the turntable at a rotation rate set based on the velocity of the train to position the vehicle body in proximity to the connection mechanism on the receiver vehicle;
• and
• operating the connection mechanism to connect to and support the vehicle body on the receiver vehicle.