Ride vehicle tracking and control system using passive tracking elements
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsSteven C. Blum, Christopher Oliver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dynamic signal to noise ratio tracking system enables detection and tracking of ride vehicles within the field of view of the tracking system. The tracking system may include an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation within an area, a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected back from within the area, and a control unit configured to evaluate signals from the detector and control the ride vehicles or other equipment as a result of this evaluation.
Claims19
An amusement park ride system, comprising:
- a ride vehicle positioned on a ride path and configured to move along the ride path;
- a plurality of retro-reflective markers positioned on the ride vehicle, along the ride path, or both;
- an emission subsystem configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the plurality of retro-reflective markers;
- a detection subsystem configured to detect a pattern of retro-reflection of the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of retro-reflective markers while filtering electromagnetic radiation that is not retro-reflected;
- and
- a control system communicatively coupled to the detection subsystem and comprising processing circuitry configured to:
- monitor the pattern of retro-reflection of the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of retro-reflective markers for changes;
- and
- track movement of the ride vehicle in space and time based on changes in the pattern of retro-reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the detection subsystem.
A method of tracking and controlling an amusement park ride vehicle, comprising:
- flooding a ride vehicle path of an amusement park attraction with electromagnetic radiation using an emission subsystem comprising one or more emitters;
- detecting wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation retro-reflected from within the ride vehicle path while filtering wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation not retro-reflected from within the guest attraction area using a detection subsystem having one or more optical filters;
- and
- tracking, in space and time, a movement and a location of a ride vehicle on the ride vehicle path based on changes in the retro-reflected electromagnetic radiation with a control system communicatively coupled to the detection subsystem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.