EP-4735140-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RIDE VEHICLE RESTRAINT VIA COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED PROCESS

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling a ride vehicle restraint (232) in a ride system (100). A system is configured to identify one or more ride vehicles (104, 106, 118) stopped at a passenger loading platform (110), the one or more ride vehicles (108, 106, 118) including one or more seats (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B), determine which seat or seats (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) of the one or more seats (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) are in-service or out-of-service based at least in part on data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles (104, 106, 118), instruct to lock one or more restraint systems (232) corresponding to at least one seat (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) of the one or more seats (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) determined to be out-of-service, and instruct to unlock one or more other restraint systems (232) corresponding to at least one seat (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) other seats of the one or more seats (124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 134A, 134B, 136A, 136B) determined to be in-service.

Inventors

• BEATRICE, Michael Anthony
• HABIAK, Gregory Paul
• MAJDALI, DAVID GERARD

Assignees

• Universal City Studios LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240626

Claims (20)

1. 1. A ride system comprising: one or more ride vehicles including one or more seats; a passenger loading platform; a ride vehicle identifier configured to identify the one or more ride vehicles stopped at the passenger loading platform; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more seats and the ride vehicle identifier, the controller configured to: determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service; determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service; instruct to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service; and instruct to unlock one or more other restraint systems corresponding to at least one other seat of the one or more seats determined to be in-service.
2. 2. The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles prior to the one or more ride vehicles stopping at the passenger loading platform, wherein the data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles indicates which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service.
3. 3. The ride system of claim 2, further comprising: an interface device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive the data corresponding to the identify' of the one or more ride vehicles from the interface device, and wherein the interface device is configured to receive the data from a ride system operator or technician.
4. 4. The ride system of claim 2, wherein the control system configured to determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or out-of-service is configured to at least: read the received data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles; receive data indicative of an out-of-service triggering event from an on-board controller of the one or more ride vehicles; or receive the data indicative of the out-of-service triggering event from a seat sensor system of the one or more ride vehicles.
5. 5. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the ride vehicle identifier comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to identify the one or more ride vehicles, wherein the RFID reader is configured to: read an RFID tag mounted to the one or more ride vehicles.
6. 6. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to instruct to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service at least in part by: refraining from sending a signal to unlock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service; blocking a signal for unlocking the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service from being sent; or sending a signal to lock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service.
7. 7. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the ride vehicle identifier comprises at least a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a barcode reader, a QR code reader, a camera, a light sensor, a color sensor, or a ride vehicle counter.
8. 8. A method of controlling a ride vehicle restraint in a ride system, the method comprising: identifying one or more ride vehicles stopped at a passenger loading platform, the one or more ride vehicles including one or more seats; determining which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service; determining which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service; instructing to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service; and instructing to unlock one or more other restraint systems corresponding to at least one other seat of the one or more seats determined to be in-service.
9. 9. The method of claim 8. further comprising: receiving data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles prior to the one or more ride vehicles stopping at the passenger loading platform, wherein the data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles indicates which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service.
10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles is received via an interface device configured to receive the data from a ride system operator or technician.
11. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or out-of-service comprises at least: reading the received data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles; receiving data indicative of an out-of-service triggering event from an on-board controller of the one or more ride vehicles; or receiving the data indicative of the out-of-service triggering event from a seat sensor system of the one or more ride vehicles.
12. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying the one or more ride vehicles comprises: identifying a unique identifying attribute of the one or more ride vehicles.
13. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructing to lock the one or more restraint systems comprises at least: refraining from sending a signal to unlock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service; blocking a signal for unlocking the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service from being sent; or sending a signal to lock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service.
14. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying the one or more ride vehicles comprises identifying via at least a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a barcode reader, a QR code reader, a light sensor, a color sensor, a camera, or a ride vehicle counter.
15. 15. An apparatus for controlling a ride vehicle restraint in a ride system, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify one or more ride vehicles stopped at a passenger loading platform, the one or more ride vehicles including one or more seats, determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service, determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service, instruct to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service, and instruct to unlock one or more other restraint systems corresponding to at least one other seat of the one or more seats determined to be in-service.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles prior to the one or more ride vehicles stopping at the passenger loading platform, wherein the data corresponding to the identify of the one or more ride vehicles indicates which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or which seat or seats of the one or more seats are out-of-service.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles via an interface device configured to receive the data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles from a ride system operator or technician.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor configured to determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or out-of-service is configured to at least: read the received data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles; receive data indicative of an out-of-service triggering event from an on-board controller of the one or more ride vehicles; or receive the data indicative of the out-of-service triggering event from a seat sensor system of the one or more ride vehicles.
19. 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to identity 7 the one or more ride vehicles via a signal from a ride vehicle identifier configured to identity' a unique identification attribute of the one or more ride vehicles.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 16. wherein the at least one processor configured to instruct to lock the one or more restraint systems is configured to at least: refrain from sending a signal to unlock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service; block a signal for unlocking the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service from being sent; or send a signal to lock the one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RIDE VEHICLE RESTRAINT VIA COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED PROCESS TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The technology discussed below relates generally to ride vehicle restraint systems, and more particularly, to inhibiting movement of a ride vehicle restraint. INTRODUCTION [0002] Restraint systems are used to safely restrain passengers in amusement park ride vehicles. For example, a restraint system is provided to contain a seated, standing, or prone passenger. With seated rides, a restraint system may take the form of a crossbar (e.g., lap bar, T-bar, etc.) placed against the torso or thighs of the passenger. In an example, the crossbar may be supported by one or more support bars rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted at or near a ride vehicle floor in close proximity7 to the passenger’s legs. As such, the crossbar may move toward or away from the passenger as the one or more support bars are caused to rotate about the pivot toward or away from the passenger. However, problems may arise when individual seats on a ride vehicle are out-of-service but the ride vehicle overall is still in-service to passengers. [0003] For example, when one or more seats of a ride vehicle is out-of-service but the rest of the seat rows are otherwise in-service to the passengers, a ride operator and/or technician (e.g., ride technician) may implement a procedure to prevent passengers from sitting in an out-of-service seat. The procedure may include the ride operator and/or technician locking (e.g., strapping down) in a closed position a restraint system of the out- of-service seat and/or placing a physical barrier on the restraint system to prevent the restraint system from opening, and therefore, prevent a passenger from sitting in the out- of-service seat. The procedure may include the ride operator and/or technician monitoring the passengers as they board the ride vehicle and preventing a passenger from entering the and/or sitting in the out-of-service seat. However, a ride operator and/or technician may not notice a passenger unlock the restraint system from the closed position and/or remove the physical barrier on the restraint system, and the passenger may sit in the out-of-service seat. [0004] [0005] Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method that monitors when one or more seats of a ride vehicle is out-of-service and prevents a restraint system of the one or more out-of-service seats from being opened. The present disclosure is directed to controlling a restraint system of an out-of-service seat to lock or remain locked. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES [0006] The following presents a summary' of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. [0007] Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling a ride vehicle restraint in a ride system. A ride system may include one or more ride vehicles including one or more seats, a passenger loading platform, a ride vehicle identifier configured to identify the one or more ride vehicles stopped at the passenger loading platform, and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more seats and/or the ride vehicle identifier. The controller may be configured to determine which seat or seats of the one or more seats are in-service or out-of-service based at least in part on data corresponding to an identity of the one or more ride vehicles. If any of the seats of the one or more seats are determined to be out-of-service, the controller may be configured to instruct to lock one or more restraint systems corresponding to at least one seat of the one or more seats determined to be out-of-service. If any of the seats of the one or more seats are determined to be in-service, the controller may be configured to instruct to unlock one or more other restraint systems corresponding to at least one other seat of the one or more seats determined to be in-service. The ride system may include an interface device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive the data via the interface device, and wherein the interface device is configured to receive the data from a ride system operator (e.g., ride operator) and/or technician (e.g., ride system technician, ride technician). The data corresponding to the identity7 of the one or more ride vehicles may be received prior to the one or more ride vehicles stopping at the passenger loading platform. The data corresponding to the identity of the one or more ride vehicles ma