A ride assembly includes a passenger vehicle having front wheels, rear wheels, a motor, and a steering wheel, where the front and rear wheels are disposed on a surface, the motor is configured to provide power to the front wheels to propel the passenger vehicle, and the steering wheel is configured to adjust a position of the rear wheels and enable the passenger vehicle to drift, a track forming a trough in the surface, and a bogie hingedly coupled to the passenger vehicle, where the bogie is disposed in the trough, and where the bogie is configured to direct movement of the passenger vehicle along the track.

An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.

A bump detector system for a ride-on vehicle is provided. The bump detector system uses an extended length inner collapsible member having a first surface and a second surface. The inner collapsible member has a plurality of through holes spaced about its extended length. A first outer conductive member is secured to the first surface of the inner collapsible member and extends over the plurality of through holes, and a second outer conductive member is secured to the second surface of the inner collapsible member and extends over the plurality of through holes. The bumper of the ride-on vehicle has a recess that is sized to receive the inner collapsible member, first outer conductive member and second outer conductive member.

A bump detector system for a ride-on vehicle is provided. The bump detector system uses an extended length inner collapsible member having a first surface and a second surface. The inner collapsible member has a plurality of through holes spaced about its extended length. A first outer conductive member is secured to the first surface of the inner collapsible member and extends over the plurality of through holes, and a second outer conductive member is secured to the second surface of the inner collapsible member and extends over the plurality of through holes. The bumper of the ride-on vehicle has a recess that is sized to receive the inner collapsible member, first outer conductive member and second outer conductive member.

An amusement vehicle, retrofittable hardware gamification attachment, and method for simulating power-ups in-game virtual vehicle enhancements and virtual weaponry for improved racing experience are disclosed. Amusement vehicle comprises sensor-specific transmitters/receivers for communicating with other amusement vehicles moving in amusement environment. Amusement vehicle comprises a processor simulating power-ups in-game virtual vehicle enhancements and virtual weaponry based on sensor-specific signals transmitted to or received from other amusement vehicles. Power-ups and virtual weaponry are simulated by increasing/decreasing speed, causing damage, providing temporary protection from damage, freezing weaponry, and deactivating weaponry the amusement vehicle for pre-defined time corresponding to sensor-specific signals transmitted to or received from other amusement vehicles in gaming event of amusement environment. Amusement vehicle comprises cameras for capturing still images/video of amusement vehicle and surroundings. An adaptive video system (AVS) processes, transmits, and displays still images/video on a display screen of amusement vehicle and display device external from amusement environment.

An amusement vehicle, retrofittable hardware gamification attachment, and method for simulating power-ups in-game virtual vehicle enhancements and virtual weaponry for improved racing experience are disclosed. Amusement vehicle comprises sensor-specific transmitters/receivers for communicating with other amusement vehicles moving in amusement environment. Amusement vehicle comprises a processor simulating power-ups in-game virtual vehicle enhancements and virtual weaponry based on sensor-specific signals transmitted to or received from other amusement vehicles. Power-ups and virtual weaponry are simulated by increasing/decreasing speed, causing damage, providing temporary protection from damage, freezing weaponry, and deactivating weaponry the amusement vehicle for pre-defined time corresponding to sensor-specific signals transmitted to or received from other amusement vehicles in gaming event of amusement environment. Amusement vehicle comprises cameras for capturing still images/video of amusement vehicle and surroundings. An adaptive video system (AVS) processes, transmits, and displays still images/video on a display screen of amusement vehicle and display device external from amusement environment.

An amusement ride experience may be provided using a ride system comprising a three-dimensional ride space; a predetermined set of motion-based vehicles; a turntable rotationally disposed at least partially within the three-dimensional ride space and operatively connected to the predetermined set of motion-based vehicles and configured to move each motion-base vehicle within two or more dimensions of the three-dimensional ride space without the use of track or vehicle-based propulsion; and a ride controller. The turntable and associated motion-based vehicles are installed in the three-dimensional ride space without using a track, track switches, track-related sensors, or trenching; a first motion-based vehicle positioned at a passenger loading position in the three-dimensional ride space; one or more passengers allowed to board the motion-based vehicle; the turntable used to rotate the motion-based vehicle to a predetermined set of locations within the three-dimensional ride space corresponding to a predetermined set of ride scenes, ending up with rotating the motion-based vehicle to passenger disembarkation position where the passenger exits the motion-based vehicle.