Mobile AR Interaction With Physical Effects for Theme Park Rides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement parks face challenges in attracting and managing guest traffic while providing sufficient entertainment value, as traditional rides may not sufficiently engage guests and differentiate from competitors.
Innovation Solution
An amusement park system that integrates an image generation system and a physical interaction system with mobile devices to create augmented reality experiences and implement physical effects based on user interaction, enhancing the guest experience through real-time video processing and object manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional rides are added to increase capacity, then guest traffic handling improves, but guest engagement and entertainment value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediaries between guests and physical objects in the amusement park. The mobile device captures images via camera, processes them through image generation system to create augmented reality overlays, and displays the composite view to the guest. This intermediary layer enables traditional physical rides to deliver enhanced digital entertainment experiences without requiring new physical infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more attractions are added to increase entertainment value, then guest engagement improves, but system complexity and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile device universal by utilizing its existing camera, display screen, and processing capabilities for augmented reality entertainment. Rather than requiring separate dedicated devices or complex infrastructure, the system leverages the multi-functionality of smartphones and tablets that guests already possess, reducing overall system complexity while expanding entertainment options.
3Speed
If augmented reality overlays are generated in real-time, then guest interaction responsiveness improves, but processing time and computational resources deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing image data and preparing augmentation content before the guest views it. The image generation system continuously captures and processes video feed in the background, pre-computes augmentation overlays based on object detection and tracking, and buffers processed content ready for immediate display. This preliminary processing minimizes real-time computation delays during actual guest interaction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system (32) includes an image generation system (34) for generating streaming media of a real-world environment based at least in part on image data (38) captured via a camera (46) of a mobile device (26), to generate one or more augmentations (40) superimposed on the streaming media of the real-world environment based at least in part on data relating to user interaction with the mobile device (26), and to transmit the streaming media of the real-world environment along with the one or more augmentations (40) to be displayed on a display (48) of the mobile device (26). The system (32) also includes a physical interaction system (80) for determining one or more physical effects (96) to be implemented for a physical object (28) in the real-world environment based at least in part on the data relating to the user interaction with the mobile device (26), and to transmit a signal to the physical object (28) to implement the determined one or more physical effects (96).