AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ride system that can include static and/or interactive elements and is arranged for high passenger throughput with additional dimensions. To this end, an amusement ride is provided for amusement of groups of visitors of an amusement park or the like, the amusement ride including a platform, divided into multiple segments. The segments are arranged to facilitate the groups of visitors mutually shielded from each other; and interactive objects, divided circumferentially around the platform are provided, for interaction of the groups of visitors with the interactive objects. The segments of the platform include electronic input devices for electronic interaction of the group with the interactive objects by control of the input devices, and the segments being polygon segments of the platform, and wherein at least one of the platform and the interactive objects are arranged for relative rotation with respect to each other around a center of the platform for relative movement between the segments with the groups and the interactive objects.

Claims

1. A dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride for amusement of groups of visitors of an amusement park or the like, said amusement ride comprising: a platform, arranged to divide said visitors into said group and for facilitating movement of said group of visitors along a path through said dark ride; and interactive objects, divided along said path, for interaction of said groups of visitors with said interactive objects during said movement of said group of visitors along said path, wherein said platform comprise electronic input devices for electronic interaction of said group with said interactive objects by control of said input devices, characterized in that, said platform is divided into multiple segments, said segments being arranged to mutually shield said groups of visitors from each other, said segments being polygon segments of said platform, and wherein at least one of said platform and said interactive objects are arranged for relative rotation with respect to each other around a center of said platform for relative movement between said segments with said groups and said interactive objects.

2. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said interactive objects are arranged in scenes, and an amount of scenes corresponding to an amount of segments on said platform.

3. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said interactive objects comprise a large screen, said large screen in particular being a large display or a screen arranged for projecting video content thereupon by a video projector.

4. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 3, wherein said large screen is arranged for display of three dimensional video content.

5. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said scenes is arranged for said groups to enter in said ride and wherein at least one of said scenes is arranged for said group to exit said ride, and wherein preferably said exit and enter scene are the same.

6. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said segments comprise a motion base for movement of said group upon interaction with said interactive objects.

7. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said segments comprise a motion capture device for interaction of said group with said interactive objects by movement of said group, members of said group, or body parts of said members of said group.

8. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, any of the previous claims, comprising a server arranged for determining interaction input of said group and control of said interactive objects in accordance with said determined interaction input, wherein said interaction input preferably is determined through a human input device and/or a motion capture device.

9. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said platform being regular polygon shaped.

10. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, any of the previous claims, wherein said platform is arranged for rotating around said center of said platform and wherein said interactive objects are stationary.

11. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to claim 1, wherein said platform is stationary and said interactive objects are arranged for rotating around said center of said platform.

12. The dark ride interactive indoor amusement ride according to any of the previous claims, wherein both said platform and said interactive objects are arranged for rotating around said center of said platform.

13. An amusement ride for amusement of groups of visitors of an amusement park or the like, said amusement ride comprising: a platform divided into multiple segments, said segments being arranged to facilitate said groups of visitors mutually shielded from each other; and interactive objects, divided circumferentially around said platform, for interaction of said groups of visitors with said interactive objects; wherein said segments of said platform comprise electronic input devices for electronic interaction of said group with said interactive objects by control of said input devices, and said segments being polygon segments of said platform, a wall surface, provided circumferentially around said platform and said interactive objects and arranged to facilitate said groups of visitors for entering and exiting said segment of said amusement ride.

14. The amusement ride according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said platform, said interactive objects and said wall surface are arranged for rotation around a center of said platform.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIGS. 1a and 1b show top and front views of an amusement ride according to an aspect of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the amusement ride according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] In FIGS. 1a and b, in top view and side view, show an example of an amusement ride 100 for amusement of groups of visitors of an amusement park or the like. The amusement ride 100 consists of a platform 120, which is divided into multiple segments 130. The segments 130 are arranged to accommodate/facilitate the groups of visitors. The segments 130 are preferably divided such that the groups are shielded from each other by a segment separating panel 155.

[0069] Around the rotating platform 120 one or more scenes 110 are created and positioned circumferential around the rotating platform 120. The scenes consist of passive (decorative) elements to create a certain feel and ambience. The scene further consists of interactive objects such as large screens 140. The interactive objects are arranged to interact with the group members within the segment that are positioned at the scene 110 where the large screens 140 are positioned.

[0070] The platform 120 is regular polygon shaped, which means round, square, regular pentagon, regular hexagon, regular heptagon, regular octagon, regular enneagon, etc. depending on the segments. The platform rotates in relation to the interactive objects. Alternatively, the interactive objects 140 can also be arranged to rotate around the static platform 120, or in yet another alternative, both the interactive objects 140 can rotate as well as the platform 120, in opposite direction thereof.

[0071] The speed at which the rotating platform spins, i.e. the angular velocity, could in an example be related to the interactive skills of the group members. Thus, if the group members are so skilled that they achieve a high hit rate in for example a shooter game, the speed of rotation of the platform can be lowered or increased accordingly. As such, an additional interactive dimension is added to the ride.

[0072] The ride is preferably provided with means for detecting the position of the rotating element, e.g. a detector to detect the (angular) position of the platform and/or the rotating wall. The position is preferably communicated to the server such that the interactive elements can be controlled in a corresponding manner, e.g. when the segment is positioned adjacent the wall surface of the interactive elements/display 140. Upon discrete movement of the wall or platform the detection can take place by position sensors in the form of switches or electrical contacts that are short circuited when the platform moves from one position to the other. Other examples are also suitable, and the skilled person will appreciate which other alternatives are applicable.

[0073] By letting the platform rotate around the interactive elements (or vice versa), the visitors of the amusement park that want to visit and experience the amusement ride can be divided into groups. Each of the segments 130 of the rotating platform 120 can accommodate one of these groups. An advantage of having several scenes with groups of visitors positioned in segments on a rotating platform is that with such a ride, a relative small ground surface is needed, in which a relative large amount of visitors can be entertained. As such, the capacity of an amusement ride according to the invention is increased. Moreover, the level of entertainment is also further increased, by adding movement of the platform with respect to the scenes and its interactive elements for example.

[0074] In the example shown in FIG. 1 the platform 120 is divided into 7 segments 130. In this example the scenes are positioned circumferential around the platform in a regular polygon shape with seven sides, i.e. a regular heptagon. In this example the platform has a round shape. This can also be seven sided regular polygon shaped, i.e. regular heptagon as well.

[0075] In FIG. 2 the perspective view is shown of the amusement ride 100 according to the example as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The amusement ride 100 consists of seven segments 130 to accommodate seven groups of visitors. These visitors can take place inside the segment on seats 152 or benches positioned in the segments. The visitors of one group cannot see the visitors of another group that are present in a different segment, since the segments are separated by segment separation panels 155.

[0076] In the example shown in the figures, controller devices are present in the segments by which the visitors can interact with the interactive element, in this example shown on the large screen 140. Several types of controller devices can be used, for example, pointing device such as a shooter device, laser pointing device, but also touchscreen device, or a device to detect movement/motion of the visitor, or its limbs, i.e. a gesture detecting device.

[0077] The large screen could be a very large active panel such as an LCD or plasma panel, but is preferably a passive screen on which content is shown by a projector/beamer 153. The projector or projectors can be positioned statically or dynamically, hence, on the rotating platform or on a static base. A computer device, e.g. a central server (now shown), controls the panel or the projector. The computer is thus operatively connected to the panel or projector and to the controller devices, e.g. the shooters 151. The computer can also be connected to other active elements in the scene or the segments, such as additional light effect elements to add visual effects, speakers to add audio effects, video cameras to determine response of the visitors or for example to scan facial expression such that it is processed by the server and can be projected as an overlay layer on digital content shown on large screen. Any of the communicative connections between the server and the other components can be employed by wire or wireless connection.

[0078] Preferably, the content shown on the large screen has depth perspective. This can be achieved by a single mono projector arranged for 3D projection or, as shown in the figures, by use of two projectors of which one can be used to display content in 2D and the second projector can be added to add depth and create a virtual 3D environment.

[0079] The interactive elements of the scene are preferably, as indicated, shown as digital content on the large screen 140. In the example shown in the figures, several scenes 110 can be identified. More in particular, the platform 120 is divided into seven segments 130, and there are six scenes. Hence, the amount of scenes equals the amount of segments, minus one, which is used to load/unload the group. Hence, after the group members enter the amusement ride at that location, the group members take place on the seats 152 or benches in the segment 130. The segment forms part of the platform 120 and thus rotate in respect of the static/stationary scenes with its interactive elements, e.g. large screens 140. As shown in the figures the amount of screens equals the amount of scenes which equals the amount of segments minus one. However, it is also possible to use one single large screen that covers all scenes. As such, the scenes could also be a single scene with one single (or multiple) large screens such that, once the group takes place in the segment, the segment slowly rotates in front of the large screen until the segment returns back to the position where the group entered and thus exits the ride. Alternatively, the enter and exit location can also be different, e.g. opposing positions. This is advantageously when the platform size is very large such that it can be divided into a large amount of segments to accommodate a large amount of groups. The route, or ride path, thought the ride is then 180 degrees of rotation of the rotating platform whereas in the other example, the route through the ride is 360 degrees of rotation of the rotating platform.

[0080] In the example demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the ride is constructed in such a manner that the platform rotates and the wall surfaces and large screens 140 are stationary/fixed. However, these can also be constructed the other way round, wherein the wall surface rotates around a stationary platform, or wherein both the wall surface and the interactive elements rotate around the stationary platform, or wherein several elements move and/or move relatively with respect to each other.

[0081] In FIG. 3 yet another example of an interactive ride 200 according to the invention is shown. This ride consists also of a large rotating platform which is divided into multiple segments, i.e. twelve in this case. The segment also consists of a small rotating platform, which preferably rotates in opposite direction with respect to the large platform. The small rotating platforms are in this example arranged to facilitate group sizes of eight members. These members take place on two benches which are disposed on the small rotating platform in opposing directions such that the group members look away from each other. Each bench has four shooters 151, one for each group member. The shooters can be used to aim at the interactive objects displayed on the large screens 140 that are distributed around the platform and also to aim at the interactive objects displayed on smaller screens 141 that are disposed at the inner part/circle of the platform. Both the small 141 and large 140 screens represent one single scene. At one position in the circumference of the platform, there are no screens disposed. At this location the visitors can enter and exit the ride 151. In this example arranged for two groups to enter and exit at the same time.

[0082] In FIG. 4 yet another example of an interactive ride 300 according to the invention is shown. This ride is build-up around a rotating platform which is divided into several segments 130 but the group members can take place/are facilitated at the circumference of the rotating platform in such a way that the group members are oriented towards the large screens around the platform. In this example the platform rotates in respect of the large screens 140 and the segments 130 do not rotate in respect of the platform. Each segments is arranged to facilitate four group members on a single bench, each bench being equipped with four shooters 151, one for each group member, to interact with the interactive objects displayed on the large screens 140. In accordance with the example of FIG. 3, the example shown in FIG. 4 also has a single enter/exit location 115 where the group can enter and exit the ride, in this particular case, two groups that enter and exit simultaneous.

[0083] In the examples demonstrated in the figures, shooting devices 151 are shown to interact with the interactive elements shown on the screens 140. As such the group members are entertained by the amusement ride in a game or game like setting. The content shown on the screens 140 could however also be less or non-interactive, video content.

[0084] Based on the above description, a skilled person may provide modifications and additions to the method and arrangements disclosed, which modifications and additions are all comprised by the scope of the appended claims.