Systems and methods for inspection of a track of an amusement attraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12466450-B2
Application number	US-202318244751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2023
Priority date	Sep 13, 2022
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

An attraction system includes a track, a support vehicle having a wheel assembly configured to adjustably engage the track and having a sensor configured to capture a characteristic of the attraction system. In addition, the attraction system comprises a control assembly configured to control the support vehicle to traverse the track via the wheel assembly and receive, from the sensor, sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the attraction system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An attraction system, comprising:
a track comprising a rail; a support vehicle having a wheel assembly configured to adjustably engage the track, and having a sensor configured to acquire sensor data indicative of a characteristic of the attraction system; and a vehicle controller configured to:
determine a cross-sectional dimension of the rail;
control the wheel assembly to engage the support vehicle with the rail based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail;
control the support vehicle to traverse the track via the wheel assembly;
receive, from the sensor, the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the attraction system; and
instruct performance of an action based on the sensor data.

2 . The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising an additional track having an additional rail, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to:
determine an additional cross-sectional dimension of the additional rail, the additional cross-sectional dimension being different than the cross-sectional dimension of the rail; control the wheel assembly to engage the support vehicle with the additional rail based on the additional cross-sectional dimension of the additional rail; and control the support vehicle to traverse the additional track via the wheel assembly.

3 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the support vehicle comprises a robotic leg assembly, and a robotic leg of the robotic leg assembly is coupled to the wheel assembly.

4 . The attraction system of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control a robotic leg configuration of the robotic leg assembly such that the robotic leg configuration corresponds to a track configuration of the track.

5 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises:
a wheel; a pivot; and a gripper configured to rotate about the pivot to move the wheel closer to or further away from the rail, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control the gripper via the pivot to engage the support vehicle with the rail based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail.

6 . The attraction system of claim 5 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises:
an additional wheel; an additional pivot; and an additional gripper configured to rotate about the additional pivot to move the additional wheel closer to or further away from the rail, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control the additional gripper via the additional pivot to engage the support vehicle with the rail based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail such that a spacing between the wheel and the additional wheel corresponds to the cross-sectional dimension of the rail.

7 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the rail comprises a diameter of the rail.

8 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner, or a combination thereof.

9 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the support vehicle comprises:
a robotic arm configured to operate a tool, wherein the tool comprises at least a socket, a wrench, or an application brush; and an actuator configured to be controlled by the vehicle controller to drive movement of the robotic arm.

10 . The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising a ride vehicle separate from the support vehicle and configured to carry passengers of the attraction system, wherein the support vehicle comprises a first weight, the ride vehicle comprises a second weight, and the first weight is less than the second weight.

11 . The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the support vehicle is an autonomous support vehicle.

12 . An autonomous support vehicle comprising:
a robotic leg assembly coupled to a wheel assembly, wherein the wheel assembly is configured to roll on a track of an attraction system; a robotic arm configured to receive an additional component of the autonomous support vehicle; a modular payload platform coupled to the robotic arm; and a vehicle controller configured to:
determine at least one size characteristic of the track;
control, based on the at least one size characteristic of the track, the robotic leg assembly to move the wheel assembly toward the track;
determine a cross-sectional dimension of a rail of the track;
control, based on the cross-sectional dimension of the rail, the wheel assembly to engage the autonomous support vehicle with the rail;
control the robotic arm to cause a movement of the additional component relative to the modular payload platform; and
control the autonomous support vehicle to traverse the track.

13 . The autonomous support vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control the robotic leg assembly, the wheel assembly, or both to switch between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration enables the wheel assembly to roll on the track and the second configuration enables the wheel assembly to roll on a relatively flat surface separate from the track.

14 . The autonomous support vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to:
receive image data from a camera; and based on the image data, control the robotic arm to perform a maintenance operation on the track via the additional component.

15 . The autonomous support vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle controller is configured to generate, based on the image data, a notification indicating a condition of the track.

16 . The autonomous support vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the rail comprises a diameter of the rail.

17 . A method comprising:
adjusting, based on a spacing between a first rail of a track and a second rail of the track, a robotic leg assembly of an autonomous support vehicle such that a configuration of a wheel assembly coupled to the robotic leg assembly corresponds to the spacing; adjusting, based on a first cross-sectional dimension of the first rail, a second cross-sectional dimension of the second rail, or both, the wheel assembly to engage the autonomous support vehicle with the first rail, the second rail, or both; traversing the track via the autonomous support vehicle; receiving sensor data via a sensor of the autonomous support vehicle; and based on the sensor data, controlling a robotic arm to perform a maintenance operation.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
generating, based on the sensor data, a notification indicating a condition of the track; and sending the notification to an external controller, a mobile device, or both.

19 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
traversing, via the autonomous support vehicle, a flat surface of an amusement park environment toward the track; and robotically mounting the track via the autonomous support vehicle.

20 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
controlling, based on the first cross-sectional dimension or the second cross-sectional dimension, a gripper of the wheel assembly to engage the autonomous support vehicle with the first rail or the second rail.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Mall Jr Howard Bruce

Classifications

• A63G7/00

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

• B61K3/02

  Apparatus therefor combined with vehicles · CPC title

• B61F9/00

  Rail vehicles characterised by means for preventing derailing, e.g. by use of guide wheels · CPC title

• B61F7/00

  Rail vehicles equipped for use on tracks of different width · CPC title

• B61D15/12

  power propelled · CPC title