There is provided an all-terrain amusement ride vehicle and control system. Specifically, there is provided and autonomous all-terrain amusement ride vehicle and control system therefore which is configured to use real terrain to create guest sensations. Whether indoors or outdoors, real terrain such as hills, bridges, bumpy roads, and stairs can be used to create sensations that have sustained gravitational forces (G-forces) wherein these G-forces are at least in part based on the terrain. By providing autonomous features and an overall fleet control system, guests can experience a safe operator-initiated ride but with a feeling of being in an unconstrained environment.

An amusement ride or course for vehicles with their own driving and control options, on a carriageway. The amusement ride having at least one zone, in which at least one participating vehicle driving autonomously on the carriageway is guided, by means of retaining and/or guide means, along a pre-defined route in a pre-defined route section designed as an attraction. The vehicle having retaining means or leading means for a corresponding reversible connection to the guide means and/or retaining means of the installation, by which retaining—and/or leading means the vehicle is guided and/or retained through the zone, and the retaining means and/or guide means on the vehicle correspondingly interlocked with and released from the retaining—and/or guide means of the installation during a movement-or—journey of the vehicle in the zone.

An amusement ride or course for vehicles with their own driving and control options, on a carriageway. The amusement ride having at least one zone, in which at least one participating vehicle driving autonomously on the carriageway is guided, by means of retaining and/or guide means, along a pre-defined route in a pre-defined route section designed as an attraction. The vehicle having retaining means or leading means for a corresponding reversible connection to the guide means and/or retaining means of the installation, by which retaining—and/or leading means the vehicle is guided and/or retained through the zone, and the retaining means and/or guide means on the vehicle correspondingly interlocked with and released from the retaining—and/or guide means of the installation during a movement-or—journey of the vehicle in the zone.

A control system includes a ride controller configured to maintain a plurality of rules indicative of permitted states of the free-roaming ride vehicle within a game area and including gameplay rules. The ride controller is configured to receive monitoring data indicative of a current state of a free-roaming ride vehicle, receive a signal indicative of a user request to perform a requested action with the free-roaming ride vehicle, model performance of the requested action from the current state to determine a modeled state of the free-roaming ride vehicle, and determine whether the modeled state complies with the plurality of rules. In response to determining the modeled state does not comply with the plurality of rules, the ride controller is configured to determine a proximate action that complies with the plurality of rules and provide a control signal to instruct the free-roaming ride vehicle to perform the proximate action.

A control system includes a ride controller configured to maintain a plurality of rules indicative of permitted states of the free-roaming ride vehicle within a game area and including gameplay rules. The ride controller is configured to receive monitoring data indicative of a current state of a free-roaming ride vehicle, receive a signal indicative of a user request to perform a requested action with the free-roaming ride vehicle, model performance of the requested action from the current state to determine a modeled state of the free-roaming ride vehicle, and determine whether the modeled state complies with the plurality of rules. In response to determining the modeled state does not comply with the plurality of rules, the ride controller is configured to determine a proximate action that complies with the plurality of rules and provide a control signal to instruct the free-roaming ride vehicle to perform the proximate action.

An attraction system includes a sensor configured to emit an output signal toward a guest area and receive a reflected signal from the guest area and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system is configured to receive data from the sensor, in which the data is indicative of a distance of signal travel based on the output signal and the reflected signal. The control system is also configured to compare the distance of signal travel with an unoccupied distance value corresponding to a distance between the sensor and the guest area being unoccupied, and determine whether the guest area is occupied based on comparing a difference between the distance of signal travel and the unoccupied distance value with a threshold.

An attraction system includes a sensor configured to emit an output signal toward a guest area and receive a reflected signal from the guest area and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system is configured to receive data from the sensor, in which the data is indicative of a distance of signal travel based on the output signal and the reflected signal. The control system is also configured to compare the distance of signal travel with an unoccupied distance value corresponding to a distance between the sensor and the guest area being unoccupied, and determine whether the guest area is occupied based on comparing a difference between the distance of signal travel and the unoccupied distance value with a threshold.

A predefined virtual theme defines a specific virtual way of movement within a virtual environment. A route is selected which best matches the predefined virtual theme Movements of the motor vehicle are detected during a journey along the selected route. The virtual reality glasses are controlled so that a vehicle occupant wearing the virtual reality glasses moves virtually within the virtual environment according to the detected movements of the motor vehicle and according to the predefined virtual way of movement of the predefined virtual theme.

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.