Patent Publication Number: US-2019184935-A1

Title: Passive restraint techniques for amusement park rides

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/607,770, entitled “PASSIVE RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES FOR AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES,” filed Dec. 19, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of amusement parks. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for securing guests inside a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride. 
     Various amusement park rides have been created to provide riders with unique motion and visual experiences. For example, theme rides can be implemented with single-rider or multi-rider vehicles that travel along a path or that utilize a motion base. Excitement is often created by the speed or change in direction of the vehicles as they move along a ride path or follow a motion routine. For example, the ride path may include a number of features such as, but not limited to, tunnels, turns, ups, downs, loops, and so forth. While the riders are inside the operating ride, they may be subject to forces while the ride is in operation. Accordingly, it may be desirable to restrain and secure riders within the ride vehicle for the duration of the amusement park ride. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the present disclosure are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle and including a lock having a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the lock to lock or unlock and the restraint system may secure a rider within the ride vehicle. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment, a system includes a restraint system coupled to a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and that may secure a rider within a ride vehicle. The restraint system includes a first strap having a first connector, a second strap having a second connector, a third strap having a lock that may removably couple to the first connector and the second connector, and a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the lock to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the first connector and the second connector are at least partially retained within the lock in the locked configuration and are removable from the lock in the unlocked configuration. 
     In accordance with the third embodiment, a system includes a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle. The restraint system includes a restraining bar having a pivoting arm that may move from a restrained configuration to an unrestrained configuration and a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the pivoting arm to lock or unlock, the pivoting arm is capable of pivoting when unlocked to transition from the restrained configuration to the unrestrained configuration and the pivoting arm is fixed in the restrained configuration when locked. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an amusement park ride, whereby the amusement park ride includes a ride vehicle having a passive restraint system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the passive restraint system of  FIG. 1 , whereby the passive restraint system includes a five-point harness restraint in a locked configuration and having a wireless locking and unlocking mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the passive restraint system of  FIG. 2 , whereby the five-point harness restraint includes separate shoulder straps and is in an unlocked configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the passive restraint system of  FIG. 2 , whereby the five point harness restraint includes adjoined shoulder straps and is in an unlocked configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of a passive restraint system that may be used with the amusement park ride of  FIG. 1 , whereby the passive restraint system includes a restraint bar having a pivotable arm in an unlocked configuration and having a wireless locking and unlocking mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the passive restraint system of  FIG. 5 , whereby the restraint bar is in a locked configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for securing a rider inside a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride using passive restraint systems that do not use power to actuate a locking mechanism. For example, the disclosed systems and methods include a passive restraint system (e.g., seat belt, harness, restraint bar (e.g., lap bar, shoulder bar), and the like) that includes a locking mechanism that is activated and deactivated wirelessly (e.g., via electromagnetic signals). The locking mechanism may be activated at any time after loading and prior to the start of the amusement park ride to secure the rider within the ride vehicle throughout the duration of the amusement park ride. The disclosed locking mechanism may be inaccessible to the rider such that the rider may be unable to prematurely unlock the locking mechanism during operation of the ride. Once the amusement park ride ends, the locking mechanism may be deactivated, for example at an unlocking point at an unloading station, to release the rider from the ride vehicle. 
     The disclosed techniques do not use active power to maintain the locked configuration and, therefore, are capable of locking and unlocking without active power to the ride vehicle. That is, the passive restraint systems will not unlock when the power being supplied is cut off. This is in contrast to active restraint systems that stay locked while receiving power but that unlock when the power is cut off. Certain existing ride restraints for securing riders within the ride vehicle use a power source implemented into the ride vehicle to lock and unlock the restraint. Power-operated or active ride restraint systems may ensure that the rider is restrained throughout the duration of the amusement park ride and while the restraint mechanism is receiving power from an active power source. The power is then cut off to the restraint after completion of the amusement park ride to allow the rider to exit the ride vehicle. However, power operated active restraint systems may be difficult to integrate into certain amusement park rides. For example, certain existing amusement park ride systems may not include a power source that may be used to actuate the power operated restraint system. Additionally, it may be difficult and/or costly to integrate a power source for the ride restraints into existing and/or new amusement park rides due, in part, to ride design and configurations. Therefore, by using wireless activation to control the locking mechanism, the disclosed restraint system may be retro-fitted into existing ride vehicles that are not equipped with power sources. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an amusement park ride  10  that uses a passive restraint system having a wireless locking mechanism to secure a rider  16  during operation of the amusement park ride  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the amusement park ride  10  includes a ride vehicle  20  that travels along a track  24  defining a ride path of the amusement park ride  10 . The ride vehicle  20  includes a ride seat  28  that supports the rider  16  within the ride vehicle  20  and a restraint system  30  that secures the rider  16  within the ride seat  28  during operation of the amusement park ride  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the restraint system  30  includes a 5-point harness  32 . However, in other embodiments, the restraint system  30  includes a seat belt (e.g., lap belt), a restraint bar (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), or any other suitable restraining mechanism. 
     As discussed in further detail below, the restraint system  30  includes a locking mechanism  36  having a lock  38  (e.g., a buckle, a clip, a lock, a fastener, and the like) that may be actuated wirelessly (e.g., via radio frequency or any other suitable electromagnetic signal). For example, the locking mechanism  36  may be actuated at a loading/unloading station  40  to lock or unlock the locking mechanism  36  and secure or release, respectively, the rider  16  within the ride seat  28 . The loading station may include a lock point where the locking mechanism is actuated (e.g., automatically or by the crew member  34 ) to secure the rider  16  in the ride vehicle  20 . In certain embodiments, the loading station may also include a control point where the crew member  34  may verify that the rider  16  is properly restrained within the ride seat  28 . Similarly, the unloading station may include an unlock point where the locking mechanism is deactivated to unlock and release the rider from the ride vehicle  20 . 
     As used herein, the “loading station” is intended to denote an area where the rider  16  boards a ride vehicle of the amusement park ride. The “unloading station” as used herein is intended to denote an area where the rider  16  exits a ride vehicle. In certain embodiments, the loading and unloading stations are located in different areas of the amusement park ride  10 . In other embodiments, the loading and unloading stations are located in the same area of the amusement park ride  10 . The “control point” as used herein is intended to denote a location where verification that the rider  16  is properly secured within the ride vehicle  20  takes place. The “lock point” as used herein is intended to denote the point at which the locking mechanism of the restraint system  30  is locked and unable to be unlocked. A “lock point” may refer to a location (e.g., the locking mechanism is locked beyond a certain physical location), a time point (e.g., the locking mechanism is locked after a particular time), or an event point (e.g., the locking mechanism is locked before a particular event, such as a vehicle movement start). The “unlock point” as used herein is intended to denote the point at which the locking mechanism of the restraint system  30  is unlocked. 
     As discussed previously, the locking mechanism  36  of the restraint system  30  may be activated at the locking point prior to passing through the control point. In certain embodiments, the locking point may include a gate  46  (e.g., an RFID gate) positioned at the loading station  40 . The gate  46  includes a transmitter  48  that transmits a wireless signal  50  to the restraint system  30 . The wireless signal  50  is configured to lock or unlock the locking mechanism  36 , as discussed in further detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the gate  46  is positioned over the tracks  24 . However, the gate  46  may be positioned at any other suitable location within the amusement park ride  10  that allows wireless communication between the restraint system  30  and the transmitter  48 . In other embodiments, the crew member  34  may use a hand held transmitter  52  to transmit the wireless signal  50  to the locking mechanism  36 , thereby locking the locking mechanism  36  and securing the rider  16  within the ride vehicle  20 . 
     As discussed in detail below, the locking mechanism  36  may not be unlocked without receiving a lock deactivation signal transmitted after completion of the amusement park ride  10 . For example, the gate  46  or the hand held transmitter  52  transmits the wireless signal  50  at the unloading station  38  after completion of the ride to deactivate the locking mechanism and release the rider  16  from the ride vehicle  20 . In certain embodiments, the hand held transmitter  52  may be used to override the activation signal from the gate  46 , for example, when a rider needs to unload from the ride vehicle  20  after passing through the lock point and before start of the amusement park ride  10 . 
     As discussed previously, the gate  40  is communicatively coupled to the locking mechanism  36  and transmits the signal  50  (e.g., an activation or deactivation signal) that locks or unlocks the restraint system  30 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the restraint system  30  in which the 5-point harness  32  is in a locked configuration.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrates embodiments of the restraint system  30  in which the 5-point harness  32  is in the unlocked configuration. The 5-point harness  32  includes multiple straps  56  ( 56   a ,  56   b ,  56   c ,  56   d ,  56   e ) that are coupled to the rider seat  28  at five different locations. For example, the straps  56  are each coupled to a respective point  58  ( 58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c ,  58   d ,  58   e ) of the rider seat  28  that correspond to positions where the rider&#39;s shoulders, hips, and area between the legs are located when the rider  16  is properly seated in the rider seat  28 . For example, the straps  56   a ,  56   b  are positioned at the point  58   a ,  58   b  corresponding to the location where the rider&#39;s shoulders would rest when seated in the rider seat  28 . The straps  56   c ,  56   d  are positioned at the points  58   c ,  58   d , respectively, corresponding to the location where the rider&#39;s hips would rest when seated in the rider seat  28 . The strap  56   e  is positioned at the point  58   e  corresponding to a location between the rider&#39;s legs when the rider  16  is seated within the ride seat  28 . The 5-point harness  32  may be adjustable to allow proper restraining for riders of various sizes and shapes. Certain restraining systems such as waist belts (e.g., seat belt), restraint bars (e.g., lap bars and overhead bars), and the like, may only secure a portion of the rider (e.g., only at the waist, legs, shoulders). Therefore, it may be difficult to properly secure riders of various sizes and shapes. However, the 5 point harness  32  restrains the rider  16  in a manner such that various portions of the straps  56  are in contact with various portions of the rider&#39;s upper body (e.g., shoulders, waist, and chest). In this way, the rider&#39;s upper body is completely secured within the rider seat  28 . By securing the rider&#39;s upper body, the 5-point harness  32  may facilitate restraining riders of various shapes and sizes. 
     The straps  56  include features that facilitate coupling of one or more straps  56  to the lock  38 . For example, as illustrated in the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the one or more straps  56  include a female connector  60  ( 60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ) that is removably coupled to a male connector  62  ( 62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ) positioned on the lock  38 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the straps  56   a ,  56   c  and  56   b ,  56   d  are arranged such that a loop  68  (e.g., opening) is formed between the respective straps  56   a ,  56   c  and  56   b ,  56   d . When the rider  16  is seated in the ride seat  28 , the rider  16  may slip their arms into and through the loops  68  before coupling the female connector  60  to the respective male connector  62  on the lock  38 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the straps  56   a ,  56   b  are adjoined and arranged such that a loop  70  (e.g., opening) is formed between the straps  56   a ,  56   b . When the rider  16  is seated in the ride seat  28 , the rider may slip their head into and through the loop  70  to position the straps  56   a ,  56   b  against their shoulders. 
     Once the straps  56  are properly positioned on the rider  16 , the rider  16  may insert the female connector  60  into the respective male connector  62  to removably couple the straps  56  to the lock  38 . Following coupling of the straps  56  to the lock  38  (e.g., via the connectors  60 ,  62 ), the locking mechanism  36  may be activated to secure the rider  16  within the ride vehicle  20 . In certain embodiments, the locking mechanism  36  includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) feature  72  that may function as an electronic key to lock and unlock the locking mechanism  36 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the RFID feature  72  may be a receiver that receives an activation signal  80  from a control system  82  prior to the start of the amusement park ride  10  (e.g., before movement of the ride vehicle  20  along the tracks  24 ). The control system  82  may be part of a main control system of the amusement park ride  10  or a separate control system integrated into, for example, the gate  46 . The control system  82  may detect that a rider  16  is occupying the ride seat  28  and, in response, transmit the activation signal  80  to the RFID feature  72 . For example, once the control system  82  identifies that the rider  16  is occupying the ride seat  28 , the control system  82  may transmit the activation signal  82  once the ride vehicle approaches the lock point at the loading station  38 . In certain embodiments, the crew member  34  may actuate the locking mechanism using the hand held device  52 . 
     The control system  82  may include a processor  81 , which may include one or more processing devices, and a memory  83  storing instructions executable by the processor  81 . The memory  83  may include one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by the processor  81  or by any general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. The control system  82  may also include communications circuitry and/or input and output circuitry to facilitate communication with other components of the amusement park ride  10 . In addition, the control system  82  may be coupled, either directly or wirelessly, to an operator input device or operator interface that, in operation, may be used by a ride technician to provide input used to control one or more ride features. The operator interface, or other components of the ride  10 , may be located remotely from the control system  82  in certain embodiments and may be, for example, implemented on a mobile device. 
     The control system  82  may also have a radio frequency (RF) chip  86  that detects the RFID feature  72  and transmits the activation signal  80  to the locking mechanism  36 . For example, the RFID feature  72  may transmit a signal  90  that is detected by the RF chip  86 . In response to the signal  90 , the control system  82  outputs the activation signal  80  to activate the locking mechanism  36 . Upon receiving the activation signal  80 , the locking mechanism  36  may actuate a locking pin or other suitable locking mechanism within the lock  38 , which secures and blocks movement of the female connectors  60  out of the respective male connectors  62  in the lock  38 . By blocking movement of the female connectors  60 , the rider  16  may be unable to prematurely unlock the locking mechanism  36  while the ride vehicle  20  is in motion. While in the illustrated embodiment the RFID feature  72  is shown as being part of the lock  38 , in other embodiments the RFID feature  72  is part of the female connectors  60 . Further, the RF chip  86  in the control system  82  may, at the lock point, emit a blanket locking signal to all ride vehicles  20  in-range. In other embodiments, the RF chip  86  may emit the locking signal after a handshake communication (e.g., detection) of each rider  16  restrained within the ride vehicle  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, the ride seat  28  may include a sensor  94  that determines whether the restraint system  30  of each ride seat  28  is in the restrained or unrestrained configuration. For example, when the restraint system  30  is in the unrestrained configuration, the sensor  94  may transmit a signal to the control system (e.g., the control system  82 ) indicating that the restraint system  30  is in the unrestrained configuration. The control system may block release of the ride vehicle  20  from the lock point and or the control point until the restraint system  30  is in the restrained configuration. As such, the crew member  34  may need to verify that the ride seat  28  is vacant, manually couple the female connectors  60  to the male connectors  62 , and activate the locking mechanism using the hand held device  52 . The control system may then determine that all restraint systems  30  in the ride vehicle  20  are secured and release the ride vehicle  20 . In the illustrated embodiment the sensor  94  is positioned on a back rest of the ride seat  28 . However, the sensor  94  may be positioned at any other location on the ride seat  28  or the ride vehicle  20  that facilitates communication with the restraint system  30  and/or the control system  82 . 
     In other embodiments, the sensor  94  may transmit a signal indicative of an unoccupied ride seat  28 . Upon detection of the signal from the sensor  94 , the control system may determine that the ride seat  28  is unoccupied and allow release of the ride vehicle from the control point with the restraint system  30  corresponding to the unoccupied seat  28  being in the unrestrained configuration. For example, in certain embodiments, the sensor  94  may receive a signal from retro-reflective markers positioned on the ride seat  28 . The retro-reflective markers may reflect light that is detected by the sensor  94 . Based on the intensity of the reflected light or the degree of attenuation of the reflected light detected by the sensor  94 , the control system  82  may determine whether the ride seat  28  is occupied or unoccupied. For example, when the rider  16  is positioned within the ride seat  28 , the rider  16  may block at least a portion of the retro-reflective markers. As such, the light reflected by the retro-reflective markers may be attenuated. However, when the ride seat  28  is unoccupied, the retro-reflective markers are not blocked and the intensity of the light reflected by the retro-reflective markers would be greater than the intensity of light reflected with the ride seat is occupied. Accordingly, the control system  82  may determine that the ride seat is unoccupied. 
     In other embodiments, the sensor  94  may be a pressure sensor disposed on the ride seat  28 . For example, the sensor  94  may be disposed on a back rest or seat cushion of the ride seat  28 . The pressure sensor may transmit a signal to the control system  82  indicative of a pressure exerted on the ride seat  28 . If the pressure signal is less than a predetermined value (e.g., less than approximately 5 pounds per square inch), the control system  82  may determine that the ride seat is unoccupied. As such, the control system  82  may release the ride vehicle  20  from the control point with the restraint system  30  corresponding to the unoccupied ride seat  28  in the unrestrained configuration. 
     After completion of the amusement park ride  10 , the restraint system  30  may be unlocked. For example, once the ride  10  is complete and the ride vehicle  20  is at a complete stop in the unloading station  40 , the RFID feature  72  may receive a deactivation signal  96  emitted by the gate  46  and/or the control system  82  of the amusement park ride  10 . For example, similar to activation, the RFID chip  86  detects the RFID feature  72  (e.g., signal  90 ) when the ride vehicle  20  is at the unloading station  38 . Once the ride vehicle  20  reaches the unlock point, the gate  46  and/or the control system  82  transmits the deactivation signal  96  to the RFID feature  72 . In response to the deactivation signal  96 , the locking mechanism  36  may unlock the lock  38  to allow the rider  16  to uncouple the female connector  60  from the male connector  62  and exit the ride vehicle  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, the crew member  34  may deactivate the locking mechanism  36  of the restraint system  30  using the hand held transmitter  52 , a key card, or other electronic key. By deactivating the locking mechanism  36  of the restraint system  30  via the wireless signal, premature unlocking of the lock  38  may be mitigated. Additionally, a power source used to actuate power controlled restraint systems may not need to be integrated into the ride vehicle  20 . Accordingly, existing amusement park rides that do not include a power source may be retrofit with the restraint system  30 , thereby decreasing the cost associated with implementing a power source into the amusement park ride and improving the restraint system to better secure and retain a rider within the ride seat throughout the duration of the amusement park ride. The 5-point harness restraint system disclosed herein may also facilitate securing riders of various shapes and sized by restraining the rider at various points along the rider&#39;s body (e.g., shoulders, waist, and chest). 
     The locking mechanism  36  may also be incorporated into other type of restraining systems that do not include the 5-point harness  32 . For example, the locking mechanism may be incorporated into a seat belt, a restraint bar (e.g., lap bar or an overhead bar) or any other suitable restraint system used to secure a rider within a ride seat of an amusement park ride.  FIG. 5  is a side-view of an embodiment of the restraint system  30  having a restraint bar  100  in the unrestrained configuration that is used to restrain and secure the rider  16  within the ride vehicle  20 .  FIG. 6  is a side-view of the restraint bar  100  in the restrained configuration. 
     The restraint bar  100  includes a pivoting arm  104  that rotates about an axis  108  to move the restraint bar  100  between the restrained ( FIG. 6 ) and unrestrained ( FIG. 5 ) configurations. As discussed above, the restraint system  30  includes a locking mechanism that is activated and deactivated by a wireless signal. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the restraint bar  100  includes the RFID feature  72  positioned within the pivoting arm  104 . The RFID feature  72  transmits the signal  90  to the control system  82 , signaling the control system  82  to transmit the activation signal  80 . Upon receiving the activation signal  80  from the control system  82 , the pivoting arm  104  rotates about the axis  108 , as shown by arrow  112 , to move the restraint bar  100  from the unrestrained configuration to the restrained configuration. For example, the pivoting arm  104  rotates toward the rider  16  in the direction  112  to position the restraint bar  100  in the restrained configuration. 
     In certain embodiments, the ride vehicle  20  may include one or more sensors  116  communicatively coupled to the control system  82  of the amusement park ride  10 . The one or more sensors  116  may transmit a signal  120  to the control system  82  indicating that the ride seat  28  is occupied and that the rider  16  may need to be secured within the ride seat  28 . For example, near-field communications may be utilized to determine that the rider  16  is seated in the ride seat  28 . In response to such a determination, the control system  82  transmits the activation signal  80  causing the pivoting arm  104  to move toward the rider  16  in the direction  108 . Once the pivoting arm  104  is in the restrained configuration, the pivoting arm  104  locks to block rotation of the pivoting arm  104  and securing the rider  16  within the ride seat  28 . In certain embodiments, the crew member  34  may activate the pivoting arm  104  with the hand held transmitter  52 . The control system  82  may activate a light  124  on the ride vehicle  20  to indicate that the rider  16  is secured and the ride vehicle  20  is released from the loading station  40 . 
     Upon completion of the amusement park ride  10 , the pivoting arm  104  may be unlocked to enable rotation of the pivoting arm  104  in a direction  128  away from the rider  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . For example, as discussed above, the RFID feature  72  receives the deactivation signal  94  from the control system  82  of the amusement park ride  10 . In other embodiments, the gate  46  or the crew member  34  (e.g., via the hand held transmitter  52 ) may transmit the deactivation signal  96 . In response to the deactivation signal  96 , the pivoting arm  104  rotates in the direction  128  about the axis  108  to move the restraint bar  100  from the restrained configuration of the unrestrained configuration. As such, the rider  16  may be unrestrained and exits the ride vehicle  20  at the unloading station  40 . 
     Traditional systems and methods for activating restraint systems on amusement park rides use a power source that is integrated into the ride vehicle. However, it is now recognized that by using electromagnetic signals to activate and deactivate a locking mechanism of restraint systems, a power source may not need to be integrated into the ride vehicle. As such, costs associated with integrating a power source into existing and/or new ride vehicles may be decreased compared to ride vehicles that include a power source for the restraint system. Additionally, by using electromagnetic signals to activate and deactivate restraint locking mechanisms, premature unlocking of the restraint system may be mitigated and restraint design may be improved to secure riders of various sizes and shapes. 
     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. 
     The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).