Virtual attraction controller
First Claim
1. A ride control system, comprising:
- a plurality of ride vehicles positioned within a course and configured to travel within the course, wherein each of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises;
a vehicle controller configured to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles;
a position tracking system configured to facilitate identification of a location of the respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles within the course; and
a vehicle transceiver in communication with the vehicle controller;
a primary controller;
a primary transceiver in communication with the primary controller;
a primary wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the primary transceiver to include at least the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the primary controller is configured to receive data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network and wherein the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles are configured to coordinate to provide a control loop for each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles;
a backup controller configured to receive the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from the respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network, wherein the primary controller is configured to control one or more show elements and the backup controller is not; and
a bi-directional voting circuit configured to select between the data received by the primary controller and the backup controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ride control system includes a plurality of ride vehicles positioned within a course and configured to travel within the course. Each of the plurality of ride vehicles includes a vehicle controller configured to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles. Each of the plurality of ride vehicles also includes a position tracking system configured to facilitate identification of a location of the respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles within the course. Each of the plurality of ride vehicles further includes a vehicle transceiver in communication with the vehicle controller. The ride control system also includes a primary controller and a primary transceiver in communication with the primary controller. The ride control system further includes a primary wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the primary transceiver to include at least the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles. The primary controller is configured to receive data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network. The primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles are configured to coordinate to provide a control loop for each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ride control system, comprising:
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a plurality of ride vehicles positioned within a course and configured to travel within the course, wherein each of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises; a vehicle controller configured to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles; a position tracking system configured to facilitate identification of a location of the respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles within the course; and a vehicle transceiver in communication with the vehicle controller; a primary controller; a primary transceiver in communication with the primary controller; a primary wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the primary transceiver to include at least the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the primary controller is configured to receive data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network and wherein the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles are configured to coordinate to provide a control loop for each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles; a backup controller configured to receive the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from the respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network, wherein the primary controller is configured to control one or more show elements and the backup controller is not; and a bi-directional voting circuit configured to select between the data received by the primary controller and the backup controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ride control system, comprising:
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a plurality of ride vehicles positioned within a course and configured to travel within the course, wherein each of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises; a vehicle controller configured to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles; a position tracking system configured to facilitate identification of a location of the respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles within the course; and a vehicle transceiver in communication with the vehicle controller; a primary controller; a primary transceiver in communication with the primary controller; and a primary wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the primary transceiver to include at least the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the primary controller is configured to receive data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network and wherein the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles are configured to coordinate to provide a control loop for each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on the data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the position tracking system is configured to facilitate identification of a first vehicle component location with respect to a second vehicle component, wherein the primary controller is configured to control a show event based on the first vehicle component location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A ride control system, comprising:
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a plurality of ride vehicles positioned within a course and configured to travel within the course, wherein each of the plurality of ride vehicles comprises; a vehicle controller configured to control movement of a respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles; a position tracking system configured to facilitate identification of a location of the respective one of the plurality of ride vehicles within the course; and a vehicle transceiver in communication with the vehicle controller; a primary controller; a primary transceiver in communication with the primary controller; a primary wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the primary transceiver to include at least the primary controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the primary controller is configured to receive a first set of data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the primary wireless network; a backup controller in communication with the primary controller; a backup transceiver in communication with the backup controller; a backup wireless network formed by the vehicle transceiver and the backup transceiver to include at least the backup controller and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the backup controller is configured to receive a second set of data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles from respective ones of the plurality of ride vehicles via the backup wireless network; and a bi-directional voting circuit configured to compare the first set of data and the second set of data, and to select between the first set of data and the second set of data, wherein the primary controller or the backup controller, and the vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles are configured to coordinate to provide a control loop for each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on one of the first set or the second set of data indicative of the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a plurality of ride vehicles within a course, comprising:
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identifying a location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles; transmitting the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles to a system controller via a primary wireless network, wherein the primary wireless network includes the system controller and a vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles; transmitting the location of each of the plurality of ride vehicles to a backup controller via a backup wireless network, wherein the backup wireless network includes the backup controller and a vehicle controller of each of the plurality of ride vehicles; selecting one selected location from the location received by the system controller and the location received by the backup controller with a bi-directional voting circuit; and controlling, with the system controller, a movement of each of the plurality of ride vehicles based on the one selected location. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification