Trackless Dark Ride Reconfiguration for Shared Scene Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dark ride systems require significant space, tracks, track switches, sensors, and 'super-flat' flooring, leading to high costs and complexity in providing an immersive amusement ride experience.
Innovation Solution
A dark ride system comprising wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided passenger and themed scenery vehicle platforms, with a control system that dynamically reconfigures the ride space to allow multiple scenes to share the same footprint, using mechanical motion generators, scenery actuators, and environmental controllers for lighting, projection, and audio effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dark ride systems use tracks, track switches, and sensors, then the ride experience can be guided and controlled, but the space requirements and infrastructure costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical track systems with wireless communication systems. Passenger vehicles are equipped with wireless transceivers that communicate with base stations positioned throughout the ride space, eliminating the need for physical tracks, switches, and embedded sensors while maintaining precise vehicle guidance and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces base stations as intermediary components that mediate between the control system and passenger vehicles. These base stations transmit guidance signals wirelessly to vehicles, enabling indirect control without direct mechanical contact or physical track infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple scenes are presented in separate physical areas, then each scene can be fully developed, but the overall facility size and infrastructure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scene transitions where the ride environment changes throughout the journey. Base stations are strategically positioned to create different atmospheric zones, and the system dynamically adjusts lighting, projections, and environmental effects to transform the same physical space into multiple distinct scenes without requiring separate physical areas for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the single ride space multi-functional by using wireless base stations to create multiple scenographic environments. The same physical area serves multiple narrative purposes at different times, with base stations acting as universal control points that can establish different atmospheric conditions and scene configurations.
3Area of stationary object
If wireless control without tracks is implemented, then space and infrastructure costs are reduced, but precise vehicle guidance and positioning becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where base stations continuously monitor vehicle positions and adjust guidance signals accordingly. The wireless system receives position data from vehicles and sends corrective guidance commands to maintain precise positioning, creating a closed-loop control system that compensates for the lack of physical track constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
Dark ride system 1 typically comprises a ride space; a set of wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided passenger vehicle platforms 10 dispatchable within the ride space; a set of wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided themed scenery vehicle platforms dispatchable within the ride space; a load and unload area for passengers disposed proximate the ride space; and a control system. A predetermined set of passengers is allowed to board a predetermined subset of the set of wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided passenger vehicle platforms at the load and unload area and the set of wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided themed scenery vehicle platforms dispatched in an initial spatial arrangement at one or more predetermined times. During a ride show, the control system choreographs and changes a predetermined subset of the set of wirelessly-controlled and tracklessly-guided themed scenery vehicle platforms. At a conclusion of the ride show, the predetermined set of passengers are allowed to exit.