Systems and methods for incorporating pneumatic robotic systems into amusement park attractions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005368-B2
Application number	US-202218067534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2022
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A system may include an inflatable assembly having a plurality of members. The system may also include a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of positions inside or around the inflatable assembly, such that the plurality of sensors may acquire data related to a shape of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes one or more valves, each configured to direct a fluid into a corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes a processor that adjusts positions of the one or more valves to cause the fluid to be directed into the corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly based on the data and a desired shape of the inflatable assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an animated figure comprising a plurality of portions configured to move relative to one another to adjust an arrangement of the animated figure;
a sensor configured to provide data indicative of the arrangement of the animated figure;
a projector configured to project an image onto the animated figure; and
a processor configured to:
receive the data indicative of the arrangement of the animated figure;

determine the arrangement of the animated figure based on the data;
determine imagery based on the arrangement of the animated figure; and instruct the projector to project the imagery onto the animated figure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data provided by the sensor comprises image data of an appearance of the animated figure, and the processor is configured to determine the arrangement of the animated figure based on the appearance of the animated figure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data provided by the sensor comprises a distance between the sensor and a portion of the plurality of portions of the animated figure, and the processor is configured to determine the arrangement of the animated figure based on the distance.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to provide additional data indicative of an adjustment of the arrangement of the animated figure, and the processor is configured to:
receive the additional data from the sensor;
determine an adjusted arrangement of the animated figure based on the additional data;
determine updated imagery based on the adjusted arrangement of the animated figure; and
instruct the projector to project the updated imagery onto the animated figure.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors configured to provide a plurality of data indicative of the arrangement of the animated figure.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to instruct one or more actuators to move of the plurality of portions relative to one another.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to:
detect guest activity; and
instruct the one or more actuators to move the plurality of portions relative to one another based on the guest activity.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
monitor sensor data to determine an arrangement of an animated figure;
determine imagery to be projected onto the animated figure based on the arrangement of the animated figure; and
instruct a projector to project the imagery onto the animated figure.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine a size of the imagery to be projected onto the animated figure based on the arrangement of the animated figure.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
determine a first arrangement of the animated figure;
determine first imagery to be projected onto the animated figure based on the first arrangement;
instruct the projector to project the first imagery onto the animated figure having the first arrangement;
determine an adjustment of the animated figure from the first arrangement to a second arrangement;
determine second imagery to be projected onto the animated figure based on the second arrangement; and
instruct the projector to project the second imagery onto the animated figure having the second arrangement.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine the adjustment of the animated figure from the first arrangement to the second arrangement based on the sensor data.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
determine the first arrangement of the animated figure based on the sensor data;
instruct one or more actuators to move at least a portion of the animated figure; and
determine the adjustment of the animated figure from the first arrangement to the second arrangement based on movement of the at least a portion of the animated figure via the one or more actuators.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause movement of at least a portion of the animated figure via control of one or more actuators.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
instruct one or more actuators to move at least a portion of the animated figure; and
determine the arrangement of the animated figure based on the sensor data, movement of the at least a portion of the animated figure via the one or more actuators, or both.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the sensor data comprises image data, a distance, a force, or any combination thereof.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive the sensor data from at least one sensor; and
monitor the arrangement of the animated figure based on the sensor data.

17. A system, comprising:
an animated figure comprising a plurality of portions configured to move relative to one another;
at least one sensor configured to provide data indicative of an arrangement of the plurality of portions;
a processor configured to:
receive the data from the at least one sensor;
determine the arrangement of the plurality of portions based on the data; and
determine imagery based on the arrangement of the plurality of portions; and

a projector configured to:
receive the imagery from the processor; and
project the imagery onto the animated figure.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive subsequent data from the at least one sensor, wherein the subsequent data indicates movement of the plurality of portions relative to one another;
determine an updated arrangement of the plurality of portions based on the subsequent data; and
determine updated imagery based on the updated arrangement of the plurality of portions.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the projector is configured to:
receive the updated imagery from the processor; and
project the updated imagery onto the animated figure.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the data comprises an amount of force imparted onto the animated figure, and the processor is configured to determine the arrangement of the plurality of portions based on the amount of force imparted on the animated figure.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F30/20

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

• A63G27/00

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

• A63G7/00

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

• A63G3/00

  Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating · CPC title

• A63G31/16

  creating illusions of travel · CPC title