Autonomous Guest Pickup Routing for Amusement Park Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportation systems within amusement parks face challenges such as closed pedestrian paths to motor vehicles, inefficient shuttle services, and guest reluctance to make back-and-forth trips due to overnight accommodations outside park boundaries.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle transportation system that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to accommodate guests and a controller that communicates with the vehicle. The controller accesses guest reservations or return times, determines the guest's location, and instructs the autonomous vehicle to pick up the guest and travel to their destination, optimizing routes and reducing wait times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If park shuttles operate on set paths, then transportation coverage is improved, but guest wait time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation coverage areaVSAvoidguest wait time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicles dynamically adjust their routes and destinations based on real-time guest requests and locations, transitioning from static set paths to dynamic adaptive routing. This allows the system to maintain comprehensive coverage while reducing wait times by directing vehicles only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses guest mobile devices to automatically detect and request transportation when guests enter transportation zones, eliminating the need for guests to manually wait for shuttles or plan their own routes. The autonomous vehicles then autonomously navigate to pick up and transport guests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If motor vehicles are allowed in the park, then transportation flexibility is improved, but pedestrian safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation flexibilityVSAvoidpedestrian safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional motor vehicles with autonomous vehicles that use advanced sensing, navigation, and control systems. These autonomous vehicles can detect pedestrians and other obstacles, navigate safely through mixed pedestrian-vehicle environments, and provide flexible on-demand transportation without compromising pedestrian safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If guests make back-and-forth trips to drop off items, then accommodation accessibility is improved, but transportation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation accessibilityVSAvoidtransportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle system provides universal transportation service for multiple purposes including guest transport, item delivery, and attraction access. The system can consolidate multiple trips into single journeys, such as transporting guests to attractions and having items delivered separately, thereby improving overall transportation efficiency while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4245393B1Autonomous transportation techniques
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4245393B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4245393B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4245393B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An amusement park transportation system including an autonomous vehicle configured to accommodate one or more guests, and a controller configured to communicate with the autonomous vehicle. The controller is configured to access a reservation or a return time of a guest for an attraction in an amusement park, determine or access a location of the guest within a predetermined time window preceding the reservation or the return time, and provide instructions to the autonomous vehicle to go to the location. The controller is configured to provide an alert to a guest device related to the autonomous vehicle, receive an indication from the autonomous vehicle that the guest is on or in the autonomous vehicle, and provide instructions to the autonomous vehicle to travel to the attraction with the guest after receiving the indication.