Special effects techniques
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsRobert J. Cortelyou, Amanda Zielkowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a ground controller and an unmanned aerial vehicle including communications circuitry configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller. The system may also include a vehicle controller configured to execute a flight plan and at least one special effects module. The system may also include a special effects module controller configured to cause the special effect to be activated in response to an activation signal from the ground controller.
Claims32
A special effects system comprising:
- a ground controller;
- an unmanned aerial vehicle;
- communications circuitry of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller;
- a vehicle controller of the unmanned aerial vehicle configured to execute a flight plan;
- at least one special effects module of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- a special effects module controller of the at least one special effects module, the special effects module controller configured to instruct the special effects module to activate the special effect in response to an activation signal from the ground controller;
- and
- a special effects material disposed within the at least one special effects module, and wherein the special effects module controller is configured to cause the special effects material to be released in response to the activation signal from the ground controller;
- and a guest device configured to transmit a guest signal to the ground controller to cause the ground controller to send the activation signal to the unmanned aerial vehicle.
A special effects system comprising:
- a ground controller;
- a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles respectively comprising:
- communications circuitry configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller;
- a vehicle controller configured to execute a flight plan;
- and
- at least one special effects module comprising:
- a special effects material;
- and
- a special effects module controller configured to cause the special effects material to be released in response to an activation signal from the ground controller,
- wherein the respective flight plans of the unmanned aerial vehicles are independent of one another and are configured to be executed within a running time of a theme park show;
- and
- wherein the ground controller is configured to generate respective activation signals to the respective unmanned aerial vehicles to activate respective special effects during the running time of the theme park show.
A special effects system comprising:
- a ground controller;
- a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles respectively comprising:
- communications circuitry configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the ground controller;
- a vehicle controller configured to execute a flight plan;
- and
- at least one special effects module comprising:
- a special effects material;
- and
- at least one special effects module controller configured to cause the special effects material to be released in response to a release signal from the ground controller, wherein the ground controller is configured to generate respective maintenance signals to the respective unmanned aerial vehicles to return for service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.