Camera-Based Guest Height Measurement for Non-Standard Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park ride measurement systems are inefficient and prone to errors when determining guest eligibility based on height, especially for guests in non-standard positions or using assistive devices, leading to incorrect height assessments.
Innovation Solution
A guest measurement system using cameras to capture image data, identify anatomical features, and utilize a reference marker to scale distances from a virtual space to a real-world space for accurate height calculations, allowing guests to be measured while seated or leaning, and incorporating machine learning for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual height measurement methods are used (comparing to wall line), then guests can determine their eligibility, but measurement precision and reliability are poor due to user error and inability to measure guests in non-standard positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement (guest comparing height to wall line) with an automated optical measurement system using cameras and image processing. The camera captures images of guests, and software automatically identifies anatomical features and calculates height, eliminating human error and enabling measurement of guests in various positions including seated or leaning configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy (image) of the guest and their anatomical features, then processes this copy to determine height. By working with image data rather than direct physical measurement, the system can accurately measure guests regardless of their position, and the reference marker provides a scalable copy for distance calculation.
2Productivity
If automated camera-based measurement is implemented, then measurement precision and efficiency improve, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is designed to be self-operating once the guest is positioned. The camera automatically captures images, the processor identifies anatomical features without human intervention, and height calculations are performed autonomously. This self-service capability maximizes productivity by eliminating the need for operators to manually measure each guest while managing the complexity through automation.
3Measurement precision
If the system requires guests to stand in a specific position for measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but ease of operation decreases as guests must change position
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system transitions from requiring static, standardized guest positioning to dynamically adapting to guests in various positions. The image processing algorithms identify anatomical features regardless of whether the guest is standing, seated, or leaning, allowing measurement without requiring guests to change position. The system dynamically adjusts its feature identification based on the captured image geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters from requiring specific positional conditions to accepting varied positional conditions. By using anatomical feature identification and geometric relationships in the image rather than absolute position-based measurement, the system maintains accuracy across different guest positions, improving ease of operation without sacrificing precision.
4Measurement precision
If reference markers are used for scaling, then measurement precision in real-world space improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The reference marker serves as an intermediary object that bridges the digital image space and the physical real-world space. By placing a marker with known dimensions in the measurement area, the system uses the marker's real-world size as a reference to scale distances between anatomical features in the image to actual physical distances, enabling accurate height calculation without direct physical contact with the guest.
Data Source
AI summary
A guest measurement system includes a controller configured to receive image data indicative of guest characteristics. The controller includes a processor configured to identify one or more anatomical features of the guest and the reference marker in the image data and scale distances between the identified anatomical features in the image data from a virtual space of the image data to a real-world space using the reference marker in the image data. Based on the scaled distances, the system can generate a guest height calculation.