Weekly edition
2026-W42
Read 2026-10-16. Window 2026-06-18 → 2026-10-16 (rolling 120 days by publication date). Filings by Disney or Lucasfilm as assignee or applicant, from the USPTO Patent Public Search.
On this seventh day, Seeker, three new writs have I found and set before mine eyes, and yet none among them do I raise this week unto the high shelf, for none hath won the highest regard.
One writ telleth of a floor not fixed but free — made of many small platforms, each able to stir and tilt apart from its neighbors, so that together they may lean and shift beneath a performer as though the very ground conspired in the telling of a scene. Such craft standeth near the second shelf, where the mechanisms of stage and show floor are kept.
Three writs were set aside this week, their workings too far from the sabers, the droids, and the living figures these shelves were built to hold. Yet nothing here is lost; nothing is cast into forgetting. The records remember them, even when none living do.
New this week
- Modular omnidirectional actuated floors providing a reconfigurable video production environment New
A stage floor of independently-moving tiles that push back against performers to simulate motion for the camera — an actuated show-floor rig for motion-platform builders.
- Real-time animation motion capture New
Records a performer's body and facial motion, then grafts in motion-capture data from a second performance to splice two actors' takes into one animated character.
- EVENT DETECTION BASED ON ANALYSIS OF VIDEO DATA New
A vision system that watches video to spot a person and a specific event happening to them, then scores how confident it is before acting on the detection.
Set aside this week
Filings published 2026-10-10 → 2026-10-16 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.
- TECHNIQUES FOR DENOISING VIDEOS
Set aside: dropped in weekly review
- Secure digital registration of contracts governing media content use
Set aside: search/metadata, security/drm, 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 (23)
- Pose-aware neural inverse kinematics
Uses a neural network to solve a virtual character's joint poses from constraints — inverse-kinematics tech relevant to robotics/animatronic motion control.
- DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING WIDE-ANGLE, RETROREFLECTIVE REAL IMAGES
A ring of beamsplitter/retroreflector stations that projects a real, glasses-free 3D image floating in space that a whole crowd can walk around and view from any angle — a scalable Pepper's-ghost-style theme-park effect.
- THEMED AERIAL VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY-COORDINATED SHOW
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…
Medium (18)
- Modular omnidirectional actuated floors providing a reconfigurable video production environment New
A stage floor of independently-moving tiles that push back against performers to simulate motion for the camera — an actuated show-floor rig for motion-platform builders.
- Selective visualization of an image using second pass-through of polarized light
A sign with two polarizing filters and a perforated image layer shows a different picture depending on which polarizer the viewer looks through -- a hidden-image effect useful for props or displays.
- SYSTEM FOR GENERATING COLLIMATED NON-COHERENT BRIGHT LIGHT USING A PLURALITY OF OPTICAL ELEMENTS
Combines two laser arrays with a phosphor converter to produce bright, non-coherent collimated light — projector/show-lighting hardware worth watching for prop and stage applications.
- RIDER INCLUSIVE TRANSPORT AIDE
A self-leveling platform on a theme-park ride vehicle that stays flat (for wheelchairs/gear) as the vehicle tilts over water or uneven ground.
- TRAINING OF MACHINE LEARNING MODELS WITH HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP SIMULATIONS
Trains fault-tolerant control-system models by injecting simulated faults into hardware-in-the-loop sensor emulations — relevant to robotics/animatronic control tuning.
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams
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…
Full 120-day window
Hardware (32)
- DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING WIDE-ANGLE, RETROREFLECTIVE REAL IMAGES
A ring of beamsplitter/retroreflector stations that projects a real, glasses-free 3D image floating in space that a whole crowd can walk around and view from any angle — a scalable Pepper's-ghost-style theme-park effect.
- THEMED AERIAL VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY-COORDINATED SHOW
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…
- Modular omnidirectional actuated floors providing a reconfigurable video production environment New
A stage floor of independently-moving tiles that push back against performers to simulate motion for the camera — an actuated show-floor rig for motion-platform builders.
- Selective visualization of an image using second pass-through of polarized light
A sign with two polarizing filters and a perforated image layer shows a different picture depending on which polarizer the viewer looks through -- a hidden-image effect useful for props or displays.
- SYSTEM FOR GENERATING COLLIMATED NON-COHERENT BRIGHT LIGHT USING A PLURALITY OF OPTICAL ELEMENTS
Combines two laser arrays with a phosphor converter to produce bright, non-coherent collimated light — projector/show-lighting hardware worth watching for prop and stage applications.
- RIDER INCLUSIVE TRANSPORT AIDE
A self-leveling platform on a theme-park ride vehicle that stays flat (for wheelchairs/gear) as the vehicle tilts over water or uneven ground.
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams
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…
- 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.
Notable software (30)
- Pose-aware neural inverse kinematics
Uses a neural network to solve a virtual character's joint poses from constraints — inverse-kinematics tech relevant to robotics/animatronic motion control.
- 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.
- TRAINING OF MACHINE LEARNING MODELS WITH HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP SIMULATIONS
Trains fault-tolerant control-system models by injecting simulated faults into hardware-in-the-loop sensor emulations — relevant to robotics/animatronic control tuning.
- 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.
- EVENT DETECTION BASED ON ANALYSIS OF VIDEO DATA New
A vision system that watches video to spot a person and a specific event happening to them, then scores how confident it is before acting on the detection.
- Real-time animation motion capture New
Records a performer's body and facial motion, then grafts in motion-capture data from a second performance to splice two actors' takes into one animated character.
- Anonymized Human Body Tracking
Uses a sensor to spot a person's body parts and track an anonymized, skeleton-like position in real time -- markerless motion tracking an animatronic or interactive droid could react to.
- MULTI-LAYER REPRESENTATIONS FOR ARTISTICALLY CONTROLLABLE STEREO CONVERSION
Uses machine learning to predict depth and split a 2D image into layers so artists can convert flat footage into stereo 3D with manual control over the depth effect.
- NEURAL VIEW-DEPENDENT PRINCIPLED BRDF ADAPTER
Trains a neural network to adapt one material's light-reflecting properties to mimic another from any viewing angle -- a shortcut for realistic material rendering in CG.
- Crowd removal and automatic focus for images
Splits a photo into segments, uses depth data to separate subjects from bystanders, then automatically removes the crowd and focuses on the subject -- useful for cleaning up theme-park photo captures.
- Interruption Response by an Artificial Intelligence Character
Gives a conversational AI character (think interactive droids/animatronics) the ability to notice when it's been interrupted mid-sentence and pick a smart way to respond instead of talking over people.
- BOOTSTRAPPED ROTOSCOPE-MATTING TRAINING
Trains a computer-vision model to auto-rotoscope/matte VFX footage by synthesizing composite training data from real and rendered foreground objects.
- Image-Space UV Map-Based Tracking of Image Regions in Video
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
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
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.