US-12618966-B2 - Clearance envelope scanning system

Abstract

A clearance envelope scanning system for an amusement park attraction includes a detection system configured to couple to a ride vehicle of the amusement park attraction. The detection system includes an emitter configured to output a wave within an environment of the amusement park attraction and a receiver configured to detect the wave reflected off of an object within the environment. The clearance envelope scanning system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detection system, where the controller is configured to analyze properties of the wave detected by the receiver and to determine whether the object is within a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle.

Inventors

• Lucas Gorentz
• Michael Beatrice

Assignees

• UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20221215

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A clearance envelope scanning system for an amusement park attraction, the clearance envelope scanning system comprising: a detection system configured to couple to a ride vehicle of the amusement park attraction, wherein the detection system comprises: an emitter configured to output a wave within an environment of the amusement park attraction; and a receiver configured to detect the wave reflected off of an object within the environment; and a controller communicatively coupled to the detection system, wherein the controller is configured to: receive computer-aided design (CAD) data representative of an expected configuration of the amusement park attraction; define a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on the CAD data representative of the expected configuration of the amusement park attraction and based on a position of the detection system relative to the ride vehicle; analyze properties of the wave detected by the receiver; and determine whether the object is within the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle.
2. 2 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a housing configured to removably mount to the ride vehicle, and wherein the emitter and the receiver are disposed within the housing.
3. 3 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is disposed within the housing.
4. 4 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an amount by which the object extends within the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on analysis of the properties of the wave detected by the receiver.
5. 5 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a location sensor configured to collect data indicative of a location of the detection system within the environment.
6. 6 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a location of the object within the environment based on feedback from the location sensor.
7. 7 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the wave comprises a radio wave, an infrared wave, a light wave, an ultraviolet wave, or any combination thereof.
8. 8 . The clearance envelope scanning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to define the clearance envelope based on a position of the emitter relative to the ride vehicle, based on a position of the receiver relative to the ride vehicle, or both.
9. 9 . A controller for a clearance envelope validation system of an amusement park attraction, the controller comprising a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, are configured to cause processing circuitry to: receive computer-aided design (CAD) data representative of an expected configuration of the amusement park attraction; define a clearance envelope of a ride vehicle of the amusement park attraction based on the CAD data representative of the expected configuration of the amusement park attraction and based on a position of a detection system relative to the ride vehicle, wherein the detection system is mounted to the ride vehicle; output a control signal to the detection system to emit a wave within an environment of the amusement park attraction; receive an input from the detection system, wherein the input comprises data representative of a reflected wave detected by the detection system within the environment; analyze properties of the reflected wave; and determine whether an object within the environment breaches the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on the properties of the reflected wave.
10. 10 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to: receive additional CAD data representative of an additional expected configuration of an additional amusement park attraction; and define an additional clearance envelope of an additional ride vehicle based on the additional CAD data representative of the additional expected configuration of the additional amusement park attraction.
11. 11 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to: receive additional input from the detection system, wherein the additional input comprises data indicative of a first location of the detection system within the environment; and determine a second location of the object within the environment based on the properties of the reflected wave and based on the additional input received from the detection system.
12. 12 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to determine an amount by which the object within the environment extends within the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on the properties of the reflected wave.
13. 13 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the controller is disposed within a modular housing of the detection system, and the modular housing is removably mounted to the ride vehicle.
14. 14 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to define the clearance envelope based on: a position of an emitter of the detection system relative to the ride vehicle, wherein the emitter is configured to emit the wave, a position of a receiver of the detection system relative to the ride vehicle, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the reflected wave, or both.
15. 15 . A system for an amusement park attraction, the system comprising: a ride vehicle comprising one or more seats, wherein each seat of the one or more seats is configured to accommodate a respective passenger of the ride vehicle, and the ride vehicle is configured to travel through an environment of the amusement park attraction along a ride vehicle path; and a clearance envelope scanning system, comprising: a detection system configured to removably mount to the ride vehicle, wherein the detection system is configured to emit waves into the environment and outward relative to the ride vehicle and to detect the waves reflected off an object within the environment as the ride vehicle travels through the environment along the ride vehicle path; and a controller communicatively coupled to the detection system, wherein the controller is configured to: receive computer-aided design (CAD) data representative of an expected configuration of the amusement park attraction; define a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on the CAD data representative of the expected configuration of the amusement park attraction and based on a position of the detection system relative to the ride vehicle; and determine whether the object extends within the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on properties of the waves reflected off the object and detected by the detection system.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein: the detection system is configured to removably mount to an additional ride vehicle configured to travel through an additional environment of an additional amusement park attraction along an additional ride vehicle path, wherein the environment and the additional environment are different from one another, and the ride vehicle path and the additional ride vehicle path are different from one another; and the controller is configured to define an additional clearance envelope of the additional ride vehicle based on additional CAD data representative of an additional expected configuration of the additional amusement park attraction.
17. 17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the CAD data representative of the expected configuration of the amusement park attraction via a first user input, and the controller is configured to receive the additional CAD data representative of the additional expected configuration of the additional amusement park attraction via a second user input.
18. 18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the detection system comprises: an emitter configured to emit the waves into the environment and outward relative to the ride vehicle; and a receiver configured to detect the waves reflected off the object within the environment as the ride vehicle travels through the environment along the ride vehicle path, wherein the waves comprise electromagnetic energy.
19. 19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the detection system comprises an emitter configured to emit the waves and a receiver configured to detect the waves, and the controller is configured to define the clearance envelope based on a position of the emitter relative to the ride vehicle, based on a position of the receiver relative to the ride vehicle, or both.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from and the benefit U.S. Provisional Application No. 63,315,821, entitled “CLEARANCE ENVELOPE SCANNING SYSTEM,” filed Mar. 2, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure. 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. An amusement or theme park generally includes a variety of entertainment systems or attractions that each provides a unique experience for guests of the amusement park. For example, the amusement park may include different attraction systems, such as a roller coaster, a drop tower, a log flume, and so forth. Some attraction systems may include an environment that may have several different features, such as scenic elements, animated figures, and special effects, which help immerse guests in the experience of the attraction system. However, installation and configuration of the features may be difficult. For example, it may be challenging to determine whether the features are positioned at desirable locations within the environment (e.g., relative to a path of travel of a ride vehicle) to provide a desirable effect or experience for the guests. Furthermore, as attraction systems become increasingly complex, coordination between various features of the attraction system are of increased importance. Therefore, improved techniques to assess or evaluate the environment of an attraction system are desirable to determine whether features of the attraction system are desirably implemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION 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. In one embodiment, a clearance envelope scanning system for an amusement park attraction includes a detection system configured to couple to a ride vehicle of the amusement park attraction. The detection system includes an emitter configured to output a wave within an environment of the amusement park attraction and a receiver configured to detect the wave reflected off of an object within the environment. The clearance envelope scanning system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detection system, where the controller is configured to analyze properties of the wave detected by the receiver and to determine whether the object is within a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle. In another embodiment, a controller for a clearance envelope validation system of an amusement park attraction includes a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, are configured to cause processing circuitry to output a control signal to a detection system coupled to a ride vehicle to emit a wave within an environment of the amusement park attraction, receive an input from the detection system, where the input includes data representative of a reflected wave detected by the detection system within the environment, analyze properties of the reflected wave, and determine whether an object within the environment breaches a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on the properties of the reflected wave. In a further embodiment, a clearance envelope scanning system for an amusement park attraction includes a detection system configured to removably mount to a ride vehicle configured to travel through an environment of the amusement park attraction along a ride vehicle path, where the detection system is configured to emit waves into the environment and outward relative to the ride vehicle and to detect the waves reflected off an object within the environment as the ride vehicle travels through the environment along the ride vehicle path. The clearance envelope scanning system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detection system, where the controller is configured to monitor a clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on data representative of an expected configuration of the amusement park attraction and to determine whether the object extends within the clearance envelope of the ride vehicle based on properties of the waves reflected off the object and detected by the detection system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed d