Rider Controlled Trackless Ride System

A trackless ride system, comprising:

• a. a plurality of dynamically selectable predefined paths within a predefined ride vehicle path area;
• and
• b. a plurality of wireless, self-dispatching trackless ride vehicles maneuverable along the plurality of dynamically selectable predefined paths, at least one wireless, self-dispatching trackless ride vehicle comprising:
• i. a dynamically controllable trackless ride vehicle motive system;
• ii. a navigator operatively in communication with the dynamically controllable trackless ride vehicle motive system;
• iii. an independent vehicle controller operatively in communication with the navigator;
• iv. a spatial positional determinator operatively in communication with the independent vehicle controller;
• and
• v. a predetermined array of multi-dimensional peripheral object detection sensors operatively in communication with the independent vehicle controller.

A method of dispatching a trackless vehicle along a set of predetermined ride paths of a trackless ride system comprising a ride path comprising a plurality of optional predefined paths;

• a controllable wireless, trackless ride vehicle dispatchable and maneuverable along the ride path, the wireless, trackless ride vehicle comprising a controllable, motive trackless ride vehicle track navigator and an independent vehicle controller operatively in communication with the track navigator;
• a communicator operatively in communication with the independent vehicle controller, the communicator comprising a vehicle mounted rider interface adapted to capture discrete input from a predetermined set of wireless, trackless ride vehicle riders associated with the trackless ride vehicle;
• and a central controller operatively in communication with the independent vehicle controller, the method comprising:
• a. using the independent vehicle controller to receive a rider path selection request from a rider associated with the trackless ride vehicle to advance the trackless ride vehicle onto an optional predefined path of a plurality of optional predefined paths via the vehicle mounted rider interface;
• b. upon receipt of the rider selection request, validating the rider selection request against a predetermined set of validation criteria;
• and
• c. upon validation, commanding the trackless ride vehicle to proceed onto the requested optional predefined path.

A method of dispatching a trackless vehicle of a plurality of trackless vehicles about a predefined path from a set of optional predefined paths, the method comprising:

• a. receiving a rider identifier associated with a rider who is associated with a trackless vehicle by an on-board trackless vehicle controller, the rider associated with the trackless vehicle being a rider about to board the trackless vehicle or a rider who has boarded the trackless vehicle;
• b. upon receipt of the rider identifier, validating the rider identifier;
• c. identifying a predetermined set of optional predefined paths available to and associated with the validated rider identifier;
• d. upon validation and identification,
• i. selecting one predefined path from the predetermined set of optional predefined paths;
• and
• ii. commanding the trackless vehicle to proceed onto the selected predefined path.