Robotic Arm Integrated Immersive Reality

Abstract

The attraction system includes a ride vehicle configured to move within the attraction system, a display coupled to the ride vehicle, and a control system communicatively coupled to the display, the control system configured to determine a position and / or orientation of the display within the attraction system and operate the display to present images based on the position and / or orientation of the display.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 340,279, entitled "ROBOTIC ARM INTEGRATED IMMERSIVE REALITY," filed May 10, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. [Background technology]

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present technology described and / or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. As such, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0003] Amusement parks and other entertainment venues may use special effects to help immerse guests in the ride or attraction experience. An immersive environment may include physical props and set pieces, robotic or mechanical elements, and / or display surfaces presenting media. An immersive environment may also include sound effects, smoke effects, and / or motion effects. Thus, an immersive environment may include a combination of dynamic and static elements. With the increasing sophistication and complexity of modern ride attractions and corresponding rising expectations among theme park or amusement park patrons, improved and more creative attractions are desirable, including ride attractions with more complex, immersive, and / or realistic special effects, such as visual effects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Below, we present an overview of some embodiments disclosed herein. It should be understood that these aspects are merely intended to provide the reader with a summary of some of these embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In fact, the present disclosure may include various aspects that may not be presented below.

[0005] In one embodiment, an attraction system includes a ride vehicle configured to move within the attraction system, a display coupled to the ride vehicle, and a control system communicatively coupled to the display, the control system configured to determine a position and / or orientation of the display within the attraction system and operate the display to display images based on the position and / or orientation of the display.

[0006] In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: command an actuator to move a display coupled to the actuator of the attraction system, determine a positioning of the display, determine image data based on the positioning of the display, and command the display to present an image based on the image data.

[0007] In one embodiment, an attraction system includes a display coupled to an actuator, a ride vehicle configured to move to move the display, and a control system communicatively coupled to the display, the control system configured to command the actuator to move the display, determine a position and / or orientation of the display within the attraction system, and operate the display to present an image based on the position and / or orientation of the display.

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are designated with like reference characters throughout. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an attraction system including a display, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including a display coupled to a ride vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including a display coupled to a ride vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including a display coupled to an actuator, according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including multiple displays coupled to respective actuators in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including a ride vehicle and a display coupled to an actuator in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system including a ride vehicle, an actuator coupled to the ride vehicle, and a display coupled to the actuator, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method or process for operating an attraction system according to an aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] One or more specific embodiments are described below. In order to describe these embodiments concisely, not all of the features of the implementations are described herein. It should be understood that the development of any such implementation, as in any engineering or design project, requires numerous implementation-specific decisions to be made in order to achieve the developer's particular objectives, such as adhering to system-related and business-related constraints that may vary from implementation to implementation. Moreover, it should be understood that such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, but would be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0011] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one, two, or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. It should also be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also contain the recited features.

[0012] The present disclosure relates to an attraction system for an amusement or theme park. An amusement park may include various features to entertain guests, such as rides (e.g., roller coasters), theatrical shows, set designs, performers, and / or decorative elements. Show effects may also be used to supplement or complement these features, such as to provide a more immersive and / or unique experience for guests. For example, show effects that emulate real-world elements may be presented to provide a more realistic atmosphere for guests.

[0013] In some embodiments, the show effect may include a display configured to present an output, such as an image and / or a video (e.g., a series of images) to the guest. For example, the display output (e.g., images) may include a visualization of a virtual environment (e.g., a virtual space defining a three-dimensional (3-D) model). During operation of the attraction system, the display may be positioned such that the output is viewable by the guest. For example, the display may be moved to enhance visibility of the display based on the guest's location and / or may be coupled to a ride vehicle of the attraction system such that the display moves in response to the movement of the ride vehicle. The movement of the display and the display output may work in concert to entertain the guest.

[0014] It may be desirable to adjust the output provided by the display to enhance the representation of the virtual environment to the guest. For example, it may be desirable to operate the display to present an output that represents the corresponding movement of the display within the virtual environment when the display is moved within the attraction system. This may result in a more realistic representation of the virtual environment (e.g., the perception of movement through the virtual environment). Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determining the orientation (e.g., position, orientation, location) of the display and instructing the display to present an output based on the determined orientation. Thus, as the display moves, the display may be instructed to present an updated output. As an example, the updated output may represent movement within the virtual environment corresponding to the movement of the display. In an embodiment, each output (e.g., image data that causes the display to present an image) may be associated with the corresponding orientation of the display. Thus, based on the determined orientation of the display, an associated output may be selected to be presented via the display. In this manner, the output of the display may be more closely associated with the movement of the display, and such operation of the display may provide benefits not readily achievable with existing display manipulation methods (e.g., using predefined media files). As one example, the output may more realistically depict movement within the virtual environment based on the movement of the display within the attraction system to provide a more realistic experience for the guest. As another example, in embodiments where the movement of the display is different for different ride cycles or is customizable (e.g., based on user input) for different ride cycles, the output of the display may be more unique or individualized. Thus, operating the display based on the determined positioning of the display may improve operation of the attraction system to entertain the guest.

[0015] With this in mind, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an attraction system 50. The attraction system 50 can be configured to entertain one or more guests 52. In some embodiments, the attraction system 50 can include a ride vehicle 54 in which the guest 52 can be placed. The ride vehicle 54 can move during operation of the attraction system 50 to provide a sense of movement (e.g., gravity adjustment, inertial force adjustment, attitude adjustment) and / or transport the guest 52 to different parts of the attraction system 50. For example, the ride vehicle 54 can move (e.g., translate) along a path 56, which can include a track, an open walkway, or any suitable route that the ride vehicle 54 can navigate. Additionally or alternatively, the ride vehicle 54 can remain at a particular location within the attraction system 50 or can move (e.g., pivot, rotate) about a base to orient itself in place, for example, to move the guest 52 within the attraction system 50. The movement of the ride vehicle 54 can entertain the guest 52. Additionally, guests 52 may travel through and / or within the attraction system 50 without being accompanied by a ride vehicle 54. For example, the attraction system 50 may include alternative paths along which guests 52 may travel (e.g., queues, open walkways, walkways) as well as various features to entertain guests 52 traveling through and / or within the attraction system 50.

[0016] The attraction system 50 may also include a show effects system 58 configured to provide additional enjoyment to the guest 52. In some embodiments, the show effects system 58 may include a display 60 configured to provide an output (e.g., a media output, a virtual output) visible to the guest 52. The output may include an image, such as a picture or a video (e.g., multiple images presented in sequence). For example, the output provided by the display 60 may present a virtual environment in which the guest 52 is immersed. The output may provide a more realistic appearance of the virtual environment by representing the movement of the display 60 within the virtual environment based on the movement of the display 60 within the attraction system 50.

[0017] To this end, the attraction system 50 (e.g., show effects system 58) may include a control system 62 (e.g., an automation controller, a programmable controller, an electronic controller) communicatively coupled to the display 60 and configured to operate the display 60. The control system 62 may include a memory 64 and a processing circuit 66. The memory 64 may include volatile memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), an optical drive, a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, or other non-transitory computer-readable medium that contains instructions. The processing circuit 66 may be configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processing circuit 66 may include one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more general-purpose processors, or any combination thereof.

[0018] The control system 62 can be configured to operate the display 60 to provide an output based on a positioning, such as a position and / or orientation, of the display 60. To this end, the show effects system 50 can include a sensor 68 configured to monitor a parameter related to the positioning of the display 60. The sensor 68 can transmit data indicative of the parameter to the control system 62, which can operate the display 60 based on the parameter. In some embodiments, the sensor 68 can include a position sensor, which can include an optical sensor (e.g., a camera), a remote sensing device (e.g., a light detection and ranging sensor), a proximity sensor, another suitable position sensor, or any combination thereof. In such embodiments, the parameter monitored by the sensor 68 can directly correspond to the positioning of the display 60 determined by the sensor 68. In further or alternative embodiments, the sensor 68 can include a movement or motion sensor, which can include a speedometer, a gyroscope, an inertial measurement unit, another movement sensor, or any combination thereof. In such embodiments, the parameter monitored by the sensor 68 can include a movement or adjustment of the positioning of the display 60. The control system 62 may determine a change in the positioning of the display 60 based on the movement data received from the sensor 68. For example, the control system 62 may determine an updated positioning of the display 60 based on a determined movement of the display 60 from a previous position of the display 60.

[0019] For example, the control system 62 may determine a position and / or orientation of the display 60 in a virtual 3-D coordinate system based on data received from the sensor 68 indicating the positioning of the display 60 in the real world. The control system 62 may then operate the display 60 based on the position and / or orientation of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system. As an example, the control system 62 may reference information or data that associates or maps different image data to respective positions (e.g., positions, orientations, coordinates, locations) of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system. In response to determining the positioning of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system, the control system 62 may select image data associated with the positioning of the display 60 based on the referenced information and instruct the display 60 to display an image based on the selected image data. For example, the control system 62 may transmit image data to the display 60 to cause the display 60 to present an image corresponding to the image data. For example, each image data associated with a different positioning of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system may correspond to an appearance of the virtual environment as seen from the positioning in the 3-D coordinate system. Control system 62 may determine updated image data associated with an updated appearance (e.g., as seen from its positioning in the 3-D coordinate system) of the virtual environment based on changes in the positioning of display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system (e.g., caused by movement of display 60 in the real world). Control system 62 may transmit the updated image data to display 60 to cause display 60 to present images that provide an updated appearance of the virtual environment, such as to represent movement of display 60 in the virtual environment that corresponds to physical movement of display 60 in the real world.

[0020] In some embodiments, the actuator 70 of the show effects system 58 (e.g., of the attraction system 50) can be configured to move the display 60. As an example, the actuator 70 can include a robotic arm having segments movable relative to one another, and operation of the actuator 70 can move the segments to cause movement of the display 60. As another example, the actuator 70 can include a combination of a winch, pulley, and / or cable or rope coupled to the display 60, and operation of the actuator 70 can cause the winch and pulley to move (e.g., pull, stretch) the cable or rope to move the display 60. As a further example, the actuator 70 can include a platform assembly (e.g., a parallel manipulator) having multiple platforms configured to move relative to one another. The display 60 can be coupled to one of the platforms, and operation of the actuator 70 can cause the platform to move to move the display 60. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator 70 can include any suitable component or device configured to move the display 60.

[0021] The control system 62 can be communicatively coupled to the actuators 70 and can be configured to command the actuators 70 to move the display 60. In one embodiment, the control system 62 can be configured to command the actuators 70 to move the display 60 in a preprogrammed, pre-set, or pre-determined path or manner based on a particular ride cycle (e.g., the ride vehicle 54 moves along the path 56) and / or an operating time of the attraction system 50, etc. In further or alternative embodiments, the control system 62 can be configured to command the actuators 70 to move based on input data. As an example, the control system 62 can receive data (e.g., from the sensors 68) indicative of a position of the guest 52 within the attraction system 50. For example, the guest 52 can navigate the attraction system 50 and / or move via movement along the path 56 of the ride vehicle 54 carrying the guest 52. The control system 62 can command the actuators 70 to move based on the determined position of the guest 52, for example, to position the display 60 relative to the guest 52 so that the guest 52 can view the output of the display 60. As another example, the control system 62 may receive user input and operate the actuators 70 based on the user input. Thus, the control system 62 may include or be communicatively coupled to a user interface 72, such as a touch screen, track pad, mouse, buttons, switches, dials, sliders, and levers. The guest 52 may interact with the user interface 72 to send the user input, and the control system 62 may receive the user input and instruct the actuators 70 to move the display 60 based on the user input. For example, the user input may indicate a request to move the display 60 in a particular direction and / or target position, and the control system 62 may be configured to responsively instruct the display 60 to move in the particular direction and / or target position.

[0022] In some embodiments, the control system 62 may include a single controller configured to determine the positioning of the display 60 (e.g., via the sensor 68), operate the display 60 to present content, and command the actuators 70 to move the display 60. In further or alternative embodiments, the control system 62 may include one or more independent controllers (e.g., a primary controller, a secondary controller) configured to coordinate the operation of the display 60, the actuators 70, and / or any other features of the attraction system 50. For example, a first controller of the control system 62 may determine the positioning of the display 60, a second controller of the control system 62 may operate the display 60 (e.g., based on communication with the first controller), and a third controller of the control system 62 may command the actuators 70 to move the display 60 (e.g., based on communication with the first controller and / or the second controller). In practice, the control system 62 may include any suitable number of controllers to operate one or more subsystems (e.g., the display 60, the actuators 70, the ride vehicle 54) of the attraction system 50.

[0023] In some embodiments, the actuator 70 can be attached, secured, mounted, or engaged to the ride vehicle 54. For example, the display 60 can be coupled to the ride vehicle 54, and the actuator 70 can be configured to couple to the ride vehicle 54 and move the ride vehicle 54. Thus, operation of the actuator 70 can cause movement of the ride vehicle 54 and corresponding movement of the display 60 coupled to the ride vehicle 54. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator 70 can be coupled to the ride vehicle 54, and the display 60 can be coupled to the actuator 70. Thus, movement of the ride vehicle 54 (e.g., along the path 56) can cause movement of the actuator 70 and the display 60. The control system 62 can also operate the actuator 70 to cause further movement of the display 60. In further or alternative embodiments, the actuator 70 can be separate from the ride vehicle 54. For example, the actuator 70 can be coupled to a base that is not part of the ride vehicle 54, and thus the actuator 70 can move separately from the ride vehicle 54. In other words, movement of the ride vehicle 54 may not directly cause movement of the actuator 70 and display 60 .

[0024] In any case, the control system 62 can instruct the display 60 to present a particular output based on the movement of the display 60 caused by the movement of the ride vehicle 54 and / or the movement of the actuator 70. Operating the display 60 to present a position-based output can enhance the experience provided to the guest 52. For example, the operation of the display 60 can be flexible as compared to outputting a pre-programmed or predetermined media file. As an example, the control system 62 can be configured to provide a more unique or personalized experience for the guest 52 by causing the display 60 to present different outputs (e.g., based on different movements of the display 60) during different ride cycles. As another example, the output provided by the display 60 can correspond to the movement and / or determined positioning of the display 60 as appropriate as compared to a pre-programmed media file. That is, the output can be more synchronized or more closely matched to the movement of the display 60. For example, different ride cycles may have different movements and / or motions (e.g., speed, acceleration, vibration) of the display 60 based on the state of the actuator 70, the weight or number of guests 52 in the ride vehicle 54 that cause the movement of the display 60, wind speed, etc. However, pre-programmed media files, such as pre-set videos, may not change across different ride cycles. Thus, the pre-programmed media files may not match the different movements and / or motions associated with a particular ride cycle.

[0025] Meanwhile, the output provided by the display 60 based on the position and / or orientation of the display 60 can correspond to changes in movement and / or motion in different ride cycles. For example, the display 60 can present a realistic appearance of movement through the virtual environment in response to the movement of the display 60. This realistic appearance can be achieved by using a 3-D model that can include applications that use mathematical modeling to represent the 3-D environment as a virtual space and map the 3-D environment to a 3-D coordinate system to consider all or part of the views into the virtual space that can be achieved within the display envelope (e.g., the boundaries of the positioning of the display 60) in the 3-D coordinate system. In other words, the coordination between the 3-D model and the display 60 or multiple displays can be used to represent views into the virtual space from available viewpoints within the display envelope (e.g., the viewpoints of passengers within the ride vehicle 54 that cause the movement of the display 60). Thus, the 3-D model allows for presentation content (e.g., images) that result from changes, including slight, small, or gradual changes in the positioning of the display 60 in the physical world, based on the corresponding changes in the positioning of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system, without requiring special media tracks for different paths and / or without creating discontinuities between the movement of the display 60 and the content presented via the display 60. For example, content that depicts a view into a virtual space associated with the 3-D environment can be selected based on the positioning of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system.

[0026] In some embodiments, a change in the positioning of the display 60 in the real world may not directly correspond to the same change in the positioning of the display 60 with respect to the 3-D coordinate system. For example, the 3-D coordinate system may amplify or attenuate certain movements of the display 60 in the real world. For example, a movement of the display 60 in the real world along a vertical distance may cause a movement of the display 60 along a greater vertical distance in the 3-D coordinate system. As another example, a rotation of the display 60 through a certain angle in the real world may cause a rotation of the display 60 through a smaller angle in the 3-D coordinate system. This mismatch between a change in the positioning of the display 60 in the real world and a change in the positioning of the display 60 in the 3-D coordinate system may allow certain content related to the 3-D environment to be selected and presented to provide a more desirable experience to the guest. For example, the presented content may depict a high speed movement of the display 60 in the 3-D environment to provide the appearance that the guest is moving through the real world at a higher speed than is actually achieved by the ride vehicle 54.

[0027] Additionally, operating the display 60 to provide output based on positioning rather than using preprogrammed media files may facilitate adjustment of the operation of the attraction system 50. For example, it may be desirable to adjust the movement of the display 60 (e.g., by changing the operation of the actuators 70, changing the characteristics of the path 56), such as by adjusting the movement of the ride vehicle 54, to change the enjoyment provided to the guest 52. The updated display 60 output may be immediately available for presentation without the need to prepare an updated preprogrammed media file, such as by creating an initial preprogrammed media file, testing the output of the initially created preprogrammed media file in conjunction with the movement of the display 60, adjusting the initially created preprogrammed media profile based on the testing, etc. That is, the movement of the display 60 may include an updated positioning of the display 60 (e.g., in a 3-D coordinate system), to which image data may already be mapped (e.g., as part of a comprehensive digital 3-D model that includes the 3-D environment mapped to the 3-D coordinate system). Thus, image data can be easily generated or selected based on a 3-D model, such as the positioning of the display 60 within a 3-D coordinate system, and the correlation between the positioning of the display 60 within the 3-D coordinate system (resulting from the position and / or orientation of the display 60 within the attraction system 50) and the 3-D environment while the display 60 is moving.

[0028] Furthermore, the display 60 can be separated from the guest 52. That is, the display 60 can not be in direct contact with the guest 52, or the guest 52 can not be equipped with the display 60, such as through a device or component (e.g., a headset) that may significantly limit the field of view of the guest 52. Thus, the movement of the display 60 can be decoupled from the movement of the guest 52. For example, multiple guests 52 can view a single display 60. Thus, the single display 60 can provide immersive enjoyment to multiple guests 52 and improve the efficient operation of the attraction system 50. Also, the output provided by the display 60 can be more compatible or of higher quality for different guests 52, as compared to a wearable device (e.g., a headset that provides output directly in front of the user's eyes) that provides output that may be of different quality for different guests 52 (e.g., guests 52 with different pupil distances that affect the quality of the output provided in front of the eyes). Furthermore, the display 60 can be positioned to allow the guest 52 to view other features of the attraction system 50. For example, the control system 62 may cause the actuators 70 to position the display 60 at a particular offset distance from the guest 52 so as not to obstruct the view of the guest 52, thereby allowing the guest 52 to see additional show effects 74 of the show effects system 58. For example, the additional show effects 74 may include animated figures, decorations, smoke effects, fog effects, lighting, other outputs (e.g., other images provided by other displays), or any other suitable show effects that the control system 62 may operate to further enhance the experience provided to the guest 52. In effect, the guest 52 may see virtual elements provided by the display 60 in addition to the real-world elements of the attraction system 50.

[0029] Furthermore, because the guest 52 may not be in direct contact with the display 60, a desirable structure or integrity of the display 60 may be maintained. For example, the wear or deterioration of the display 60 (e.g., that would have been caused by contact or interaction between the guest 52 and the display 60) may be reduced, thereby extending the useful life of the display 60, thereby reducing maintenance operations to repair or replace the display 60. As another example, a clean appearance or structure of the display 60 may be maintained. Thus, the operations performed on the display 60 may be reduced, thereby further increasing efficiency and / or reducing costs associated with the operation of the attraction system 50. In fact, the display 60 described herein may improve the performance of the attraction system 50 to efficiently entertain the guest 52.

[0030] In one embodiment, the display 60 may also be used to enhance the performance of maintenance and / or service operations of the attraction system 50. As an example, a user (e.g., an operator, a technician) may easily navigate through and / or within the attraction system 50 (e.g., without having to install additional components to display images) to inspect whether the operation of the display 60 and / or the output provided by the display 60 is desirable. The user may also easily inspect other components or features of the attraction system 50 (e.g., the ride vehicle 54, additional show effects 74) separate from the display 60, such as in conjunction with inspecting the display 60. Thus, maintenance and / or service operations may be performed more efficiently.

[0031] 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attraction system 50 including a ride vehicle 54. The guest 52 may be located within a chassis 100 of the ride vehicle 54, to which an actuator 70, shown in the illustrated embodiment as a robotic arm, may be coupled. Operation of the actuator 70 may cause movement of the ride vehicle 54 to move and entertain the guest 52. As an example, the control system 62 may be configured to command the actuator 70 to move the ride vehicle 54 during operation of the attraction system 50. For example, the actuator 70 may be configured to displace the ride vehicle 54 along a first axis 102 (e.g., a longitudinal axis), a second axis 104 (e.g., a vertical axis), a third axis 106 (e.g., a transverse axis), and / or any other suitable axis (e.g., an axis between the first axis 102, the second axis 104, and the third axis 106). Additionally or alternatively, the actuator 70 may be configured to rotate the ride vehicle 54 about the first axis 102, the second axis 104, the third axis 106, or any other suitable axis. Although the illustrated actuator 70 includes a robotic arm, in further or alternative embodiments, the actuator 70 may include any suitable component, device, system, or assembly. The control system 62 may be configured to command the actuator 70 to move the ride vehicle 54 based on any suitable parameters, such as a predetermined movement or route of the ride cycle, sensor data (e.g., received from the sensors 68), and / or user input (e.g., received via the user interface 72).

[0032] The display 60 may be coupled (e.g., directly coupled, mounted, fixed, attached, engaged) to the chassis 100 in a location where an output provided by the display 60 is visible to a plurality of guests 52 located within the chassis 100. In this manner, the display 60 may be coupled (e.g., indirectly coupled) to the actuator 70 via the ride vehicle 54. The coupling between the display 60 and the chassis 100 may allow a movement of the ride vehicle 54 to cause a corresponding movement of the display 60. For example, the display 60 may be fixedly coupled to the chassis 100 such that relative movement between the ride vehicle 54 and the display 60 is prevented, thereby allowing an output provided by the display 60 to be visible to the guests 52 regardless of the position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54. The control system 62 may be configured to operate the display 60 to provide an output based on the position of the display 60. As an example, when the display 60 is in a first position and / or a first orientation, the control system 62 may be configured to instruct the display 60 to present an image based on the first position and / or a first orientation. If, during operation of the attraction system 50, the ride vehicle 54 moves (e.g., via the actuator 70) to transition the display 60 to a second position and / or a second orientation, the control system 62 can be configured to instruct the display 60 to present an updated image based on the second position and / or second orientation.

[0033] In some embodiments, sensors 68 may monitor the position and / or orientation of display 60 (e.g., within attraction system 50), and control system 62 may determine the position and / or orientation of display 60 based on data received from sensors 68. In further or alternative embodiments, control system 62 may determine the position and / or orientation of display 60 based on actuator 70 operation, such as commanded actuator 70 positioning and / or movement. In either embodiment, control system 62 may operate display 60 to present an output based on the determined position and / or orientation of display 60 (e.g., based on image data mapped to the position and / or orientation of display 60).

[0034] In one embodiment, the updated images may represent movement of the ride vehicle 54 through the virtual environment corresponding to movement of the ride vehicle 54 in the real world by the actuators 70. As one example, based on a determination that the ride vehicle 54 is moving forward (e.g., along the first axis 102), the control system 62 may cause the display 60 to present an image representing forward movement in the virtual environment (e.g., by updating the positions of various virtual elements in the image provided by the display 60). As another example, based on a determination that the ride vehicle 54 has rotated (e.g., about the third axis 106) so that the guest 52 is facing upward, the control system 62 may cause the display 60 to present an image representing an upward view of the virtual environment. Thus, through operation of the display 60, a realistic representation of the virtual environment in coordination with the movement of the ride vehicle 54 may be achieved.

[0035] 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system 50 including a ride vehicle 54. In the illustrated embodiment, a display 60 is coupled (e.g., directly coupled, fixedly coupled) to a chassis 100 of the ride vehicle 54 and configured to move the ride vehicle 54 along a path 56. By way of example, the path 56 may include various features, such as gradients, drops, turns, curves, and inversions, that may adjust the position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54 (e.g., about axes 102, 104, 106) during movement along the path 56. Such movement of the ride vehicle 54 may also cause corresponding movement of the display 60. Thus, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the display 60 to update the output presented by the display 60 to the guest 52 during movement of the ride vehicle 54 along the path 56. For example, the control system 62 may receive data indicative of the position and / or orientation of the display 60 from the sensor 68 and operate the display 60 to present an output based on the position and / or orientation of the display 60.

[0036] 2 and 3, the display 60 is positioned in front of the guest 52, however, in further or alternative embodiments, the display 60 may be positioned in a different location relative to the guest 52, such as behind the guest 52 and / or to the side (e.g., right side, left side) of the chassis 100. For example, the display 60 may be positioned such that the guest 52 can see the path of travel ahead of the ride vehicle 54. The control system 62 may operate the display 60 based on the position and / or orientation of the display 60 to enhance the experience provided to the guest 52. As an example, in an embodiment in which the display 60 is positioned sideways relative to the guest 52, the control system 62 may operate the display 60 to represent movement of the ride vehicle 54 along various virtual elements such that the guest 52 perceives movement of the ride vehicle 54 in the virtual environment that corresponds to the movement of the ride vehicle 54 in the real world.

[0037] In either of the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, the display 60 can be coupled to the chassis 100 in a location where the output provided by the display 60 is visible to the guest 52, but the guest 52 can also view other features and aspects of the attraction system 50. That is, the display 60 can be positioned so as not to obstruct the view from the ride vehicle 54 to other locations within the attraction system 50. Other show effects (e.g., additional show effects 74), such as, for example, lighting, smoke effects, and fog effects, can also be provided, and such show effects can complement the output (e.g., images) provided by the display 60. Thus, the display 60 can be one of many show effects provided by the attraction system 50 and experienced by the guest 52.

[0038] 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attraction system 50. The display 60 can be configured to move relative to a guest 52 not riding on a ride vehicle 54, such as a guest 52 moving (e.g., walking) through and / or within the attraction system 50. For example, the display 60 can be directly coupled (e.g., fixed, engaged, mounted, attached) to an actuator 70, which can be coupled to a base 150. A control system 62 can be configured to command the base 150 to move within the attraction system 50 and / or command the actuator 70 to move (e.g., translate, rotate) the display 60 relative to the base 150. For example, the control system 62 can command the actuator 70 and / or the base 150 to move the display 60 in any suitable direction relative to the axes 102, 104, 106. In further or alternative embodiments, the actuator 70 can include any suitable mechanism or component configured to move the display 60 within the attraction system 50.

[0039] In some embodiments, the control system 62 can be configured to position the display 60 relative to the guest 52 such that the guest 52 can view the output presented by the display 60. To this end, the control system 62 can be configured to determine a viewing perspective of the guest 52 based on the location of the guest 52, the orientation of the guest 52, the facial features of the guest 52, and the like. The control system 62 can be configured to command the actuators 70 to move based on the viewing perspective of the guest 52 such that the output presented by the display 60 is visible to the guest 52 as the guest 52 moves within the attraction system 50. For example, the control system 62 can command the actuators 70 to move the display 60 to maintain a positioning of the display 60 in front of and / or next to the guest 52.

[0040] In some embodiments, the sensor 68 can be configured to determine a parameter indicative of the visual position of the guest 52. The control system 62 can be configured to command the actuator 70 to move based on the data indicative of the visual position of the guest 52 received from the sensor 68. As an example, the sensor 68 can include a camera configured to capture an image of the guest 52, and the control system 62 can determine the visual position of the guest 52 based on the image. As another example, the guest 52 can carry and / or be equipped with a device 152 of the attraction system 50, such as a band, strap, headset, and mobile device. The sensor 68 can be configured to track the positioning of the device 152, and the control system 62 can determine the visual position of the guest 52 based on the data indicative of the positioning of the device 152.

[0041] The control system 62 can be configured to operate the display 60 to present an output based on a position and / or orientation of the display 60 (e.g., positioned via the actuator 70). As an example, the control system 62 can be configured to cause the display 60 to present an image of a virtual environment, and the image presented by the display 60 can be adjusted to present different perspectives of the virtual environment as the display 60 moves. For example, the control system 62 can be configured to command the actuator 70 to move the display 60 to a first position based on a first visual stance of the guest 52 so that the guest 52 can view the display 60, and the control system 62 can command the display 60 to present the first image of the virtual environment based on the first position of the display 60. Once the guest 52 moves to have a second visual stance, the control system 62 can be configured to command the actuator 70 to move the display 60 to a second position based on a second visual stance of the guest 52 so that the guest 52 can view the display 60. The control system 62 may also instruct the display 60 to present a second image of the virtual environment based on a second position of the guest 52, where the second image may include a perspective of the virtual environment that is different from the perspective provided by the first image. That is, the second image may update the appearance of the virtual environment to represent that the guest 52 is viewing the virtual environment from a different perspective due to the guest 52's movement through and / or within the attraction system 50. Thus, the guest 52 may perceive that his movement through and / or within the attraction system 50 is causing him to be guided through the virtual environment. Thus, the virtual environment may be presented to the guest 52 in a more realistic manner.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attraction system 50. The attraction system 50 can include multiple areas, such as rooms, levels, and enclosed volumes. The first area 180 can include a first actuator 70A coupled (e.g., directly coupled) to a first display 60A. A first guest 52A can be located within and move through the first area 180. The control system 62 can determine a visual position of the first guest 52A in the first area 180 (e.g., via data received from the sensor 68) and operate the first actuator 70A based on this visual position, such as to move the first display 60A in front of and / or next to the first guest 52A within the first area 180. The control system 62 can also operate the first display 60A to present an output based on a movement of the first display 60A, such as a position and / or orientation of the first display 60A within the first area 180. The second area 182 can also include a second actuator 70B coupled to the second display 60B. The second guest 52B can be located within and move through the second area 182. The control system 62 can determine a visual position of the second guest 52B (e.g., based on data received from the sensor 68), operate the second actuator 70B based on the visual position in the second area 182, and operate the second display 60B to present an output based on the movement of the second display 60B.

[0043] In practice, the control system 62 can operate the first display 60A and the second display 60B independently of each other, and can also operate the first actuator 70A and the second actuator 70B independently of each other. For example, the control system 62 can operate the first actuator 70A and the first display 60A based on the visual position of the first guest 52A in the first area 180, regardless of the visual position of the second guest 52B in the second area 182, and can operate the second actuator 70B and the second display 60B based on the visual position of the second guest 52B in the second area 182, regardless of the visual position of the first guest 52A in the first area 180. Thus, the attraction system 50 can provide a unique experience to each guest 52 in another area 180, 182.

[0044] In an embodiment, the guest 52 may progress from the first area 180 to the second area 182, etc., sequentially through the areas 180, 182. The control system 62 may be configured to adjust control of the display 60 and / or actuator 70 based on the transition of the guest 52 between the first area 180 and the second area 182. For example, in response to determining that the first guest 52A is present in the first area 180, the control system 62 may operate the first actuator 70A and / or the first display 60A to present an output to the first guest 52A based on the movement of the first guest 52A within the first area 180. When the first guest 52A moves from the first area 180 to the second area 182, the control system 62 may determine (e.g., based on data received from the sensor 68) that the first guest 52A is present in the second area 182 and not present in the first area 180. In response, the control system 62 can operate the second actuator 70B and / or the second display 60B instead of the first actuator 70A and / or the first display 60A to present an output to the first guest 52A based on the movement of the first guest 52A within the second area 182. Thus, each operation of the display 60 and / or the actuator 70 can be associated with one of the areas 180, 182. For example, the output presented by the first display 60A can be associated with a first virtual environment (e.g., a first graphic-based representation based on a 3-D model) and the output presented by the second display 60B can be associated with a second virtual environment (e.g., a second graphic-based representation based on a 3-D model) that is different from the first virtual environment. Thus, the first guest 52A can view different virtual environments via the display 60 when transitioning between the different areas 180, 182. In this manner, the first guest 52A may perceive a transition between different virtual environments as a result of transitioning between the different areas 180, 182. This may result in providing a unique experience to the guest 52 as the guest 52 progresses between the different areas 180, 182 within the attraction system 50.

[0045] 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attraction system 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the display 60 is coupled (e.g., directly coupled) to the actuator 70, which is separate from the ride vehicle 54. That is, the ride vehicle 54 is not coupled to the actuator 70. For example, the ride vehicle 54 can be coupled to another actuator and / or the ride vehicle 54 can be configured to move along a path (e.g., path 56 in FIGS. 1 and 3). The ride vehicle 54 can be configured to move, and the control system 62 can be configured to operate the actuator 70 to move the display 60 when the ride vehicle 54 is moving. In some embodiments, the control system 62 can be configured to determine a position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54 within the attraction system 50 (e.g., based on data received from the sensor 68) and operate the actuator 70 to position the display 60 based on the position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54. For example, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the actuator 70 to position the display 60 in front of and / or next to the ride vehicle 54 such that the output of the display 60 is visible to the guest 52 located within the ride vehicle 54. In further or alternative embodiments, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the actuator 70 independent of the movement of the ride vehicle 54. As an example, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the actuator 70 to move the display 60 in a predetermined manner and / or based on user input regardless of the position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54. In either embodiment, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the display 60 to provide an output based on the position and / or orientation of the display 60.

[0046] 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attraction system 50. In the illustrated embodiment, an actuator 70 is coupled (e.g., directly coupled) to a chassis 100 of a ride vehicle 54, and a display 60 is coupled (e.g., directly coupled) to the actuator 70. The ride vehicle 54 may be configured to move via an actuator separate from the actuator 70 and / or along a path during operation of the attraction system 50. Movement of the ride vehicle 54 may cause movement of the actuator 70 and thus movement of the display 60. Further, the control system 62 may be configured to operate the actuator 70 to move the display 60 relative to the chassis 100. Thus, movement of the ride vehicle 54 (e.g., of the chassis 100) and / or operation of the actuator 70 may cause movement of the display 60. As an example, control system 62 may be configured to instruct actuators 70 to move display 60 in a predetermined path based on the position and / or orientation of guests 52 within ride vehicles 54, the position and / or orientation of ride vehicles 54 within attraction system 50, user input received from one of the guests 52, etc. For example, control system 62 may cause actuators 70 to move display 60 so that guest 52 can more easily view the output of display 60 based on the position of ride vehicle 54.

[0047] The control system 62 may be configured to operate the display 60 to provide an output based on a position and / or orientation of the display 60 within the attraction system 50 resulting from movement of the ride vehicle 54 and / or operation of the actuator 70. As one example, the control system 62 may determine a position and / or orientation of the ride vehicle 54, determine a position and / or orientation of the actuator 70, and determine a position and / or orientation of the display 60 based on the determined positions and / or orientations of the ride vehicle 54 and the actuator 70. As another example, the control system 62 may determine a position and / or orientation of the actuator 70 without determining the positions and / or orientations of the ride vehicle 54 and / or the actuator 70. For example, the sensor 68 may be configured to directly determine the position and / or orientation of the display 60, and the control system 62 may directly determine the position and / or orientation of the display 60 based on data received from the sensor 68 without having to determine the positions and / or orientations of the ride vehicle 54 and / or the actuator 70. In either case, the control system 62 can cause the display 60 to provide output, such as an image of the virtual environment, based on the determined position and / or orientation of the display 60, which can be viewed by the guest 52 from within the chassis 100 as the ride vehicle 54 moves through the attraction system 50.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method or process 200 for operating an attraction system (e.g., attraction system 50 of FIGS. 1-7). Method 200 may be performed by any suitable apparatus (e.g., processing circuitry 66 of control system 62 of FIGS. 1-7). In one embodiment, method 200 may be implemented by executing instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 64 of control system 62). For example, method 200 may be performed at least in part by one or more software components, one or more hardware components, one or more software applications, and the like. Although method 200 is described using a particular order of steps, additional steps may be performed, the described steps may be performed in a different order than that shown, and / or some described steps may be skipped or not performed entirely.

[0049] At block 202, a position and / or orientation of the display may be determined. In one embodiment, the position and / or orientation of the display may be determined based on data received from a sensor. For example, the data may include an image of the attraction system, a movement of the display, a position of the ride vehicle to which the display is coupled, and a position of the actuator to which the display is coupled, etc. In practice, the position and / or orientation of the display may be determined or derived based on the position and / or orientation of the actuator and / or ride vehicle to which the display is coupled. For example, the actuator and / or ride vehicle may be commanded (e.g., based on user input) to move to a target position and / or target orientation, and the position and / or orientation of the display may be determined based on the target position and / or target orientation of the actuator and / or ride vehicle.

[0050] In block 204, image data may be determined based on the position and / or orientation of the display. For example, reference data may be utilized that associates each image data with a corresponding position and / or orientation of the display, and image data associated with the determined position and / or orientation of the display may be selected based on the reference data. In one embodiment, the image data may correspond to an image of the virtual environment.

[0051] At block 206, a display can be instructed to present an output based on the image data. For example, the display can be sent image data and caused to present an output according to the image data. In some embodiments, the output can include an image, such as a single image. In further or alternative embodiments, the output can include a video or multiple images presented in sequence.

[0052] The steps of method 200 may be repeated during operation of the attraction system. That is, the position and / or orientation of the display may be repeatedly or continuously determined. In response, updated image data may be repeatedly determined and the display may be repeatedly instructed to present an output based on the updated image data. Thus, as the display moves, the display may present an updated output. For example, the output presented by the display may include an image of the virtual environment as seen from a particular viewpoint corresponding to a positioning of the display, and as the display moves, the display may present an image of the updated virtual environment from an updated viewpoint corresponding to a movement of the display to an updated positioning of the display. Thus, the updated output presented by the display may represent a movement of the display in the virtual environment that corresponds to a movement of the display in the real world. In this manner, the appearance of the virtual environment may be more realistically represented.

[0053] While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes which fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

[0054] The technology presented and claimed herein refers to and applies to tangible objects and specific examples of a practical nature that positively improve the art and are therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Moreover, if any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for (performing) ... (function)" or "step for (performing) ... (function)," such elements are to be construed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(f). On the other hand, for any claim containing an element designated in any other manner, such elements are not to be construed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(f). [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 50 Attraction System 52 Guests 54 Vehicles 58 Show Effects System 60 Display 62 Control System 64 Memory 66 Processing Circuit 68 Sensors 70 Actuator 72 User Interface 100 Chassis 102 First Axis 104 Second Axis 106 The Third Axis

Claims

1. An attraction system, comprising: a ride vehicle configured to move within the attraction system; and a display coupled to the ride vehicle; a control system communicatively coupled to the display; The control system comprises: determining a position and / or orientation of the display within the attraction system; operating the display to present an image based on the position and / or orientation of the display; configured to perform operations including: Attraction system.

2. The control system includes: determining image data based on the position and / or orientation of the display; and transmitting the image data to the display to cause the display to display the image based on the image data; The attraction system of claim 1 configured to perform operations including:

3. The control system includes: referencing data relating a plurality of image data including the image data to respective corresponding positions and / or orientations of the display; selecting the image data from a plurality of image data based on the image data being associated with the position and / or orientation of the display by the data; The attraction system of claim 2 configured to perform operations including:

4. the ride vehicle is configured to move along a path within the attraction system to drive movement of the display; The attraction system according to claim 1 .

5. an actuator, the control system being communicatively coupled to the actuator, the control system being configured to command the actuator to cause movement of the ride vehicle within the attraction system; The attraction system according to claim 1 .

6. the actuator comprises a robotic arm; The attraction system according to claim 5.

7. the image depicts a view into a virtual space based on a three-dimensional (3-D) model; The attraction system according to claim 1 .

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: commanding an actuator of an attraction system to move a display coupled to said actuator; determining a position of the display; determining image data based on the positioning of the display; and instructing the display to present an image based on the image data; performing an action including Non-transitory computer-readable medium.

9. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to determine the image data from a three-dimensional (3-D) model of a virtual space based on the positioning of the display within a 3-D coordinate system of the 3-D model and a correlation between the positioning of the display within the 3-D coordinate system and the virtual space. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8.

10. the actuator is coupled to a ride vehicle of the attraction system, the display is coupled to the actuator, and the instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to command the actuator to move the ride vehicle, the movement of the ride vehicle causing corresponding movement of the display. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8.

11. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: determining an updated positioning of the display in response to commanding the actuator to move the display; determining additional image data based on the updated positioning of the display; and instructing the display to present an additional image based on the additional image data; 11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, configured to cause operations including:

12. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: receiving data from the sensor; determining the positioning of the display based on the data received from the sensor; 10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, configured to cause execution of operations including:

13. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: determining a position of the guest within the attraction system; commanding the actuator to move the display based on the positioning of the guest; 10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, configured to cause execution of operations including:

14. The instructions, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to: determining a position of a ride vehicle within the attraction system; commanding the actuator to move the display based on the positioning of the ride vehicle; 10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, configured to cause execution of operations including:

15. An attraction system, comprising: a display coupled to the actuator; a ride vehicle configured to move and move said display; a control system communicatively coupled to the display; The control system comprises: commanding the actuator to move the display; determining a position and / or orientation of the display within the attraction system; operating the display to present an image based on the position and / or orientation of the display; configured to perform operations including: Attraction system.

16. the actuator is coupled to the ride vehicle, movement of the ride vehicle causes movement of the actuator, the movement of the actuator drives movement of the display, and the control system is configured to command the actuator to move the display relative to the ride vehicle. The attraction system according to claim 15.

17. the control system is configured to present the image based on a correlation between the position and / or orientation and an aspect of a virtual space defined by a three-dimensional (3-D) model. The attraction system according to claim 15.

18. The control system includes: Receiving user input; and commanding the actuator to move the display based on the user input; The attraction system of claim 15 configured to perform operations including:

19. a sensor, the control system being communicatively coupled to the sensor, the control system comprising: receiving data from the sensor; determining the position and / or orientation of the display based on the data received from the sensor; The attraction system of claim 15 configured to perform operations including:

20. The sensor includes a position sensor, a motion sensor, or both.

20. The attraction system of claim 19.

Images