Ride Vehicle Image Projection for Guided Guest Entry and Exit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Guests may face difficulties entering and exiting ride vehicles in amusement park attractions due to irregular vehicle geometry or obstructing objects, leading to inefficient operation and diminished experience.
Innovation Solution
Projecting an image that follows the movement of the ride vehicle to provide instructions or guidance for guests, using a projector synchronized with the vehicle's movement and controlled by a system that adjusts the image's location based on the vehicle's position, ensuring clear visibility during transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operator intervention is used to guide guests, then guest guidance can be provided, but operational efficiency decreases and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service guidance by projecting instructional images directly into the guest's field of view, allowing guests to independently understand and follow entry/exit procedures without operator assistance. The projected images provide step-by-step visual instructions that guests can follow at their own pace.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual operator guidance with an optical projection system. Instead of operators physically guiding guests, the system uses projected images to convey guidance information, eliminating the need for continuous human intervention while maintaining effective guest direction.
2Ease of operation
If fixed static images are projected, then energy consumption is low, but the images cannot follow moving ride vehicles and maintain proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static image projection to dynamic image projection that automatically tracks and follows the moving ride vehicle. The projected images are positioned and oriented in real-time to maintain proper alignment with the vehicle's location and orientation, ensuring guests always see relevant guidance information regardless of vehicle position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the ride vehicle's position and movement, then adjusting the projected image location and orientation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the images remain properly positioned relative to the moving vehicle without requiring excessive energy or complex mechanical following systems.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple projectors are used to cover different areas, then complete coverage is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single projector that creates images in three-dimensional space rather than relying on multiple projectors covering two-dimensional areas. By projecting images that appear to float in space and follow the vehicle's movement through the loading area, the system achieves comprehensive coverage with a single device, reducing complexity while maintaining complete area coverage.
Data Source
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AI summary
An attraction system of an amusement park (50) includes a ride vehicle (54) that moves along a path of the attraction system (50). A pathway moves alongside the ride vehicle (54), and a projector (60) projects an image (62) that follows movement of the ride vehicle (54) along the path and movement of the pathway alongside the ride vehicle (54).