Choreographed Ride Vehicles With Real-Time Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ride vehicles are limited to fixed paths, which can detract from user experience by restricting movement and failing to provide dynamic and engaging interactions.

Innovation Solution

Ride vehicles equipped with vertical, angular, and horizontal movement capabilities, controlled by a ride control system that adjusts positions and trajectories based on real-time feedback to maintain choreographed paths and interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ride vehicles move along fixed paths, then the system structure is simple and easy to control, but the user experience is limited and lacks dynamic interaction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic movement capabilities where ride vehicles can change direction and position autonomously using propulsion mechanisms. The vehicles transition from fixed circular paths to variable trajectories, allowing them to move forward, backward, laterally, and rotate based on control signals, thereby enhancing user experience through dynamic interactions while managing complexity through structured control protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the central control system receives position data from multiple ride vehicles and adjusts their trajectories in real-time. The control system determines relative positions, calculates appropriate maneuvers to maintain desired spacing and formation, and sends corrective commands to individual vehicles, enabling adaptive choreographed movements without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If ride vehicles are allowed to move freely in multiple directions, then user experience is enhanced through dynamic movements, but collision risk between vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the relative positions of all ride vehicles through position sensors and communication systems. Based on this feedback, the system calculates safe trajectories that maintain minimum separation distances between vehicles, adjusts their speeds and directions dynamically, and prevents collision scenarios while preserving movement freedom for choreographed effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively prevents collisions by predicting potential conflict scenarios based on current vehicle positions, velocities, and intended maneuvers. The control algorithm calculates preventive adjustment commands before collisions can occur, modifying trajectories in advance to maintain safe separation while preserving the overall choreographed movement pattern

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Productivity

If ride vehicles follow choreographed paths with precise positioning, then entertainment value is maximized, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentertainment valueVSAvoidposition control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple control functions into a centralized control system that manages trajectory planning, position monitoring, collision avoidance, and synchronization for all ride vehicles simultaneously. This merging approach achieves precise choreographed positioning and high entertainment value while avoiding the greater complexity that would result from distributed autonomous control in each vehicle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system performs multiple functions including trajectory calculation, real-time position tracking, inter-vehicle distance management, collision prevention, and synchronized movement coordination. This multi-functional approach delivers precise choreographed control and maximizes entertainment value through a single integrated system rather than multiple specialized systems

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

Data Source

PatentEP4302848B1Choreographed ride systems and methods
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4302848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4302848B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4302848B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ride system (11), comprising: a plurality of ride vehicles (10), wherein each respective ride vehicle (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) comprises a riding assembly (20) configured to move vertically and angularly relative to a base (18) of the respective ride vehicle (10); a ride control system (32) configured to: receive a respective position of each respective ride vehicle (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) within a ride area (140); determine that a respective distance between two respective positions of two ride vehicles (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) is less than a threshold distance; and output a signal to at least one ride vehicle (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) indicative of instructions to adjust at least one position of the at least one ride vehicle (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) in response to determining that the respective distance between the two respective positions of the two ride vehicles (10) of the plurality of ride vehicles (10) is less than the threshold distance.