Ride system featuring a free-range vehicle platform

Number: 12717355
Published: 2026-08-25
Filed: 2024-09-11
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Howard; Derek Lee, Nemeth; Edward Allen
CPC: A63G25/00; G05D1/82; G05D1/69; G05D2105/65; G05D2107/30
Verdict: High Hardware
First reported: 2026-W36 (2026-09-05)
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Ride system with a free-range vehicle platform driving over uneven terrain rather than a fixed track path.

Abstract

A ride system may include a track including uneven terrain, a plurality of ride vehicles positioned on the track, and a fleet controller (e.g., a wayside controller). The ride vehicles may be adapted to traverse the uneven terrain, such as along a respective chosen path of multiple paths based on respective user control. The user control may be configured to select the chosen path and adjust a speed and a direction of the ride vehicle along the chosen path. The fleet controller may provide an override control of the ride vehicles along the track based on the chosen path, the speed, and the direction of the ride vehicles. The fleet controller may define a default position and pacing for the ride vehicles. The user control may be configured to adjust the position and pacing of an associated ride vehicle from the default position and pacing, respectively.

Background

FIELD (1) The present application relates to a ride system, such as rides with movable vehicles (e.g., free-range vehicle platforms). BACKGROUND (2) Rides or attractions seek to provide an immersive guest experience, such as to accurately or closely simulate the real world in a controlled environment. Existing solutions often fall short of real life simulation, often because of a lack of technology or because of ride characteristics themselves. For example, for rides with movable vehicles, existing solutions may not simulate the physical dynamics of real world vehicles. In addition, existing solutions may not provide guest control, thereby limiting the guest experience. (3) Therefore a need exists for systems and methods that addresses the concerns above or at least offers an alternative to existing solutions. BRIEF SUMMARY (4) In one example, a ride system includes a track including uneven terrain. The ride system further includes a plurality of ride vehicles positioned on the track and adapted to traverse the uneven terrain along a respective chosen path of multiple paths based on respective user control, the user control configured to select the chosen path and adjust a speed and a direction of the ride vehicle along the chosen path. The ride system further includes a fleet controller configured to provide an override control of the ride vehicles along the track based on the chosen path, the speed, and the direction of the ride vehicles. (5) Optionally, the multiple paths

Claims

1. A ride system comprising: a track comprising uneven terrain; a plurality of ride vehicles positioned on the track, each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles adapted to traverse the uneven terrain along a respective chosen path based on respective user control, the user control configured to select the chosen path and adjust a speed and a direction of the associated ride vehicle along the chosen path; and a fleet controller configured to provide an override control of the ride vehicles along the track based on the chosen path, the speed, and the direction of each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the override control is configured to navigate the plurality of ride vehicles to maintain distance requirements relative to one another. || 6. A ride system comprising: a track; a plurality of ride vehicles configured to traverse the track; a fleet controller configured to navigate the plurality of ride vehicles along a default path and at a default speed along the track absent user input, wherein the default path and the default speed is adjusted dynamically based on a detected condition of the track or a ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles; and a respective user control for each of the plurality of ride vehicles, the user control configured to: adjust a position of an associated ride vehicle from the default path; adjust a speed of the associated ride vehicle from the default speed; or a combination thereof. || 14. A ride system comprising: a ride vehicle adapted to traverse uneven ground terrain of a track; and a navigation system configured to control a position of the ride vehicle along the track, the navigation system comprising: an onboard controller configured to receive a user input for a desired position of the ride vehicle along the track; and a wayside controller in communication with the onboard controller, the wayside controller configured to determine a track threshold based on a detected condition, compare the user input for the desired position against the track threshold, and adjust the desired position of the ride vehicle based on the track threshold.