Animated Figure Walking Mechanism With Hidden Actuator Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animated figures in amusement parks struggle to create immersive, life-like movements due to complexity and visibility of actuators, which limits the sense of realism and immersion.
Innovation Solution
An ambulatory animated figure system utilizing a carrier with coordinated actuator systems to mimic walking motions, concealing the mechanical movements to create an illusion of autonomous movement, including a controller to manage actuator coordination and conceal operational aspects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If actuators and mechanical components are used to animate the figure, then movement capability is achieved, but the complexity and visibility of the mechanical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The animated figure is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or joints, each driven by separate actuators. This segmentation allows complex movements to be broken down into simpler, coordinated actions of individual segments, reducing the overall mechanical complexity while maintaining full movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the actuators and the animated figure's movement. The controller coordinates multiple actuators to work together, creating realistic movements without requiring complex mechanical linkages. This intermediary control layer simplifies the mechanical design by using electronic coordination rather than mechanical complexity
2Ease of operation
If traditional actuator systems are used, then movement is achieved, but the sense of realism and immersion is reduced due to visibility of mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator systems are extracted and concealed within the base or carrier of the animated figure, removing visible mechanical components from the figure itself. The movement is achieved through hidden mechanisms that drive the figure's segments, maintaining realism by eliminating visible actuators while preserving full movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates the illusion of autonomous movement by carefully coordinating actuator actions to mimic natural figure movement patterns. The control system learns and replicates realistic movement sequences, making the animated figure appear lifelike without exposing the mechanical copying process
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple actuators are used to create realistic walking motion, then movement quality improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple actuator functions are merged into integrated actuator assemblies that can perform multiple movements simultaneously. Instead of separate actuators for each degree of freedom, combined actuator systems achieve complex movements through coordinated action, reducing the total number of components while maintaining high movement quality
Solution Approach 2:
The control system employs periodic actuation patterns that cycle actuators through standardized movement sequences. By reusing the same actuator sets in periodic cycles rather than requiring continuous complex coordination, the system achieves realistic walking motion with simpler, more cost-effective actuator hardware
Data Source
AI summary
An ambulatory animated figure system includes an animated figure having a body with a first limb and a second limb extending therefrom. The system also includes a carrier configured to be disposed on a support, and the animated figure extends away from a side of the carrier in a direction. The carrier is coupled to a first limb through a first actuator system, which is configured to move the first limb away from the side of the carrier in the direction and configured to slide an end of the first limb transversely relative to the direction. The carrier is translated relative to the support through a second actuator system. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator system and the second actuator system and configured to coordinate actuation of the first actuator system and the second actuator system to provide an ambulatory effect.