Gesture Recognition Dark Ride System for Immersive Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing amusement park dark rides lack immersive and intuitive interaction methods, relying on physical controllers or aligned sensors, which restricts the interactive experience and compatibility with various ride types.

Innovation Solution

A Gesture-based Interactive Dark Ride (GIDR) system using on-board cameras and gesture recognition software in ride vehicles, allowing riders to interact with off-board media through hand and body movements without physical controllers or aligned sensors, facilitating seamless interaction across different ride types and scenes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical controllers or aligned sensors are used for interaction, then interaction reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction reliabilityVSAvoidcontroller alignment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical controllers and mechanical alignment systems with gesture recognition technology. Cameras mounted on ride vehicles capture rider gestures, and software processes these gestures to control ride interactions. This eliminates the need for physical controllers and sensor alignment mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining interaction reliability through intuitive body movement recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If physical controllers are used for interaction, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection precisionVSAvoidinteraction ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces physical controllers with camera-based gesture recognition. Multiple cameras capture rider movements from different angles, and sophisticated software algorithms precisely interpret these gestures to control ride elements. This provides both high measurement precision through multi-camera tracking and excellent ease of operation by allowing natural body movements without requiring riders to learn or physically manipulate controllers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If on-board sensors are used for each rider, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride type compatibilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal gesture recognition system that can be applied across multiple ride types including dark rides, boat rides, spinning rides, and roller coasters. The same camera-based technology and gesture interpretation software work across different ride platforms, providing adaptability without requiring ride-specific sensor systems. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity compared to implementing separate sensor systems for each ride type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9463379B1Ride vehicle mounted interactive game system

Publication Date: 2016.10.11 THINKWELL GRP LLC

AI summary

A unique combination of amusement park attraction ride vehicles with gesture-based game controllers to create a new form of interactive amusement ride, where on-board game displays, cameras and gesture recognition software for each of a plurality of riders, capture rider gestures and convert those gestures into signals that are inputs to, and affect, the interactive experience or game elements of the attraction.