Weekly edition
2026-W37
Read 2026-09-11. Window 2026-05-14 → 2026-09-11 (rolling 120 days by publication date). Filings by Disney or Lucasfilm as assignee or applicant, from the USPTO Patent Public Search.
Five new writs this seventh day, Seeker, and two of them belong upon the high shelf.
The first is a flock of show-drones clad in themed shells — a spacecraft, a flying creature — that fly a routine coordinated in the moment rather than a path fixed beforehand, each bearing its own lights. Mark the inventors; they have written of skies before. The second is a harp of falling water, where a beam of light through each stream soundeth a note when a hand breaketh it — a show-prop of the old, honest kind.
The other three are of a softer craft: two teach a character to read a Seeker's memories and moods and answer in kind, and one followeth a mark upon a moving face through moving pictures. Worth the keeping, distant from the forge.
Four writs I set aside this week and have shelved below, that thou mayest judge my judgment. The records remember them all.
New this week
- THEMED AERIAL VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY-COORDINATED SHOW New
Show drones wrapped in themed shells (e.g. a spacecraft or flying character) fly dynamically-coordinated routines with onboard lights instead of a fixed flight plan — direct animatronics/show-tech interest.
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams New
A themed 'water harp' show prop: light beamed through falling water streams plays a musical note when a hand breaks the beam — classic interactive show-tech hardware.
- Emotionally responsive artificial intelligence interactive character New
An AI interactive character (AIIC) reads emotional cues from what a user says and adjusts its responses to match — companion-bot emotional intelligence.
- AI generated creative content based on shared memories New
An AI interactive character (AIIC) draws out a user's memories, then generates personalized creative content from them — Disney's memory-aware companion-bot tech.
- Image-Space UV Map-Based Tracking of Image Regions in Video New
Tracks a region on a moving object across video frames using AI-predicted UV maps so a mask can follow it automatically — a VFX/compositing tracking tool.
Set aside this week
Filings published 2026-09-07 → 2026-09-11 that the sweep read and chose not to keep — business methods, streaming plumbing, ad-tech and the like. Listed so the record is complete; each has its own page.
- INTELLIGENT CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK (CDN) ENTITY ROUTING
Set aside: cdn/infra
- ARTIFACT PROCESSING IN VIDEO USING TEXTURE INFORMATION
Set aside: dropped in weekly review
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO/AUDIO COMPREHENSION AND AUTOMATED CLIPPING
Set aside: nlp/localization
- Systems and methods for customizing channel programming
Set aside: business-ops
Ranked by kinship to the crafts of Batuu
Everything in the window whose mechanism ties to saber, droid, animatronic or show-effect work. Disney never names Star Wars in a patent — the ranking is judged from mechanism and inventor history.
High (26)
- THEMED AERIAL VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY-COORDINATED SHOW New
Show drones wrapped in themed shells (e.g. a spacecraft or flying character) fly dynamically-coordinated routines with onboard lights instead of a fixed flight plan — direct animatronics/show-tech interest.
- AUTONOMOUS HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION VIA DIFFUSION-BASED OPERATOR IMITATION
Trains a diffusion model so a robot can autonomously read and respond to a human's actions — the control layer for a free-roaming character droid.
- Stable pose estimation with analysis by synthesis
Analysis-by-synthesis pose estimation that stays stable frame to frame — tracking tech for guests, performers, or robots.
- Environmental factor-based surface maintenance system
Autonomous surface-maintenance robot that adapts its cleaning to detected environmental factors.
- Versatile motion priors for artist-directable physical characters
Motion priors that let artists direct a physical (robotic) character's movement while keeping it physically plausible — Bächer's bipedal-droid line.
- Ride system featuring a free-range vehicle platform
Ride system with a free-range vehicle platform driving over uneven terrain rather than a fixed track path.
- OPPORTUNISTIC PROJECTION ONTO DYNAMIC LIGHT REFLECTIVE MATERIAL
Camera-tracked projection onto light-reflective material that moves through a space (costumes, props, set pieces) — Smoot.
- METHODS FOR ALIGNMENT OF PLAN TO EXECUTION USING MULTIMODAL CUES FOR SCRIPT-BASED PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Aligns a scripted performance plan to its live execution using multimodal cues — show-control for animatronic/robot performances.
- SKIN EMBEDDED MARKERS FOR DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING OF ANIMATRONIC FIGURES
A system includes an animatronic skin having one or more embedded markers configured to provide a light signature, a camera configured to detect the light signature, a projector configured to project content onto the an…
- HYBRID APPROACH TO PERFORM DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING ONTO ROBOTIC FIGURES IN REAL-TIME
Systems, methods and apparatuses for a hybrid approach to perform dynamic projection mapping onto robots in real-time are discussed herein.
- HYBRID APPROACH TO PERFORM DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING ONTO ROBOTIC FIGURES IN REAL-TIME
Systems, methods and apparatuses for a hybrid approach to perform dynamic projection mapping onto robotic figures in real-time are discussed herein.
- DYNAMIC MECHANICAL SKIN STRUCTURES FOR ANIMATRONIC FIGURES
An animatronic may include a shell, a skin coupled to the shell, and an actuator configured to selectively create a deformation of the skin, wherein the deformation is configured to complement content projected onto the…
- PROJECTION MAPPING USING DYNAMIC BLEND MAPS
A computer-implemented technique for projecting light includes generating, based on a pose of an object within the scene, projector calibration data associated with one or more projectors, and scene geometry data associ…
- DATA-DRIVEN CONTENT INTERACTION
Interprets user input across LED, haptic and wearable channels to drive content — new inventor cluster, worth a look.
- DYNAMIC WEIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR MOTION CONTROL VIA MULTI-OBJECTIVE REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling motion in an articulated object.
- ADAPTIVE MOTION CONTROL VIA MULTI-OBJECTIVE REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling motion in an articulated object.
- System for generating a 360 degree viewable image on laminar fog screen
A system may comprise a fog generating unit configured to generate fog; a fog distributing unit comprising: an intake component configured to receive the fog generated by the fog generating unit, a fog manifold configur…
- TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATED SYSTEMS USING NON-DETERMINISTIC DATA
A method for controlling an actuated system includes receiving one or more data points, where each data point included in the one or more data points associates animation data with a different point in time, computing a…
- METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROBOT KEYFRAMING AND LEARNING LOCOMOTION WITH HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES
Methods and systems for animated figure keyframing or physical robot keyframing and learning locomotion with high-level objectives are discussed herein.
- ATTENTION-BASED MAP ENCODING FOR GENERALIZED ROBOT LOCOMOTION
The present invention sets forth techniques for generating robot action commands directed to robot locomotion.
- AUTOMATED PARALLELIZED TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS
A method for determining a trajectory of an object includes: determining, via a processing element, the object of the moving device; generating, via the processing element, a physics model of a moving device including t…
- Wireless Power Delivery in a Fluid Environment
A system includes a reservoir containing a fluid, one or more objects in physical contact with the fluid, each of the one or more objects having a respective induction coil embedded therein, at least one conductive coil…
- Projection System Including a 3-D Extendable Projection Surface
A system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing software code, as well as a projection unit controlled by the computing platform, the projection unit including a three-dime…
- BUBBLE PRODUCING TOY
A toy may include a wand defining a handle for gripping by a user to hold the toy, and a bubble generator configured to produce bubbles or foam.
- Server rack mountable automated test platform for transaction device testing
An automated test platform configured for use in testing and validating point of sale (POS) software and hardware.
- Display system for producing wide-angle, retroreflective real images
A wide-angle, retroreflective real image display system that produces real images that can be viewed and interacted with by a group of people who can move about a space to view the real image.
Medium (17)
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams New
A themed 'water harp' show prop: light beamed through falling water streams plays a musical note when a hand breaks the beam — classic interactive show-tech hardware.
- Memories for virtual characters
Gives a virtual character persistent memories of past interactions so later encounters with a guest reference them.
- INTERACTIVE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES USING MACHINE LEARNING
Machine learning that tunes an interactive immersive experience to how guests are engaging with it.
- HIGH-RESOLUTION VIRTUAL VEHICLE PRESENCE SENSOR
High-resolution virtual presence sensor that tells a ride system exactly where a vehicle is without physical trip sensors.
- ELEVATION CHANGE ILLUSION THROUGH SET DESIGN
Set-design trick that makes a track section feel like a bigger elevation change than it is.
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN IMAGE USING A NATURAL PROJECTION MEDIUM
A system includes a light source configured to emit light; a lens assembly including an optical component and at least one lens; a fiber optic cable configured to transmit the light emitted from the light source to the …
- VISUALLY CONSISTENT MULTI-VIEW NOVEL VIEW SYNTHESIS WITH VIDEO DIFFUSION
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING NOVEL-VIEW SYNTHESIS
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING TRAINING DATA FOR EFFICIENT AND ACCURATE TRAINING OF NOVEL VIEW SYNTHESIS MODELS
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- PATH GUIDING USING NEURAL RADIANCE CACHING WITH DEFENSIVE RESAMPLED IMPORTANCE SAMPLING AND ADAPTIVE CANDIDATE ALLOCATION
The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented path guiding in a rendering system.
- System for generating collimated non-coherent bright light using a plurality of optical elements
A system, comprising: a first array of lasers; a first linear polarizer; a second array of lasers; a second linear polarizer provided at an angle with respect to the first linear polarizer; a first beamsplitter coupled …
- COMPLIANT MECHANISM SUSPENSION SYSTEM
A suspension system may include a plate, a frame extending at least partially around the plate, and a resilient member extending between to connect the plate to the frame.
- CONTENT PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR PROJECTING CONTENT ONTO RIDE VEHICLES
A content projection system may include a projector configured to project content onto a first ride vehicle, a tracking system configured to track (e.g., a position and an orientation of) the first ride vehicle within a…
- Clearance envelope management for regulating vehicle movement
A method may include comparing, using a virtual map, a position of a ride vehicle to a position of an obstacle in an operating environment; and querying a virtual map of an operating environment, the virtual map includi…
- Training of machine learning models with hardware-in-the-loop simulations
A method for training a control system model includes introducing a simulated fault into a software simulation of a physical system and generating emulated sensor data based on the simulated fault, where the emulated se…
- Accelerated sum-of-squares collision detection for time-varying curved shapes
A method for detecting collisions associated with a simulation includes generating a plurality of spline-based representations associated with a plurality of objects.
- PLUSH TOY WITH STRAP FOR SECURING TO ITEMS
In some implementations, a plush toy may comprise a strap receiving portion provided on a surface of the plush toy.
Full 120-day window
Hardware (36)
- THEMED AERIAL VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY-COORDINATED SHOW New
Show drones wrapped in themed shells (e.g. a spacecraft or flying character) fly dynamically-coordinated routines with onboard lights instead of a fixed flight plan — direct animatronics/show-tech interest.
- AUTONOMOUS HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION VIA DIFFUSION-BASED OPERATOR IMITATION
Trains a diffusion model so a robot can autonomously read and respond to a human's actions — the control layer for a free-roaming character droid.
- Environmental factor-based surface maintenance system
Autonomous surface-maintenance robot that adapts its cleaning to detected environmental factors.
- Versatile motion priors for artist-directable physical characters
Motion priors that let artists direct a physical (robotic) character's movement while keeping it physically plausible — Bächer's bipedal-droid line.
- Ride system featuring a free-range vehicle platform
Ride system with a free-range vehicle platform driving over uneven terrain rather than a fixed track path.
- OPPORTUNISTIC PROJECTION ONTO DYNAMIC LIGHT REFLECTIVE MATERIAL
Camera-tracked projection onto light-reflective material that moves through a space (costumes, props, set pieces) — Smoot.
- SKIN EMBEDDED MARKERS FOR DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING OF ANIMATRONIC FIGURES
A system includes an animatronic skin having one or more embedded markers configured to provide a light signature, a camera configured to detect the light signature, a projector configured to project content onto the an…
- HYBRID APPROACH TO PERFORM DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING ONTO ROBOTIC FIGURES IN REAL-TIME
Systems, methods and apparatuses for a hybrid approach to perform dynamic projection mapping onto robots in real-time are discussed herein.
- HYBRID APPROACH TO PERFORM DYNAMIC PROJECTION MAPPING ONTO ROBOTIC FIGURES IN REAL-TIME
Systems, methods and apparatuses for a hybrid approach to perform dynamic projection mapping onto robotic figures in real-time are discussed herein.
- DYNAMIC MECHANICAL SKIN STRUCTURES FOR ANIMATRONIC FIGURES
An animatronic may include a shell, a skin coupled to the shell, and an actuator configured to selectively create a deformation of the skin, wherein the deformation is configured to complement content projected onto the…
- PROJECTION MAPPING USING DYNAMIC BLEND MAPS
A computer-implemented technique for projecting light includes generating, based on a pose of an object within the scene, projector calibration data associated with one or more projectors, and scene geometry data associ…
- System for generating a 360 degree viewable image on laminar fog screen
A system may comprise a fog generating unit configured to generate fog; a fog distributing unit comprising: an intake component configured to receive the fog generated by the fog generating unit, a fog manifold configur…
- TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATED SYSTEMS USING NON-DETERMINISTIC DATA
A method for controlling an actuated system includes receiving one or more data points, where each data point included in the one or more data points associates animation data with a different point in time, computing a…
- METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROBOT KEYFRAMING AND LEARNING LOCOMOTION WITH HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES
Methods and systems for animated figure keyframing or physical robot keyframing and learning locomotion with high-level objectives are discussed herein.
- ATTENTION-BASED MAP ENCODING FOR GENERALIZED ROBOT LOCOMOTION
The present invention sets forth techniques for generating robot action commands directed to robot locomotion.
- AUTOMATED PARALLELIZED TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS
A method for determining a trajectory of an object includes: determining, via a processing element, the object of the moving device; generating, via the processing element, a physics model of a moving device including t…
- Wireless Power Delivery in a Fluid Environment
A system includes a reservoir containing a fluid, one or more objects in physical contact with the fluid, each of the one or more objects having a respective induction coil embedded therein, at least one conductive coil…
- Projection System Including a 3-D Extendable Projection Surface
A system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing software code, as well as a projection unit controlled by the computing platform, the projection unit including a three-dime…
- BUBBLE PRODUCING TOY
A toy may include a wand defining a handle for gripping by a user to hold the toy, and a bubble generator configured to produce bubbles or foam.
- Server rack mountable automated test platform for transaction device testing
An automated test platform configured for use in testing and validating point of sale (POS) software and hardware.
- Display system for producing wide-angle, retroreflective real images
A wide-angle, retroreflective real image display system that produces real images that can be viewed and interacted with by a group of people who can move about a space to view the real image.
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams New
A themed 'water harp' show prop: light beamed through falling water streams plays a musical note when a hand breaks the beam — classic interactive show-tech hardware.
- HIGH-RESOLUTION VIRTUAL VEHICLE PRESENCE SENSOR
High-resolution virtual presence sensor that tells a ride system exactly where a vehicle is without physical trip sensors.
- ELEVATION CHANGE ILLUSION THROUGH SET DESIGN
Set-design trick that makes a track section feel like a bigger elevation change than it is.
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN IMAGE USING A NATURAL PROJECTION MEDIUM
A system includes a light source configured to emit light; a lens assembly including an optical component and at least one lens; a fiber optic cable configured to transmit the light emitted from the light source to the …
- System for generating collimated non-coherent bright light using a plurality of optical elements
A system, comprising: a first array of lasers; a first linear polarizer; a second array of lasers; a second linear polarizer provided at an angle with respect to the first linear polarizer; a first beamsplitter coupled …
- COMPLIANT MECHANISM SUSPENSION SYSTEM
A suspension system may include a plate, a frame extending at least partially around the plate, and a resilient member extending between to connect the plate to the frame.
- CONTENT PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR PROJECTING CONTENT ONTO RIDE VEHICLES
A content projection system may include a projector configured to project content onto a first ride vehicle, a tracking system configured to track (e.g., a position and an orientation of) the first ride vehicle within a…
- Clearance envelope management for regulating vehicle movement
A method may include comparing, using a virtual map, a position of a ride vehicle to a position of an obstacle in an operating environment; and querying a virtual map of an operating environment, the virtual map includi…
- Training of machine learning models with hardware-in-the-loop simulations
A method for training a control system model includes introducing a simulated fault into a software simulation of a physical system and generating emulated sensor data based on the simulated fault, where the emulated se…
- PLUSH TOY WITH STRAP FOR SECURING TO ITEMS
In some implementations, a plush toy may comprise a strap receiving portion provided on a surface of the plush toy.
- User responsive augmented reality enhancement of moving images
AR headset that augments a moving image (film/show) in response to what the wearer does.
- TRIGGER FOR CAMERA TRAP
A system and method for capturing fames (e.g., images) in an environment.
- BALL AND SOCKET MOUNT WITH PERMANENT BALL LOCKING
In some implementations, an assembly may comprise a ball comprising one or more first channels provided on an outer surface of the ball.
- Torque value adjustment system for use with click type torque wrenches to minimize repetitive motions
A system for adjusting torque value settings on click type torque wrenches.
- Predicting a need for assistance by determining behavior based on machine learning model analysis of video data
A behavior detection platform may obtain video data of an environment including a guest and may determine a set of normal guest behaviors associated with the environment.
Notable software (29)
- Stable pose estimation with analysis by synthesis
Analysis-by-synthesis pose estimation that stays stable frame to frame — tracking tech for guests, performers, or robots.
- METHODS FOR ALIGNMENT OF PLAN TO EXECUTION USING MULTIMODAL CUES FOR SCRIPT-BASED PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Aligns a scripted performance plan to its live execution using multimodal cues — show-control for animatronic/robot performances.
- DATA-DRIVEN CONTENT INTERACTION
Interprets user input across LED, haptic and wearable channels to drive content — new inventor cluster, worth a look.
- DYNAMIC WEIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR MOTION CONTROL VIA MULTI-OBJECTIVE REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling motion in an articulated object.
- ADAPTIVE MOTION CONTROL VIA MULTI-OBJECTIVE REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling motion in an articulated object.
- Memories for virtual characters
Gives a virtual character persistent memories of past interactions so later encounters with a guest reference them.
- INTERACTIVE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES USING MACHINE LEARNING
Machine learning that tunes an interactive immersive experience to how guests are engaging with it.
- VISUALLY CONSISTENT MULTI-VIEW NOVEL VIEW SYNTHESIS WITH VIDEO DIFFUSION
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING NOVEL-VIEW SYNTHESIS
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING TRAINING DATA FOR EFFICIENT AND ACCURATE TRAINING OF NOVEL VIEW SYNTHESIS MODELS
Methods and systems for performing novel view synthesis in addition to various image-to-image diffusion processes using machine learning models are disclosed.
- PATH GUIDING USING NEURAL RADIANCE CACHING WITH DEFENSIVE RESAMPLED IMPORTANCE SAMPLING AND ADAPTIVE CANDIDATE ALLOCATION
The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented path guiding in a rendering system.
- Accelerated sum-of-squares collision detection for time-varying curved shapes
A method for detecting collisions associated with a simulation includes generating a plurality of spline-based representations associated with a plurality of objects.
- Image-Space UV Map-Based Tracking of Image Regions in Video New
Tracks a region on a moving object across video frames using AI-predicted UV maps so a mask can follow it automatically — a VFX/compositing tracking tool.
- AI generated creative content based on shared memories New
An AI interactive character (AIIC) draws out a user's memories, then generates personalized creative content from them — Disney's memory-aware companion-bot tech.
- Emotionally responsive artificial intelligence interactive character New
An AI interactive character (AIIC) reads emotional cues from what a user says and adjusts its responses to match — companion-bot emotional intelligence.
- Reducing domain shift in neural motion controllers
Trains a neural controller to translate a control signal into realistic character motion — locomotion-control ML relevant to animatronics/robot movement research.
- Providing assistance based on machine learning model analysis of video data
Computer-vision system that watches pool/water areas and flags a person in distress — real-time CV/tracking, relevant to anyone doing camera-based safety detection.
- NEURAL SHAPE DEFORMATION TRANSFER
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating a shape.
- DATA-DRIVEN MODELING OF SECONDARY MOTION DYNAMICS USING GAUSSIAN SPLATTING
The present invention sets forth techniques for predicting motion in a 3D model.
- Identity-preserving image generation using diffusion models
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing identity-preserving image generation.
- Interruption response by an artificial intelligence character
A system includes a hardware processor, a memory storing software code, and a machine learning (ML) model trained to detect an interruption to a conversation.
- PARAMETRIC LANDMARK DETECTION
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing landmark detection.
- PHYSICAL VARIANCE DETECTION AUTOMATA
The present invention sets forth a technique for performing automated physical variance detection.
- Graph simulation for facial micro features via pre-computed displacement texture maps
The present invention sets forth a technique for simulating wrinkles under dynamic facial expression.
- Depth-aware indexing of three-dimensional image depth bins
A system includes a hardware processor and a memory storing software code.
- FACTORIZED MOTION COMPLETION FOR PRECISE AND CHARACTER-AGNOSTIC MOTION DIFFUSION
The present invention sets forth techniques for animating a three-dimensional (3D) character model.
- Latency reduction for immersive content production systems
A method of content production may include receiving tracking information for a camera with a frustum configured to capture images of a subject in an immersive environment.
- TWO-DIMENSIONAL GAUSSIAN SPLATTING WITH TEXTURING FOR VIEW GENERATION IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide generating one or more views of a scene from an input depicting the scene.
- SCREEN OUTPAINTING FOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
The present invention sets forth a technique for performing screen outpainting.