Ride Audio Synchronization Using Real-Time Vehicle Position Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ride systems face challenges in synchronizing audio and visual effects with ride vehicle activity, leading to suboptimal immersive experiences for guests.

Innovation Solution

A ride effect coordination system that utilizes sensors to detect vehicle positioning, a controller to determine optimal timing for special effects, and an audio system to adjust playback in coordination with vehicle positioning, ensuring synchronized presentation of audio and visual effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If audio and visual effects are pre-synchronized with ride vehicle activity, then immersive experience is improved, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to ride delays and deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to ride delays
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts audio playback timing based on real-time ride vehicle position feedback. Instead of fixed pre-synchronized timing, the audio system continuously adapts its playback schedule according to actual vehicle location, resolving the contradiction between maintaining synchronization accuracy and adapting to ride delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where ride vehicle position is continuously monitored and used to adjust audio playback timing. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain synchronization accuracy despite variations in ride performance, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If real-time adjustment of audio playback is implemented, then synchronization with ride vehicle is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary audio controller that mediates between the ride control system and audio playback devices. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the real-time adjustment logic, reducing complexity while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If audio playback is continuously monitored and adjusted, then guest experience is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs audio playback adjustments at periodic intervals based on ride vehicle position milestones rather than continuously. This periodic adjustment approach maintains synchronization quality while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4543556B1Systems and methods for ride system audio and visual effect synchronization
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4543556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4543556B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4543556B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a ride effect coordination system that includes a ride vehicle 10 and sensors that detect the ride vehicle positioning along the ride path. The sensors communicate the ride vehicle positioning data as position data to other controllers in the system. The ride effect coordination system includes an audio system to play audio for one or more riders of the vehicle 10, and an effect system configured to present a special effect that can be observed from the ride path. A controller 14 may receive the position data and determine a timeframe for ride vehicle positioning so that the one or more riders can observe the special effect. The controller 14 may also control the audio system to adjust play of the audio to coordinate a portion of audio with presentation of the special effect and the positioning of the ride vehicle 10 based on the timeframe.