RIDE WITH AUTOMATED TRACKLESS VEHICLES CONTROLLED BASED ON SENSED OCCUPANT STATE

Number: 20170157521
Published: 2017-06-08
Filed: 2017-02-17
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: COMPLOI; DUMENE
CPC: A63G25/00; A63G31/00; B60W40/08; B60W50/10; G05D1/00; G06V20/597; G06V40/174
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

A theme park ride with automated trackless vehicles that sense a passengers state and adjust the ride experience along the vehicles path accordingly.

Abstract

Asystem for controlling ride experiences through a ride space of an amusement park ride based on a passenger's present state. The system includes a sensor mounted on an automated trackless vehicle, being controlled to travel along a first ride path, sensing passenger data for a passenger. The system includes a controller processing the passenger data to determine a passenger state at a particular point in time during the ride experience. The controller determines a location of the automated trackless vehicle on the first ride path. The controller, based on the passenger state and the location of the automated trackless vehicle on the first ride path, determines a second ride path for the automated trackless vehicle for the ride space. The controller then controls the automated trackless vehicle to move from the first ride path to the second ride path to alter the passenger's state to enhance their ride experience.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic or functional block drawing of a ride or ride system operating to manage progression of a vehicle through a ride or travel space and/or show element operationsbased on a determined “state” of a passenger of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method of (or algorithm for) managing a passenger's ride experience based on emotional states of the vehicle's passenger(s) such as by operation of the ride system of FIG.1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a portion of a ride system illustrating its operations to modify movement of the vehicle (changing the ride system operations) in response to passenger state;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a portion of a ride system, similar to FIGS. 3A and 3B, illustrating its operations to modify operation of a display element (e.g.,changing displayed content) in response to passenger state; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method of (or algorithm for) managing vehicle behavior based in part upon an occupant's (or passenger's) state.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is directed toward sensing and managing vehicle behavior based on a sensed and/or determined state of a vehicle passenger. Here, the term “state” of a passenger is intended to have a broad meaning and may correspond with a level of attentiveness, with an emotional state, or with other passenger characteristics relating to a ride experience. Briefly, the control methods and s

Claims

1. A park ride, comprising: a ride space comprisinga plurality of display assemblies; a plurality of automated trackless vehicles each including a drive system and a sensor assembly collecting data for at least one passenger in the automated trackless vehicle; and a control system processing the collected data to determine a current state for the at least one passenger in each of the automated trackless vehicles and, in response to the current states, operating at least one of the drive systems of one of the automated trackless vehicles to manage travel of the one of the automated trackless vehicles through the ride space 8. A system comprising: a trackless vehicle with abody with seating for one or more passengers, wherein the trackless vehicle is adapted for automated travel along one of paths through a travel space; a sensor on the passenger vehicle sensing data for a passenger in the trackless vehicle; and a control system: processing the sensed data for the passenger to determine a state of the passenger during movement of the trackless vehicle through the travel space, comparing the determined passenger state with a goal state for the travel space, and generating a control signal based on results of the comparing that alters an operating state of the trackless vehicle, wherein the state of the passenger is an emotional state or a level of attention, and wherein the sensed data comprises a digital image of the passenger or physiological data for the passenger.13. A system for controlling a ride experience for a passenger, comprising: an automated trackless vehicle traveling along a first ride path in a ride space; a sensor, mounted on or provided within the automated trackless vehicle, sensing passenger data for a passengerin the automated trackless vehicle while traveling along the first ride path; and a controller processing the passenger data to determine an emotional state or a level of attention of the passenger, wherein the controller further determines a location of the automated trackless vehicle on the first ride path, determines a second ride path for the automated trackless vehicle in the ride space based on the emotional state or the level of attentionof the passenger, and controls the automated trackless vehicle to move from the first ride path onto the second ride path.