Aerial show system with dynamic participation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with distributed show systems

Number: 10723455
Published: 2020-07-28
Filed: 2019-09-03
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Hovey; Pehr L., Zupan; Madeline R., Dohi; Anthony Paul, Christensen; David Loyal, Snoddy; Jon Hayes, Pope; Morgan T.
CPC: A63H27/12; A63J5/02; A63J5/023; A63J99/00; B64D1/02; G05D1/6987
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Drone (UAV) aerial show system with distributed show coordination.

Abstract

An aerial show system that includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), show systems onboard the UAVs, non-UAV or “ground” show systems, and a global ground control system. The control system is configured to actively track a UAV's operations during a show performance and to react to make the UAV truly a part of the larger show performance. The system achieves dynamic show participation of the UAV with the distributed show systems, which may include other UAVs and non-UAV show systems on the ground but launch or provide effects in the airspace through which the UAV flies. For example, the control system may track a UAV with a show effect element to determine whether the UAV properly hits its cue or mark with respect to position and orientation in the show space and with respect to timing and, in response to location tracking, trigger show effects early, late, or on time.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to aerial shows or displays, and, more particularly, the description relates to a new system (and associated control methods) adapted for providing a dynamically-coordinated show (e.g., coordinated between airborne and ground devices) to entertain guests of a facility such as a theme park, an outdoor sporting stadium, and so on. The system includes distributed show systems and human actors as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which that are tracked, monitored, and controlled to provide dynamic show participation with the distributed show system and human actors.2. Relevant Background(2) There is a strong demand for new ways to provide shows or displays in the sky. These shows and displays may be provided, for example, to crowds of people visiting a theme or amusement park. In other cases, an airborne display or show is provided to sports fans before or after a sporting event or even at halftime or another break.(3) Show and display designers have begun to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as quadcopters, as part of a show or to carry a portion of show's aerial components. UAVs present numerous opportunities to creatively enhance a theatrical show production. However, they are typically operated as nearly independent systems that may fly to a pre-programmed pattern. Particularly, to date, the UAVs generally have been controlled through execution of a pre-programmed set of movem

Claims

1. A system adapted for achieving dynamic participation in a distributed aerial show, comprising: a ground-based show control system generating triggering signals for triggering show effects based on a timeline defined for the distributed aerial show; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising an onboard or offboard flight propulsion mechanism operable to move the UAV in three dimensions in a show airspace; one or more show effect devices physically separated from the UAV and operable in response to the triggering signals to generate a first show effect; and one or more show effect devices physically on or supported by the UAV and operable in response to the triggering signals to generate a second show effect, wherein the first and second show effects interact to generate a cumulative show effect. 12. A system adapted for achieving dynamic participation in a distributed aerial show, comprising: a show control system generating show control signals; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) moving through a show airspace; and one or more show effect devices physically separated from the UAV and operable in response to the show control signals, wherein the show control system generates the show control signals based on a real time location of the UAV in the show airspace and on a show plan for the distributed aerial show defining locations for the UAV at predefined times along a show timeline. 23. A system adapted for achieving dynamic participation in a distributed aerial show, comprising: a ground-based show control system generating signals for triggering show effects based on a timeline defined for the distributed aerial show; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) moving in three dimensions in a show airspace based on a flight plan defined for the distributed aerial show; one or more show effect devices physically separated from the UAV and operable in response to the triggering signals; and one or more show effect devices physically on or supported by the UAV and operable in response to the triggering signals, wherein the triggering signals are generated at times early or later than predefined effect times in the timeline to achieve synchronized interaction of the UAV with the one or more show effect devices separated from the UAV.