Entertainment Figure Control via Bogie and Cable Winch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for controlling entertainment figures in amusement parks face challenges in providing flexible and precise movement, especially for larger figures, which limits their natural and engaging interactions with guests.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing cables and bogies on tracks, with winches and controllers to adjust the position and movement of entertainment figures, allowing for flexible and precise control by modifying the distance between attachment points and translating along tracks, enabling realistic and engaging movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional control systems are used for large entertainment figures, then the figures can be moved, but the movement lacks precision and natural appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The entertainment figure is divided into multiple segments (head, torso, limbs) that can be controlled independently. Each segment has its own attachment point connected to the bogie system, allowing precise control of individual body parts while maintaining overall figure coordination and natural movement appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic cable length adjustment through winches to enable flexible positioning of the entertainment figure. The bogie translates along the track while the winches dynamically modify cable lengths to achieve precise control over the figure's orientation and segment positions, creating natural-looking movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the entertainment figure is made larger to provide better entertainment, then the figure is more visible and engaging, but the figure becomes more difficult to control accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefigure sizeVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Large entertainment figures are divided into multiple controllable segments with independent attachment points. This segmentation allows the large figure to be controlled with the precision of smaller components, as each segment can be positioned and oriented independently through the bogie and cable system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bogie acts as an intermediary device between the control system and the large entertainment figure. It translates along the track and uses cable length adjustment to mediate the control forces, enabling precise control of large figures that would otherwise be difficult to maneuver accurately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the entertainment figure is made flexible to appear more natural, then the figure's movements are more engaging, but the figure becomes more difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control over the entertainment figure's segments through independently adjustable cable lengths. This allows the figure to achieve natural, flexible movements while maintaining ease of control, as the bogie and winch system can adjust cable tensions to position each segment precisely according to the desired movement pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bogie system serves multiple functions: it translates along the track to move the entire figure, adjusts cable lengths to position individual segments, and maintains tension control for stable positioning. This multi-functionality enables both flexible natural movements and ease of operation through a single integrated control system.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3908386B1System and method to control entertainment figures
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP3908386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3908386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3908386B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An entertainment figure system (104) includes an entertainment figure (102) having an attachment point (116), a bogie (112) coupled to a track (108) and to the attachment point (116) of the entertainment figure (102) via a cable (126) and a winch (122) coupled to the cable (126). The bogie (112) is configured to translate along the track (108) and the winch (122) is configured to adjust a length of the cable (126) extending from the winch (122) and thereby modify a distance between the attachment point (116) and the bogie (112).