Systems and methods for incorporating pneumatic robotic systems into structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10675547-B2
Application number	US-201916428079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2019
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A system may include a virtual reality system configured to present one or more virtual objects via an electronic display. The system may also include one or more inflatable objects that correspond to the one or more virtual objects, such that the one or more inflatable objects matches one or more shapes of the one or more virtual objects. The system may also include a processor configured to cause at least one of the one or more inflatable objects to inflate based on feedback from the virtual reality system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inflatable assembly, comprising:
an inflatable object;
a cavity configured to store the inflatable object, wherein the inflatable object is configured to form a plurality of steps extending between a first level of the inflatable assembly and a second level of the inflatable assembly in an inflated configuration, wherein the first level is at a first height and the second level is at a second height greater than the first height, and wherein the plurality of steps are disposed on an inclined surface physically connecting the first level and the second level;
one or more valves, wherein the one or more valves are controllable and configured to direct fluid flow into the inflatable object such that the inflatable object facilitates traversal of a user between the first level and the second level via the inclined surface in the inflated configuration; and
a controller configured to adjust one or more positions of the one or more valves to control the fluid flow into the inflatable object.

2. The inflatable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable object forms a ladder structure in the inflated configuration.

3. The inflatable assembly of claim 1 , comprising an additional cavity adjacent to the cavity with an additional inflatable object stored therein, wherein the additional inflatable object is configured to expand to cover the cavity when the additional inflatable object is inflated.

4. The inflatable assembly of claim 1 , comprising a lid structure configured to cover the cavity when the inflatable object is deflated.

5. The inflatable assembly of claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors disposed on the inflatable assembly, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the one or more positions of the one or more valves based on data received via the one or more sensors.

6. A system, comprising:
an inflatable object configured to be disposed inside a cavity when the inflatable object is in a deflated configuration;
a lid structure configured to cover the cavity when the inflatable object is in the deflated configuration;
a valve configured to direct a fluid into the inflatable object; and
a controller configured to adjust a position of the valve to cause the fluid to be directed into the inflatable object in response to a signal, wherein the inflatable object is configured to push against the lid structure to cause the lid structure to rotate about a point as the inflatable object is inflated to an inflated configuration.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the inflatable object is configured to form a step configured to support a user moving from a first level to a second level positioned above the first level.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the step comprises a surface that is disposed between the first level and the second level.

9. The system of claim 6 , comprising a sensor configured to provide the signal to the controller.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the lid structure is configured to rotate 180 degrees.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the inflatable object is configured to form a ladder when the inflatable object is in the inflated configuration.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the lid structure is coupled to a corner of the inflatable object.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the lid structure is configured to be oriented in a vertical position when the inflatable object is inflated.

14. The system of claim 6 , comprising a plurality of valves configured to direct the fluid into the inflatable object.

15. An inflatable assembly, comprising:
an inflatable object;
a cavity configured to store the inflatable object, wherein the inflatable object is configured to form a climbing structure for supporting a user across the cavity when the inflatable object is in an inflated configuration;
a valve, wherein the valve is controllable and configured to direct fluid flow into the inflatable object; and
a controller configured to:
receive a signal from a sensor, wherein the signal is indicative of a presence of a person; and
adjust a position of the valve to control the fluid flow into the inflatable object in response to the signal being received from the sensor.

16. The inflatable assembly of claim 15 , comprising a plurality of valves controlled by the controller to direct the fluid into the inflatable object.

17. The inflatable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the climbing structure comprises a square shape.

18. The inflatable assembly of claim 15 , comprising a lid structure disposed above the cavity.

19. The inflatable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the person is representative of an audible command by the person.

20. The inflatable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the signal indicative of the presence of the person is representative of an expected motion of the person.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Cortelyou Robert
• Osterman Ross
• Schwartz Justin
• Zielkowski Amanda
• Correll Caitlin A
• Hughes Darrin
• Vyas Anisha

Classifications

• A63G27/00

  Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels · CPC title

• A63G7/00

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• G09B9/063

  by using visual displays · CPC title

• A63G31/12 Primary

  with inflatable and movable substructures · CPC title

• G06F30/20

  Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) · CPC title