Infrared Vehicle Guidance Paths Without Mechanical Track Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in creating unique and engaging attractions that can effectively manage guest traffic and provide a competitive edge, while ensuring safety through the use of mechanical safety mechanisms that may require frequent repairs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle guidance system utilizing infrared projections to define multiple paths on a surface, where vehicles equipped with infrared cameras and sensors can detect these projections to navigate autonomously, allowing for dynamic path changes and enhanced ride experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical safety mechanisms are used in amusement park rides, then safety can be ensured, but frequent repairs are required due to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical safety mechanisms with an optical guidance system using infrared projections and cameras. The vehicle navigation is controlled through optical fields rather than mechanical switches or sensors, eliminating wear-related failures and reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining safety through redundant optical detection paths
2Productivity
If traditional rides are added to amusement parks, then guest capacity increases, but guest interest and competitive advantage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic, unpredictable vehicle paths using infrared projection systems that can randomly alter navigation routes during operation. This creates unique, repeatable experiences for guests while maintaining high capacity throughput, directly addressing the need for both productivity and adaptability in modern amusement attractions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses infrared light projections (invisible to human eye) to create dynamic path guidance that appears magical or mysterious to guests. The optical field changes can create varying visual effects or patterns that enhance guest interest and provide competitive differentiation while managing crowd flow efficiently
3Adaptability or versatility
If infrared projections are used for vehicle guidance, then dynamic path changes and enhanced guest experience are achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical field projections (infrared light patterns) to create virtual guidance paths instead of physical mechanical guides. The infrared projections act as information carriers that can be easily modified or reconfigured without changing physical infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while enabling dynamic path changes
Solution Approach 2:
The infrared projection system serves multiple functions: it provides vehicle guidance, creates guest entertainment effects, enables dynamic path reconfiguration, and can potentially encode multiple path options simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, actually simplifying the overall system architecture despite the advanced capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a safe, efficient, and dynamic way to manage vehicle traffic within amusement parks, enhancing guest experience through unpredictable and engaging ride paths while minimizing the need for frequent mechanical repairs.
Implementation Method 1
multiple paths on a surface, wherein each path of the multiple paths is defined by an infrared projection formed from infrared laser diodes
Implementation Method 2
infrared projection configured to read by infrared cameras affixed to a vehicle
Implementation Method 3
infrared cameras affixed to a vehicle... an infrared camera/sensor mounted to its frame at a height sufficient to view the roadway
Data Source
AI summary
A system for guiding a vehicle is provided. The system includes multiple paths on a surface, wherein each path is defined by light projection characteristics of a respective light projection defining a respective path. The system also includes the vehicle. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect the light projection characteristic of the respective path of the multiple paths, and a controller guide the vehicle along the respective path with a light projection characteristic that matches an expected light projection characteristic that is assigned to the vehicle.