Infrared Ride Path Guidance for Dynamic Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in attracting guests with traditional rides that lack intrigue and safety concerns due to mechanical wear, necessitating innovative and safe attractions that provide unique experiences.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle guidance system using infrared projections to define paths with distinct characteristics, enabling automated vehicle control and passenger interaction, allowing for dynamic ride experiences by altering speed and actions through sensor detection and controller adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical rides are used, then structural stability is maintained, but mechanical wear occurs requiring repairs and reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical guidance systems with optical guidance using infrared projections. The vehicle follows projected infrared paths instead of mechanical rails or guides, eliminating mechanical wear between guidance components and improving reliability while reducing maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes ride parameters (speed, path, thrill level) through software control rather than mechanical adjustments. This allows flexible modification of ride characteristics without physical changes to the mechanical structure, improving reliability and reducing maintenance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed mechanical paths are used, then vehicle guidance is reliable, but ride experience lacks variety and adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance system transitions from static mechanical paths to dynamic optical projections. The infrared paths can be changed, adjusted, or removed electronically, allowing the same physical vehicle to experience different ride paths and characteristics without mechanical reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
A single vehicle design with optical sensors can follow multiple different infrared projected paths, making the ride system universally adaptable to various course configurations. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized mechanical track systems.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If visible light projections are used, then path detection is easy, but the aesthetic experience is compromised due to visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses infrared light which is invisible to the human eye but detectable by the vehicle's sensors. This creates a localized detection channel that doesn't interfere with the visual aesthetic of the ride environment, allowing dark or atmospheric settings while maintaining reliable path detection.
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
Enhances ride experience unpredictability and safety by providing dynamic path guidance, reducing mechanical wear, and accommodating passenger input for personalized experiences.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor on the vehicle detects the infrared projection on the surface and thereby detects a light projection characteristic of the projection
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect projections on a surface, each projection comprising a light projected characteristic associated with a desired vehicle occupant experience; and a controller configured to: receive an input; based upon the input, determine the desired vehicle occupant experience from a first vehicle occupant experience and a second vehicle occupant experience, wherein the first vehicle occupant experience comprises: a first location providing a first attraction scenario; or a first thrill level of an attraction defined by a set of attributes; or both; wherein the second vehicle occupant experience comprises: a second location providing a second attraction scenario, wherein the second location is different from the first location; or a second thrill level of the attraction different from the first thrill level defined by a second set of attributes of the projection; or both; select the light projection characteristic associated with the desired vehicle occupant experience; locate, using the sensor, the light projected characteristic of the projection on the surface that matches the selected light projection characteristic; and control the vehicle to follow the light projected characteristic of the projection.