Trackless Ride Routing Using Rider Identification and Optional Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement park rides, especially trackless dark ride systems, face a decline in guest attraction over time, prompting costly changes to structural tracks, scenic elements, and attraction media to maintain novelty, which is inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method for dispatching trackless vehicles along predefined or optional paths using wireless communication and rider input, allowing for individualized ride experiences through controllable and dynamically selectable paths, managed by independent vehicle controllers and facility-mounted sensors, enabling riders to influence their route within a ride system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If costly changes are made to structural track, scenic elements, and attraction media to maintain novelty, then guest attraction is improved, but capital investment and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes ride paths in real-time based on rider input and system conditions. Trackless vehicles can deviate from predetermined paths and select from multiple alternative paths, creating continuously varying ride experiences without physical modifications to the attraction infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (ride paths, vehicle routing, experience sequences) rather than physical parameters (structural track, scenic elements). This allows the same physical infrastructure to provide novel experiences through software-controlled parameter variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If structural track and ride infrastructure are moved or modified to add newness, then ride experience novelty is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical track systems with wireless guidance systems. Trackless vehicles use wireless communication to receive path instructions from a central controller, eliminating the need for physical tracks and their associated modification complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic path selection where vehicles can choose from multiple predefined paths based on real-time conditions and rider input, creating novelty through operational flexibility rather than physical reconfiguration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed paths are provided for trackless vehicles, then ride experience variety is improved, but system complexity and path management increase
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles autonomously select paths based on onboard rider input and system conditions. The system self-manages path selection without requiring complex external coordination, with each vehicle independently determining its route from available options.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple paths are predefined in advance, but the specific path selection is determined dynamically based on real-time conditions. This preliminary preparation of options combined with real-time selection simplifies management compared to fully dynamic path creation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A trackless vehicle may be dispatched in a ride path comprising a predefined path and a set of optional predefined paths by receiving, such as by an on-board trackless vehicle controller, a rider identifier associated with a rider who is associated with the trackless vehicle, either a rider about to board the trackless vehicle or a rider who has boarded the trackless vehicle. Upon receipt, identification, and validation of the rider identifier, a predetermined set of optional predefined paths available to and associated with the validated rider identifier are identified and one or more of the predefined paths are selected, with the trackless vehicle being commanded to proceed onto the selected predefined path.