Portable UWB Tracking for Physical-Virtual Attraction Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing amusement park attractions lack immersive and interactive experiences that effectively integrate physical and virtual elements, providing guests with a seamless and engaging interaction across both real-world and virtual spaces.

Innovation Solution

An interactive system utilizing portable devices equipped with UWB tags for precise location and orientation tracking, enabling guests to interact with both physical and virtual elements through virtual projectiles, with a control system that determines successful interactions and adjusts elements accordingly, providing real-time feedback and point tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional amusement park attractions use simple physical interactions, then the device complexity is low, but the guest engagement and immersion are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguest engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges physical and virtual interaction elements into a unified system. Physical buttons on the portable device trigger virtual projectiles that interact with both virtual displays and physical elements in the environment, creating a hybrid interaction model that enhances engagement while managing complexity through integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable device serves multiple functions: it acts as a controller for virtual interactions, a tracker for physical element locations, and a feedback mechanism for guest engagement. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the system tracks precise location and orientation of portable devices, then the measurement precision improves, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation and orientation tracking accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic UWB communications to track portable device locations and orientations. Rather than continuous monitoring, location updates occur at intervals sufficient for the interactive experience, maintaining measurement precision while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or continuous electronic tracking systems with UWB-based tracking, which achieves high measurement precision for location and orientation with lower energy consumption by using short-range radio waves instead of continuous sensor activation or mechanical movement detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides real-time feedback for virtual interactions, then the guest engagement improves, but the response time requirements increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time interaction capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback loops where portable device inputs trigger virtual interactions, which immediately provide visual and physical feedback to guests. This real-time feedback mechanism enhances engagement by creating responsive, dynamic interactions between guests and the environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures interaction scenarios and response protocols before guests arrive. Virtual objects, physical element locations, and interaction rules are established in advance, allowing the control system to process real-time inputs efficiently without complex on-the-fly decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12449915B2Systems and methods for producing responses to interactions within an interactive environment

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC

AI summary

An interactive system includes a portable device configured to be used in an interactive environment. The portable device includes an input mechanism that initiates delivery of a virtual projectile. The interactive system also includes a control system that includes one or more processors. The one or more processors receive data indicative of a location and an orientation of the portable device and receive additional data indicative of actuation of the input mechanism. In addition, the one or more processors determine a successful virtual interaction of an interactive physical element with the virtual projectile based on the location and the orientation of the portable device during the actuation of the input mechanism, and adjust an interactive virtual element displayed on a display screen in response to the successful virtual interaction of the interactive physical element.