Amusement Ride AR Animation Control Using Guest Motion Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing amusement rides often lack the ability to provide continuous image display and guest interaction due to complexity, limiting the engagement and interactivity of guests with augmented reality systems.

Innovation Solution

An augmented reality system for amusement rides that includes sensors to detect guest movements, generating animations that mimic these movements, and presenting them via displays or animated figures for interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display is configured to provide images throughout the amusement ride, then the guest engagement and interaction are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguest interaction capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the amusement ride into multiple zones with different display configurations. Some portions have full augmented reality capabilities with sensors and interactive displays, while other portions have simplified or no displays. This segmentation allows the system to provide enhanced interaction where needed without requiring complexity throughout the entire ride.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display system is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides traditional visual displays, augmented reality overlays, and interactive guest control interfaces. By making the display universal and multi-functional, the system achieves high guest engagement without adding separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sensors and interactive displays are integrated throughout the ride, then the interactivity and entertainment experience are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteractive control capabilityVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects guest presence and movements using sensors, and automatically adjusts the augmented reality content and animation responses without requiring manual configuration or complex operational inputs. The display system self-adjusts to provide appropriate interactive experiences, reducing the operational burden on operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of moving object

If continuous image display is provided throughout the amusement ride, then the guest engagement is improved, but the loss of time for system coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous display durationVSAvoidsystem coordination time
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads and prepares augmented reality content and animation sequences in advance before the ride vehicle arrives at each zone. This preliminary preparation allows the display system to immediately present content when the vehicle enters the display zone, eliminating coordination delays during the actual ride experience and enabling continuous seamless display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4296828B1Augmented reality system for an amusement ride
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4296828B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296828B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4296828B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a system, comprising one or more processors, a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to: process signals received from one or more sensors to determine movement of a face or body of a guest, or both; generate an animation that mimics the movement of the body of the guest, the movement of the face of the guest, or both; and instruct presentation of the animation via a display or via an animated figure for visualization by the guest.