Retro-reflective optical system for controlling amusement park devices based on a size of a person

• US 10,729,985 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• 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, Cortelyou, Robert J., McQuillian, Brian B., Oliver, Christopher, Blum, Steven C., Schwartz, Justin M., Okeson, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US16/224,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20190143228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• 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 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A dynamic signal to noise ratio tracking system enables detection of people within the field of view of the tracking system. The tracking system may include an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation within an area, a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected back from people and/or objects within the area, and a control unit configured to evaluate signals from the detector and control various automated amusement park equipment as a result of this evaluation.

Claims

1. An amusement park tracking and control system, comprising:

a plurality of retro-reflective markers positioned within a guest attraction area;

an emission subsystem configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the plurality of retro-reflective markers;

a detection subsystem configured to detect reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of retro-reflective markers resulting from electromagnetic radiation emission by the emission subsystem, wherein the detection subsystem comprises a first detection camera configured to detect a first portion of the reflection and a second detection camera configured to detect a second portion of the reflection, wherein a first set of retro-reflective markers of the plurality of retro-reflective markers is positioned in a grid pattern on a wall of the guest attraction area, wherein a second set of retro-reflective markers of the plurality of retro-reflective markers is positioned on a floor of the guest attraction area, wherein the first detection camera is positioned to obtain an elevational view of the first set of retro-reflective markers, and wherein the second detection camera is positioned to obtain an overhead view of the second set of retro-reflective markers; and

a control system communicatively coupled to the detection subsystem and comprising processing circuitry configured to monitor the reflection from the plurality of retro-reflective markers and evaluate information relating to a person in the guest attraction area based on changes in the reflection, evaluate a size of one or more persons in the guest attraction area by performing an evaluation routine comprising comparing a pattern of the first portion of the reflection observed from the elevational view of the first detection camera with a stored pattern of reflection, correlate differences between the pattern of the first portion of the reflection and the stored pattern of reflection to identify which of the first set of retro-reflective markers are blocked by the one or more persons, perform three-dimensional tracking of the one or more persons in the guest attraction area based on identifying blocked retro-reflective markers of the first set of retro-reflective markers and the second set of retro-reflective markers, and control automated park equipment based, at least in part, on identifying the blocked retro-reflective markers of the first set of retro-reflective markers and the second set of retro-reflective markers.

2. The amusement park tracking and control system of claim 1, wherein the overhead view is a plan view.

3. The amusement park tracking and control system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry of the control system is configured to evaluate a position of one or more persons in the guest attraction area by performing an additional evaluation routine comprising comparing an additional pattern of reflection observed from the overhead view of the second detection camera with an additional stored pattern of reflection, and correlating differences between the additional pattern of reflection and the additional stored pattern of reflection to identify which of the second set of retro-reflective markers are blocked from view of the second detection camera by the one or more persons.

4. An amusement park tracking and control system comprising:

a plurality of retro-reflective markers positioned within a guest attraction area;

an emission subsystem configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the plurality of retro-reflective markers;

a detection subsystem configured to detect reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of retro-reflective markers resulting from electromagnetic radiation emission by the emission subsystem, wherein the detection subsystem comprises a first detection camera configured to detect a first portion of the reflection and a second detection camera configured to detect a second portion of the reflection, wherein a first set of retro-reflective markers of the plurality of retro-reflective markers is positioned in a grid pattern on a wall of the guest attraction area, wherein a second set of retro-reflective markers of the plurality of retro-reflective markers is positioned on a floor of the guest attraction area, wherein the first detection camera is positioned to obtain an elevational view of the first set of retro-reflective markers, and wherein the second detection camera is positioned to obtain an overhead view of the second set of retro-reflective markers, wherein the reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of retro-reflective markers includes electromagnetic radiation from a first emitter of the emission subsystem reflected by the first set of retro-reflective markers and electromagnetic radiation from a second emitter of the emission subsystem reflected by the second set of retro-reflective markers; and

a control system communicatively coupled to the detection subsystem and comprising processing circuitry configured to monitor the reflection from the plurality of retro-reflective markers and evaluate information relating to a person in the guest attraction area based on changes in the reflection, evaluate a size of one or more persons in the guest attraction area by performing an evaluation routine comprising comparing a pattern of the first portion of the reflection observed from the elevational view of the first detection camera with a stored pattern of reflection, correlate differences between the pattern of the first portion of the reflection and the stored pattern of reflection to identify which of the first set of retro-reflective markers are blocked by the one or more persons, and control automated park equipment based, at least in part, on identification of blocked retro-reflective markers.

5. The amusement park tracking and control system of claim 4, wherein the overhead view is a plan view.

6. The amusement park tracking and control system of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry of the control system is configured to evaluate a position of one or more persons in the guest attraction area by performing an additional evaluation routine comprising comparing an additional pattern of reflection observed from the overhead view of the second detection camera with an additional stored pattern of reflection, and correlating differences between the additional pattern of reflection and the additional stored pattern of reflection to identify which of the second set of retro-reflective markers are blocked from view of the second detection camera by the one or more persons.