EP-4739412-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIDAL CHANGE SIMULATION

Abstract

A show effect system of an amusement park may include a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir, a fluid source coupled to one or more inflatables and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the one or more inflatables, one or more hinges coupling the first side of the platform to a structure of the reservoir, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid source and configured to instruct the fluid source to inject fluid into or extract the fluid from the one or more inflatables to lift or lower the second side and rotate the platform about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Inventors

• PARR, ERIC RAE
• VANCE, Eric Allan
• KELLEY, Sarah Anne

Assignees

• Universal City Studios LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240625

Claims (20)

1. 1. A show effect system of an amusement park, the show effect system comprising: a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir; a reservoir entry that provides guest access to the reservoir, wherein a first side of the platform is adjacent the reservoir entry: a fluid source coupled to one or more inflatables and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the one or more inflatables, wherein the one or more inflatables are coupled to a second side of the platform opposite the first side; one or more hinges coupling the first side of the platform to a structure of the reservoir: and a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid source and configured to instruct the fluid source to inject fluid into or extract the fluid from the one or more inflatables to lift or lower the second side and rotate the platform about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration with a first level of platform submersion in the liquid to a second configuration with a second level of platform submersion in the liquid, wherein the first level of submersion is different than the second level of submersion.
2. 2. The show effect system of claim 1, wherein the transition from the first level of submersion to the second level of submersion exposes a first portion of the platform and is perceived by a guest as the liquid receding.
3. 3. The show effect system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: in response to a first input, instruct the fluid source to inject the fluid into the one or more inflatables to achieve the first configuration; and in response to a second input, instruct the fluid source to remove the fluid from the one or more inflatables to achieve the second configuration.
4. 4. The show effect system of claim 1. wherein the fluid source comprises: one or more first pumps configured inject the fluid into the one or more inflatables and one or more second pumps configured to extract the fluid from the one or more inflatables; and/or one or more reversible pumps configured to inject the fluid into the one or more inflatables in a first mode of operation and extract the fluid from the one more inflatables in a second mode of operation.
5. 5. The show effect system of claim 1, comprising a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to provide sensor data corresponding to one or more guests interacting with the show effect system.
6. 6. The show effect system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the sensor data to determine that movement of a first guest of the one or more guests matches at least one of a plurality of movement templates stored in a database.
7. 7. The show effect system of claim 5, wherein the sensor data is indicative of a number of guests positioned on a surface of the platform and the controller is configured to control the show effect system based on comparing the sensor data to a threshold.
8. 8. The show effect system of claim 1 , comprising at least one actuator coupled to the platform and the structure of the reservoir, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator and configured to instruct the at least one actuator to actuate to adjust the platform.
9. 9. The show effect system of claim 1, wherein the transition between the first configuration to the second configuration occurs at a rate that is is sufficiently slow to have limited human perception. .
10. 10. A show effect system of an amusement park, the show effect system comprising: a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir; a first side of the platform coupled to a structure of the reservoir via one or more hinges; a second side of the platform opposite the first side; an actuation system coupled to the second side of the platform; and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuation system and configured to instruct the actuation system to lift or lower the second side such that the platform is rotated about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration with a first level of platform submersion in the liquid to a second configuration with a second level of platform submersion in the liquid, wherein the first level of submersion is different than the second level of submersion.
11. 11. The show effect system of claim 10, comprising a reservoir entry adjacent to the first side of the platform, wherein the reservoir entry comprises a guest portal and wherein the first side of the platform extends to or through the guest portal to facilitate guest transition onto the platform.
12. 12. The show effect system of claim 10, wherein the actuation system comprises a fluid source and one or more inflatables configured to be filled and emptied by the fluid source.
13. 13. The show effect system of claim 12, wherein the fluid source comprises one or more pumps and the one or more inflatables comprises air-tight bags.
14. 14. The show effect system of claim 10, wherein the actuation system comprises a hydraulic actuator or a mechanical lift.
15. 15. An attraction system for an attraction, the attraction system comprising: a platform coupled to one or more objects and positioned within a reservoir, wherein: in a first configuration, a first portion of the platform is positioned within liquid disposed in the reservoir and not directly visible to a guest and a second portion of the platform is extracted from the liquid and directly visible to the guest; and in a second configuration, at least some of the first portion of the platform is exposed from the liquid along with the second portion of the platform; a sensor configured to transmit sensor data indicative of information corresponding to the guest; at least one actuator coupled to the platform and configured to adjust a position of the platform between the first configuration and the second configuration; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the at least one actuator, wherein the controller is configured to: instruct the at least one actuator to adjust the position of the platform based on the sensor data.
16. 16. The attraction system of claim 15, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a fluid source coupled to at least one inflatable and configured to inflate and deflate the at least one inflatable.
17. 17. The attraction system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to: after a period of time in the first configuration or the second configuration, instruct the at least one actuator to transition to the other configuration.
18. 18. The attraction system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a movement of the guest corresponds to a stored movement template in a database based on the sensor data; and instruct the actuator to adjust the position of the platform based on the determination.
19. 19. The attraction system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to: receive sensor data indicative of a number of guests positioned on a surface of the platform; determine the sensor data exceeds a threshold; and instruct the at least one actuator to adjust the position of the platform based on the sensor data exceeding the threshold.
20. 20. The attraction system of claim 15, comprising at least one hinge coupling the platform and configured to support a weight of the platform.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIDAL CHANGE SIMULATION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/525,299. entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIDAL CHANGE SIMULATION” filed July 6, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety' for all purposes. BACKGROUND [0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. [0003] Throughout amusement parks and other entertainment venues, special effects can be used to help immerse guests in the experience of a ride or attraction. Immersive environments may include three-dimensional (3D) props and set pieces, robotic or mechanical elements, and/or display surfaces that present media. For example, an attraction system may provide a beach effect by pumping water through a wave generator in a swimming pool with a beach entry7. However, such effects may be expensive, complex, and provide an unreliable experience for guests. Moreover, with increased sophistication and complexity7 of modem attractions and a corresponding increase in expectations among amusement park (e.g., theme park) guests, improved and more creative attractions are desirable, including show effects having immersive, and/or realistic characteristics. SUMMARY [0004] A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. [0005] In an embodiment, a show effect system of an amusement park may include a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir, a reservoir entry that provides guest access to the reservoir, where a first side of the platform is adjacent the reservoir entry7, a fluid source coupled to one or more inflatables and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the one or more inflatables. where the one or more inflatables are coupled to a second side of the platform opposite the first side, one or more hinges coupling the first side of the platform to a structure of the reservoir, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid source. The controller may instruct the fluid source to inject fluid into or extract the fluid from the one or more inflatables to lift or lower the second side and rotate the platform about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration with a first level of platform submersion in the liquid to a second configuration with a second level of platform submersion in the liquid, wherein the first level of submersion is different than the second level of submersion. [0006] In an embodiment, a show effect system of an amusement park may include a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir, a first side of the platform coupled to a structure of the reservoir via one or more hinges, and a second side of the platform opposite the first side. The show effect system may also include an actuation system coupled to the second side of the platform and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuation system and configured to instruct the actuation system to lift or lower the second side such that the platform is rotated about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration with a first level of platform submersion in the liquid to a second configuration with a second level of platform submersion in the liquid, where the first level of submersion is different than the second level of submersion. [0007] In an embodiment, an attraction system for an attraction may include a platform coupled to one or more objects and positioned within a reservoir, a sensor configured to transmit sensor data indicative of information corresponding to the guest, and at least one actuator coupled to the platform and configured to adjust the position of the platform between the first configuration and the second configuration. The attraction system may also include a controller coupled to the sensor and the at least one actuator, whe