Vehicle guidance via infrared projection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12276987-B2
Application number	US-202318208390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2023
Priority date	Aug 9, 2019
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

A system for guiding a vehicle is provided. The system includes multiple paths on a surface, wherein each path is defined by light projection characteristics of a respective light projection defining a respective path. The system also includes the vehicle. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect the light projection characteristic of the respective path of the multiple paths, and a controller guide the vehicle along the respective path with a light projection characteristic that matches an expected light projection characteristic that is assigned to the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a first projection projected on a surface, comprising a first light projected characteristic, the first projection configured to provide a first vehicle passenger experience when the first projection is followed, the first vehicle passenger experience comprising:
a first experience of an attraction, comprising a first location providing a first scenario; or
a first thrill level of the attraction defined by a first set of characteristics of the first projection; or
both;

a second projection projected on the surface, comprising a second light projected characteristic different than the first light projected characteristic, the second projection configured to provide a second vehicle passenger experience when the second projection is followed, the second vehicle passenger experience comprising:
a second experience of the attraction different from the first experience, comprising a second location providing a second scenario; or
a second thrill level of the attraction different from the first thrill level defined by a second set of characteristics of the second projection; or
both;

a vehicle comprising a sensor configured to detect light projected characteristics projected on the surface; and
a controller configured to:
receive an input provided by a passenger of the vehicle;
identify a light projection characteristic associated with the input, wherein the identified light projection characteristic is associated with a desired vehicle passenger experience selected from the first vehicle passenger experience and the second vehicle passenger experience;
identify, using the sensor, a matching light projected characteristic of the first projection or the second projection that matches the identified light projection characteristic; and
control the vehicle to follow the identified matching light projected characteristic of the first projection or the second projection.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first vehicle disposed on the first projection, wherein a first controller is configured to guide the first vehicle along the first projection; and
a second vehicle disposed on the second projection, wherein a second controller is configured to guide the second vehicle on the second projection concurrently with the first vehicle being guided along the first projection.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a path identified by the first light projected characteristic comprises a center portion, and wherein a first portion flanking the center portion comprises a different light projected characteristic than the first light projected characteristic.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to guide the vehicle to move toward the center portion in response to detection of the different light projected characteristic by the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
identify, via the sensor, a third light projected characteristic of the first projection, or the second projection, or both that is associated with the matching light projected characteristic; and
control the vehicle to follow the identified matching light projected characteristic in accordance with a control action associated with the third light projected characteristic.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the third light projected characteristic changes at different locations along the first projection, or the second projection, or both to indicate different control actions for the controller to implement at the different locations.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the different control actions comprise different movement speeds for the vehicle, and the controller is configured to control the vehicle in accordance with the different movement speeds at the different locations.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control action comprises a spin movement of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a second input provided by the passenger while the vehicle is following the identified matching light projected characteristic;
identify a different light projection characteristic based at least in part on the second input, wherein the different light projection characteristic is associated with a different projection than the first projection or the second projection associated with the matching light projected characteristic; and
change movement of the vehicle from following the identified matching light projected characteristic to following the different light projection characteristic associated with the different projection.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect light projected characteristics projected on a surface; and
a controller configured to:
receive an input provided by a passenger of the vehicle;
identify a light projection characteristic associated with the input, wherein the identified light projection characteristic is associated with a desired vehicle passenger experience, wherein the desired vehicle occupant passenger experience comprises:
an experience of an attraction, comprising a location providing a scenario; or
a thrill level of the attraction defined by a set of characteristics;
or both;

identify, using the sensor, a light projected characteristic of a projection on the surface that matches the identified light projection characteristic; and
control the vehicle to follow the identified light projected characteristic of the projection.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to change selection of the light projection characteristic based on indication of a modification of the desired vehicle passenger experience.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle comprises a front wheel located near a front of the vehicle and a back wheel located near a back of the vehicle, and the controller is further configured to control the front wheel to follow a first projection and the back wheel to follow a second projection.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is configured to scan the surface to detect that an abnormality has occurred in the light projected characteristics projected on the surface.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with other vehicles about: selection of the light projection characteristic, a particular location of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a future change in the light projection characteristic, or any combination thereof.

15. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:
receiving, via a controller, an input provided by a passenger of the vehicle;
identifying, via the controller, a light projection characteristic associated with the input, wherein the identified light projection characteristic is associated with a desired vehicle passenger experience, wherein the desired vehicle passenger experience comprises:
an experience of an attraction, comprising a location providing a scenario; or
a thrill level of the attraction defined by a set of characteristics;
or both;

identifying, using a sensor on the vehicle, a light projected characteristic of a projection on a surface that matches the identified light projection characteristic; and
controlling, via the controller, the vehicle to follow the identified light projected characteristic of the projection on the surface.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the light projection characteristic comprises a particular bar code, a particular QR code, a particular shape, a particular pattern of objects, or any

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Jeromin Aaron Chandler
• Krauthamer Akiva Meir

Classifications

• G05D2111/14

  Non-visible signals, e.g. IR or UV signals · CPC title

• G05D1/857

  in response to sensor failures · CPC title

• G05D1/247

  using signals provided by artificial sources external to the vehicle, e.g. navigation beacons · CPC title

• G05D1/695

  for maintaining a fixed relative position of the vehicles, e.g. for convoy travelling or formation flight · CPC title

• G05D1/65

  Following a desired speed profile · CPC title