AMUSEMENT PARK ELEMENT TRACKING SYSTEM

• US 20150339910A1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stenzler, Paula
• Granted Patent: US 9,600,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/60 relating to illumination properties, e.g. using a reflectance or lighting model
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/48 Matching video sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A system includes one or more retro-reflective markers positioned within a ride system and a tracking system that may detect the one or more retro-reflective markers to track a position of a rider. The tracking system includes an emitter that may emit light toward the one or more retro-reflective markers, a detector that may detect reflected light from the one or more retro-reflective markers, and a controller that may determine the position of the rider relative to the one or more retro-reflective markers based on detection of the reflected light and that may provide an indication of the position of the rider.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more retro-reflective markers positioned within a ride system; and

a tracking system configured to detect the one or more retro-reflective markers to track a position of a rider, wherein the tracking system comprises;

an emitter configured to emit light toward the one or more retro-reflective markers;

a detector configured to detect reflected light from the one or more retro-reflective markers; and

a controller configured to determine the position of the rider relative to the one or more retro-reflective markers based on detection of the reflected light and configured to provide an indication of the position of the rider.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ride control system is configured to adjust an operational parameter of the ride system based on the position of the rider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ride control system is configured to actuate an audible or visual alert via an interface communicatively coupled to the controller based on the position of the rider.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the position of the rider based on a change in reflected light intensity from the one or more retro-reflective markers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to associate a decrease in the reflected light intensity with the rider blocking at least one of the one or more retro-reflective markers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ride system comprises a ride seat having the one or more retro-reflective markers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more retro-reflective markers comprise an array of retro-reflective markers that are disposed on a seat lumbar region, a seat headrest, a seat restraint, or any combination thereof, and the controller is configured to determine a status of the ride seat based on a pattern of the array of retro-reflective markers detected by the controller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more retro-reflective markers are configured to determine a position of a rider'"'"'s head, hands, or a combination thereof relative to the ride seat.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a number of riders entering and exiting the amusement park ride based on detection of the reflected light.

10. A method comprising:

emitting electromagnetic radiation from an emitter toward one or more retro-reflective markers disposed in a detection region of an amusement park ride, wherein the emitter is a part of a tracking system configured to track the one or more retro-reflective markers;

reflecting the electromagnetic radiation from the one or more retro- reflective markers;

detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation with a detector of the tracking system; and

determining a position of a rider or a ride element based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation using a controller communicatively coupled to the tracking system.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising determining a change in intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation using the controller, wherein the change in intensity is correlated with the position of the rider relative to the one or more retro-reflective markers.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising detecting a pattern of multiple retro-reflective markers of a known array of retro-reflective markers, wherein the pattern is indicative of the position of the rider or ride element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pattern is based on fewer than all of the retro-reflective markers in the known array and is indicative of a rider or ride element being positioned over the known array.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating the device comprises adjusting an operational parameter of the amusement park ride.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising displaying an alert indicating the position of the rider.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one retro-reflective marker is disposed on the rider.

17. The method of claim 10, comprising actuating a device in response to the position of the rider or ride element, wherein the device is communicatively coupled to the amusement park ride.

18. A system, comprising:

a controller, comprising;

one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media collectively storing one or more sets of instructions; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the one or more sets of instructions to;

activate an emitter, wherein the emitter emits electromagnetic radiation towards retro-reflective markers disposed on an amusement park ride;

receive detected electromagnetic radiation reflected from all or a portion of the retro-reflective markers via a detector;

determine a position of a rider or a ride element relative to the retro-reflective markers based on the detected electromagnetic radiation; and

actuate a device in response to the position of the rider or ride element, wherein the device is configured to adjust an operational parameter of the amusement park ride.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is a part of a dynamic signal to noise ratio tracking system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine a status of a ride seat based on the position of the rider or the ride element.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one retro-reflective marker is disposed on the ride seat, the rider, or a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to execute the one or more sets of instructions to determine a number of riders positioned within a ride seat is equal to a number of riders that have entered a loading section of the amusement park ride based on the change in intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation.