Systems and methods for incorporating pneumatic robotic systems into structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11229852-B2
Application number	US-202016879231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

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. A system, comprising:
an inflatable object at least partially disposed in a liquid environment and extending between a first location and a second location, the liquid environment comprising a first fluid;
one or more valves configured to direct a second fluid into the inflatable object to transition the inflatable object from a first state to a second state, wherein the second state corresponds to the inflatable object being inflated with the second fluid; and
a processor configured to:
receive a request to adjust one or more positions of the one or more valves to cause the second fluid to be directed into the inflatable object; and
send one or more commands to a mechanical system configured to control the one or more positions of the one or more valves in response to receiving the request, wherein the inflatable object transitions from the first state to the second state after the one or more valves adjusts to the one or more positions, and wherein the inflatable object is configured to be partially exposed above the liquid environment in the second state.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first location corresponds to a position of a ride vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second location corresponds to a part of a structure.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a sensor configured to detect a human presence and provide a signal to the processor based on the detecting of the human presence, wherein the processor is configured to send the one or more commands to the mechanical system based on the signal.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to be submerged in the liquid environment when the inflatable object is in the first state and completely removed from the liquid environment when the inflatable object is in the second state.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid comprises a first liquid and wherein the second fluid comprises a second liquid with a lower density than the first liquid.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a ride vehicle configured to engage with the inflatable object at the first location.

8. An inflatable aquatic system comprising:
a plurality of inflatable objects configured to be submerged in a liquid environment, wherein the liquid environment comprises a first fluid, and wherein the plurality of inflatable objects comprises a first inflatable object and a second inflatable object;
one or more valves configured to direct a second fluid into the plurality of inflatable objects to transition the plurality of the inflatable objects from a first state to a second state, wherein the second state corresponds to the plurality of inflatable objects being inflated with the second fluid; and
a processor configured to:
receive a request to adjust one or more positions of the one or more valves to cause the second fluid to be directed into the second inflatable object; and
send one or more commands to a mechanical system to control the one or more positions of the one or more valves in response to receiving the request, wherein the second inflatable object transitions between the first state and the second state after the one or more valves adjusts to the one or more positions, wherein the second inflatable object is configured to be partially exposed above the liquid environment in the second state and provide at least a partial pathway that extends toward the first inflatable object.

9. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to send one or more additional commands to the mechanical system to control the one or more positions of the one or more valves to cause the second fluid to be directed into the first inflatable object to transition the first inflatable object into a third state, wherein the first inflatable object is configured to form an island structure within the liquid environment when the first inflatable object is in the third state.

10. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , wherein the second inflatable object is configured to form a bridge structure when in the second state.

11. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , comprising a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a presence of a person to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to send the one or more commands based on the signal.

12. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , comprising a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of an audible command by a person, and wherein the processor is configured to send the one or more commands based on the audible command.

13. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , comprising a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of an expected motion of a person to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to send the one or more commands based on the signal.

14. The inflatable aquatic system of claim 8 , wherein the second fluid comprises a lower density than the first fluid.

15. A system, comprising:
a plurality of inflatable objects configured to be submerged in a liquid environment, wherein the liquid environment comprises a first fluid, and wherein the plurality of inflatable objects is at least partially disposed in a portion of the liquid environment;
a floating vehicle configured to traverse the liquid environment;
one or more valves configured to direct a second fluid into the plurality of inflatable objects to transition the plurality of inflatable objects from a first state to a second state, wherein the second state corresponds to the plurality of inflatable objects being inflated with the second fluid; and
a processor configured to:
receive a request to adjust one or more positions of the one or more valves to cause the second fluid to be directed into the plurality of inflatable objects; and
send one or more commands to a mechanical system configured to control the one or more positions of the one or more valves in response to receiving the request, wherein the plurality of inflatable objects transitions from the first state to the second state after the one or move valves adjusts to the one or more positions, and wherein the plurality of inflatable objects in the second state is configured to reduce a speed of the floating vehicle traversing the liquid environment.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of inflatable objects forms a grid structure.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of inflatable objects is configured to increasingly resist traversal of the first fluid by the floating vehicle during a transition between the first state and the second state.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the request corresponds to a desired speed of the floating vehicle.

19. The system of claim 15 , comprising a sensor configured to send a signal to the processor, and wherein the signal comprises physical data descriptive of at least one passenger in the floating vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the physical data comprises a height, a weight, or both associated with the at least one passenger.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G09B9/063

  by using visual displays · CPC title

• A63G21/18

  Water-chutes · CPC title

• A63G31/16

  creating illusions of travel · CPC title

• A63G27/00

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

• G06F30/20

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