Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to amusement park-style rides, and more specifically to systems for controlling motion of a ride vehicle of the amusement park-style rides.

Generally, amusement park-style rides include ride vehicles that carry passengers along a ride path, for example, defined by a track. Over the course of the ride, the ride path may include a number of features, including tunnels, turns, ascents, descents, loops, and so forth. The direction of travel of the ride vehicle may be defined by the ride path, as rollers of the ride vehicle may be in constant contact with the tracks defining the ride path. In this manner, executing turns may require a ride vehicle to traverse along the ride path in a motion having a substantially large turning radius, often to control the centripetal acceleration associated with performing such conventional turns. Further, ride passengers may anticipate these conventional turns, reducing excitement and thrill associated with amusement park-style rides. Accordingly, it may be desirable to perform unconventional turns, such as turns with little to no turning radii, in certain motion-based amusement park-style rides, for example, to enhance the excitement and thrill of the ride experience, the implementation of which may be difficult to coordinate in practice.

Various transportation systems are designed to make unconventional direction changes, typically for precise positioning of apparatus. <CIT> relates to a track system for positioning a dolly or sled to support a track-mounted motion picture camera, and <CIT> relates to a track system for to translation of semiconductor wafers between work stations in a semiconductor fabrication facility, in both cases adapted to perform unconventional maneouvres in the horizontal plane. Arrangements to convey transportation apparatus vertically as well as horizontally is of course known, such as in <CIT>, which describes a goods conveyor for moving freight containers in a multilevel storage facility.

The scope of protection is defined by the claims.

In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of rotatable track members configured to guide travel of a vehicle, wherein each rotatable track member of the plurality of rotatable track members is configured to individually rotate between a first orientation along a first direction of vehicle travel and a second orientation along a second direction of vehicle travel.

In another embodiment, a method for controlling multi-dimensional motion of a vehicle includes decelerating, via a controller, the vehicle traveling in a first direction along a path to stop the vehicle at a first position along the path, wherein the path comprises a plurality of rotatable track members, and wherein each rotatable track member of the plurality of rotatable track members is coupled to a drive system. The method also includes confirming, via the controller, that the vehicle is stopped on the plurality of rotatable track members at the first position along the path, wherein a respective first rotation axis of each rotatable track member of the plurality of rotatable track members is substantially aligned with a respective second rotation axis of a corresponding roller assembly of a plurality of roller assemblies of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped at the first position along the path. The method further includes rotating, via the controller, the plurality of rotatable track members from a first orientation along the first direction to a second orientation along a second direction different from the first direction.

In yet another embodiment, a ride system includes rotatable track members that define a first portion of a first ride path when oriented in a first direction and define a second portion of a second ride path when oriented in a second direction. The ride system also includes a ride vehicle that includes one or more roller assemblies that facilitate ride vehicle motion along the first ride path and the second ride path. The ride system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the ride vehicle and the rotatable track members. The controller controls the motion of the ride vehicle and rotation of the rotatable track members. Furthermore, the controller includes a processor and a memory device having instructions stored thereon and to be executed by the processor. The instructions cause the processor to instruct the ride vehicle to decelerate while the ride vehicle is traveling along the first ride path in the first direction to a stopped position on the rotatable track members, such that each roller assembly of the one or more roller assemblies shares an axis of rotation with a corresponding rotatable track member of in the stopped position. The instructions also cause the processor to send a signal to a driving system to selectively rotate the rotatable track members from a first orientation along the first direction to a second orientation along the second direction, such that selectively rotating the rotatable track members causes rotation of each roller assembly about the respective axis of rotation.

While the following discussion is generally provided in the context of amusement park-style rides, it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to such entertainment contexts. Indeed, the systems, methods, and concepts disclosed herein may be implemented in a wide variety of applications. The provision of examples in the present disclosure is to facilitate explanation of the disclosed techniques by providing instances of real-world implementations and applications. It should be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein may be useful in many applications, such as transportation systems (e.g., train systems), conveyer line systems, distribution systems, logistics systems, automation dynamic systems, and/or other industrial, commercial, and/or recreational systems, to name a few.

For example, amusement park-style rides may employ ride vehicles that carry passengers along a ride path, for example, defined by a track. Over the course of the ride, the ride path may include a number of features, including tunnels, turns, ascents, descents, loops, and so forth. The direction of travel of the ride vehicle may be defined by the ride path, as rollers of the ride vehicle may be in constant contact with the tracks defining the ride path. In this manner, performing turns may involve a ride vehicle traversing along the ride path in a motion having a substantially large turning radius to control the centripetal acceleration associated with performing such turns. Further, ride passengers may anticipate these turns, reducing or eliminating excitement and thrill typically associated with amusement park-style rides. Accordingly, it may be desirable to perform unconventional turns, such as turns with little to no turning radii, in certain motion-based amusement park-style rides, for example, to enhance the excitement and thrill of the ride experience. However, enabling the ride vehicle to execute certain unconventional turns, such as <NUM> degree turns (e.g., turns with a small turning radius or no turning radius), while traveling along the ride path may be difficult to implement in practice.

Typically, motion bases or platforms, separate from the tracks of the ride path and external to the ride vehicle, may enable this <NUM> degree motion, but these motion bases include certain drawbacks. For example, these motion bases typically receive the ride vehicle before a <NUM> degree motion is possible. That is, the ride vehicle may exit the ride path before entering and engaging with a motion base separate from the ride path. The motion base may be visible to the ride passengers, causing the ride passengers to again anticipate a turn, reducing the excitement and thrill typically associated with the ride experience. To the extent that these motion bases may be hidden from passengers, the motion base may typically enable simple rotation about a plane (e.g., a plane spanned by the motion base). For example, the motion base may merely be able to rotate about a plane substantially orthogonal to the gravity vector, as motion in this direction does not involve substantial action against gravity, which may be easier than otherwise generating motion acting against gravity. In short, existing techniques for enabling certain types of motion may include numerous limitations.

With the foregoing in mind, by using the systems and methods disclosed herein, the ride experience may be enhanced. In an embodiment, a system includes rotatable track members that may receive a roller assembly of the ride vehicle. The rotatable track members may individually rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation to control and adjust a direction of travel of the ride vehicle. Rotation from the first orientation to the second orientation may cause the track members to change from being aligned with a first set of tracks to being aligned with a second set of tracks, with each set of tracks oriented in different directions. That is, the rotatable track members may define the direction of travel for the ride vehicle as in a first orientation along a first set of tracks or as in a second orientation along a second set of tracks. In an embodiment, the track members and the roller assembly may rotate together about a common axis of rotation as the rotatable track members are rotated (individually or as a set) from the first orientation to the second orientation. By employing the embodiments disclosed herein, the system may be able to seamlessly change the direction of travel of a ride vehicle from a lateral direction to a longitudinal direction, from a lateral direction to a vertical direction, or from a vertical direction to the longitudinal direction, to name a few, by actuating rotatable track members in accordance with control instructions.

To help illustrate, <FIG> is a block diagram of an embodiment of various components of an amusement park <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The amusement park <NUM> may include a ride system <NUM>, which includes a ride path <NUM> that receives and guides a ride vehicle <NUM>, such as by engaging with tires or rollers of the ride vehicle <NUM>, and facilitates movement of the ride vehicle <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>. In this manner, the ride path <NUM> may define a trajectory and direction of travel that may include turns, inclines, declines, ascents, descents, banks, loops, and the like. In an embodiment, the ride vehicle <NUM> may be passively driven or actively driven via a pneumatic system, a motor system, a tire drive system, fins coupled to an electromagnetic drive system, a catapult system, and the like.

The ride path <NUM> may receive more than one ride vehicle <NUM>. The ride vehicles <NUM> may be separate from one another, such that they are independently controlled, or the ride vehicles <NUM> may be coupled to one another via any suitable linkage, such that motion of the ride vehicles <NUM> is coupled or linked. For example, the front of one ride vehicle <NUM> may be coupled to a rear end of another ride vehicle <NUM> via a pin system. Each ride vehicle <NUM> in these and other configurations may hold one or more ride passengers <NUM>.

The ride vehicle <NUM> may include a bogie system <NUM> having a chassis <NUM>, a turntable <NUM>, a yaw drive system <NUM>, and a roller assembly <NUM>. While the embodiments disclosed herein are discussed as including passively driven rollers or drive mechanisms, it should be understood that other motion enabling features, such as actively driven or passively driven tires, tracks, or actuatable components, may be employed. The bogie system <NUM> may include a suspension system, which may dampen motion or vibrations while the ride vehicle <NUM> is in operation, for example, by absorbing vibration and reducing centrifugal forces when the ride vehicle <NUM> executes certain motions, such as turns, at certain velocities. The suspension system may be actuated to enhance the ride experience for ride passengers <NUM>, for example, by stiffening, vibrating, or rotating components of the suspension system.

The chassis <NUM> may support a motor, a pneumatic driving system, an electrical system, a cab that houses the ride passengers <NUM>, and the like. The chassis <NUM> may be configured to support the load of the various components of the ride vehicle <NUM> and the ride passengers <NUM>. Furthermore, the turntable <NUM> may be positioned between the chassis <NUM> and the cab that the ride passengers <NUM> are secured within. In an embodiment, the turntable <NUM> may be rigidly coupled to the cab, such that rotation of the turntable, in response to control instructions, results in a similar rotation of the cab relative to the chassis <NUM> to further enhance the ride experience.

The yaw drive system <NUM> may be positioned between the chassis <NUM> and the cab. In an embodiment, the yaw drive system <NUM> may be integral to the turntable <NUM>. The yaw drive system <NUM> may receive control instructions to actuate the turntable <NUM> in accordance with the control instructions. For example, the yaw drive system <NUM> may cause the turntable <NUM> to rotate the cab relative to the chassis <NUM>. Furthermore, the yaw drive system <NUM> may enable the cab to move relative to the chassis <NUM> in any suitable direction. To this end, the yaw drive system <NUM> may enable the cab to rotate about or vibrate along a yaw axis, a pitch axis, or a roll axis, as discussed in detail below. In this manner, the yaw drive system <NUM> may enable six degrees-of-freedom motion of the cab relative to the chassis <NUM>. In an embodiment, the ride vehicle <NUM> may include an orientation sensor, such as a gyroscope and/or accelerometer, configured to provide feedback for use in determining motion of the cab, such as linear motion along three orthogonal axes, and the roll, pitch, and yaw of the cab.

The ride vehicle <NUM> may include the roller assembly <NUM>, which may include one or more rollers that engage with the tracks defining the ride path <NUM>. For example, the roller assembly <NUM> may include running rollers or actively driven rollers to drive and/or guide motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>, up-stop rollers that couple to the underside of the tracks, side friction rollers that couple to the side of the tracks, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the roller assembly <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the chassis <NUM>, such that the roller assembly <NUM> may rotate relative to the chassis <NUM>, as described in detail below. Rotation of the roller assembly <NUM> relative to the chassis <NUM> may enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to change a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM>, as described in detail below.

The ride path <NUM> may include a rotating motion system <NUM>, as described in detail below. The rotating motion system <NUM> may include rotatable track members <NUM>, which may be individually driven by one or more drive systems <NUM>. Alternatively, the drive system <NUM> may drive motion of the rotatable track members <NUM> as one or more sets of rotatable track members <NUM>. The rotatable track members <NUM> may be positioned along the ride path <NUM> and may include dimensions (e.g., cross sectional area) substantially similar to the tracks of the ride path <NUM>, such that the ride vehicle <NUM> may seamlessly transition from the tracks of the ride path <NUM> to the rotatable track members <NUM>. In other words, the rotatable track members <NUM> may be components of the ride system <NUM> that at least partially define the ride path <NUM>. To this end, tires or rollers, which may be coupled to the chassis <NUM>, may roll or translate along the ride path <NUM> defined by the tracks, and thereby direct the motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> toward the rotatable track members <NUM>.

The rotatable track members <NUM> may include a stopping device, such as a dead end stopping pin or any suitable device configured to decelerate the ride vehicle <NUM> to enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to stop at a target position on one or more of the rotatable track members <NUM>. For example, the stopping device may be configured to limit rotation of the rollers or tires of the ride vehicle <NUM> relative to the rotatable track member <NUM> after the rollers or tires come into contact with the stopping device, thereby rendering the ride vehicle <NUM> stationary relative to the rotatable track members <NUM>. In an embodiment, the stopping device may include one or more sensor assemblies <NUM> configured to provide feedback indicative of the position of the rollers or tires and of the ride vehicle <NUM>. In this manner, the sensor assemblies <NUM> may be used to confirm that the ride vehicle <NUM> is stationary in a desired or target position on or relative to one or more of the rotatable track members <NUM>.

The sensor assemblies <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to a control system, as discussed in detail below. For example, the sensor assembly <NUM> may include a pressure sensor positioned on one or more of the rotatable track members <NUM> to determine a pressure at a certain position (e.g., along the axis of rotation) on the rotatable track member <NUM>, such that when a threshold pressure value at a certain point along the rotatable track member <NUM> is reached, the rotatable track members <NUM> may be individually rotated, as described in detail below. The sensor assembly <NUM> may include infrared sensors positioned along walls of the ride path <NUM> to determine the position of the ride vehicle <NUM> along the ride path <NUM>.

The rotatable track members <NUM> may each be coupled to one or more corresponding drive systems <NUM>. For example, the drive system <NUM> may include a motor, gear assembly, electromechanical or pneumatic actuator, or any combination thereof, configured to facilitate rotation of the rotatable track member <NUM> associated with the drive system <NUM>. The drive system <NUM> may drive one or more of the rotatable track members <NUM> in rotation to enable a change in the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from being along a first portion of the ride path <NUM> to being along a second portion (e.g., perpendicular to the first portion) of the ride path <NUM>. In this manner, the drive system <NUM> may individually drive the one or more rotatable track members <NUM> in rotation to change the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from a first direction of travel to a second direction of travel, in an embodiment, without adjusting an orientation of the ride vehicle <NUM> relative to an environment surrounding the ride system <NUM>.

The amusement park <NUM> may include a control system <NUM> that is communicatively coupled (e.g., via wired or wireless features) to the ride vehicle <NUM> and the features on the ride path <NUM>. In an embodiment, the amusement park <NUM> may include more than one control system <NUM>. For example, the amusement park <NUM> may include one control system <NUM> associated with the ride vehicle <NUM>, another control system <NUM> associated with the rotating motion system <NUM>, a base station control system <NUM>, and the like, such that each of the control systems <NUM> is communicatively coupled to other control systems <NUM> (e.g., via respective transceiver or wired connections).

The control system <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to one or more ride vehicle(s) <NUM> of the amusement park <NUM> via any suitable wired and/or wireless connection (e.g., via transceivers). The control system <NUM> may control various aspects of the ride system <NUM>. For example, in some portions of the ride path <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may control or adjust the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> by actuating the rotating motion system <NUM> to drive motion of the rotatable track members <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may receive data from the sensor assemblies <NUM> to, for example, control rotation of the rotating motion system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the control system <NUM> may be an electronic controller having electrical circuitry configured to process data associated with the ride vehicle <NUM>, for example, from sensor assemblies <NUM> via the transceivers. Furthermore, the control system <NUM> may be coupled to various components of the amusement park <NUM> (e.g., park attractions, park controllers, and wireless networks).

The control system <NUM> may include a memory device <NUM> and a processor <NUM>, such as a microprocessor. The control system <NUM> may also include one or more storage devices <NUM> and/or other suitable components. The processor <NUM> may be used to execute software, such as software for controlling the ride vehicle(s) <NUM> and any components associated with the ride vehicle <NUM> (e.g., the rotating motion system <NUM> and bogie system <NUM>). Moreover, the processor <NUM> may include multiple microprocessors, one or more "general-purpose" microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors, and/or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or some combination thereof. For example, the processor <NUM> may include one or more reduced instruction set (RISC) processors.

The memory device <NUM> may include a volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM), and/or a nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM). The memory device <NUM> may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory device <NUM> may store processor-executable instructions (e.g., firmware or software) for the processor <NUM> to execute, such as instructions for controlling components of the ride vehicle <NUM>, the rotating motion system <NUM>, and/or the bogie system <NUM>. For example, the instructions may cause the processor <NUM> to control motion of the turntable <NUM> and the yaw drive system <NUM> to subject the passengers <NUM> to ride- enhancing motions, while also controlling the rotating motion system <NUM> to change a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> to enhance the overall ride experience.

The storage device(s) <NUM> (e.g., nonvolatile storage) may include ROM, flash memory, a hard drive, or any other suitable optical, magnetic, or solid-state storage medium, or a combination thereof. The storage device(s) <NUM> may store data (e.g., passenger information, data associated with the amusement park <NUM>, data associated with a ride path trajectory), instructions (e.g., software or firmware for controlling the bogie system <NUM>, the rotating motion system <NUM>, and/or the ride vehicle <NUM>), and any other suitable information.

The ride system <NUM> may include a ride environment <NUM>, which may include multiple and differing combinations of environments. The ride environment <NUM> may include the type of ride (e.g., dark ride, water coaster, roller coaster, VR experience, or any combination thereof) and/or associated characteristics (e.g., theming) of the type of ride. For example, the ride environment <NUM> may include aspects of the ride system <NUM> that add to the overall theming and/or experience associated with the ride system <NUM>.

The ride system <NUM> may have a motion-based environment <NUM>, in which the passengers <NUM> are transported or moved by the ride system <NUM>. For example, the motion-based environment <NUM> may include a flat ride <NUM> (e.g., a ride that moves passengers <NUM> substantially within a plane that is generally aligned with the ground, such as by the turntable <NUM> rotating about a vertical axis and/or the ride vehicle <NUM> translating along a substantially flat path), a gravity ride <NUM> (e.g., a ride where motion of the passengers <NUM> has at least a component of movement along the gravity vector ), and/or a vertical ride <NUM> (e.g., a ride that displaces passengers <NUM> in a vertical plane around a fixed point).

The ride system <NUM> may include a motionless environment <NUM>, in which the passengers <NUM> are not substantially transported or displaced by the ride system <NUM>. For example, the motionless environment <NUM> may include a virtual reality (V/R) feature <NUM> (e.g., the passenger <NUM> may sit in a seat that vibrates or remains stationary while wearing a virtual reality (V/R) headset displaying a VR environment or experience) and/or a different kind of simulation <NUM>. In an embodiment, the ride vehicle <NUM> may come to a stop along the ride path <NUM>, such that the ride experience may include aspects of the motionless environment <NUM> for a portion of the duration of the ride experience. While the passengers <NUM> may not move substantially in the motionless environment <NUM>, virtual reality and/or simulation effects may cause disorientation of the passengers <NUM>, which may be enhanced and contrasted by motion-based distortion experienced by passengers <NUM>. To that end, it should be understood the ride system <NUM> may include both motion-based and motionless environments <NUM> and <NUM>, which make the rotating motion system <NUM> desirable at least for enhancing the ride experience.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride system <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The ride system <NUM> may include multiple ride vehicles <NUM> coupled together via linkages to join passengers <NUM> riding in corresponding ride vehicles <NUM> in a common ride experience. In an embodiment, the ride vehicles <NUM> may not be coupled to one another and may instead move independently of one another, for example, along respective and/or separate ride paths <NUM>. In another embodiment, ride vehicles <NUM> may move together in groupings or as sets of ride vehicles <NUM>. For example, a first set of ride vehicles <NUM> (e.g., three ride vehicles) may move along a first path, and a second set of ride vehicles <NUM> (e.g., five ride vehicles) may move along a second path. It should be understood that the control system <NUM> may instruct the ride vehicles <NUM> to travel along the one or more ride paths <NUM> in any desired manner.

The ride path <NUM> may include any features that define the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM>. In an embodiment, the ride path <NUM> may include a track (with rotatable track members <NUM> (<FIG>)), a rail, a road, a chute, or any combination thereof. For example, the ride path <NUM> may control the movement (e.g., direction, speed, and/or orientation) of the ride vehicle <NUM> as the ride vehicle <NUM> progresses along the ride path <NUM>, similar to a train on train tracks. The control system <NUM> may enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to execute a number of substantially ninety degree turns (e.g., without adjusting an orientation of the ride vehicle <NUM>) having a reduced turning radius, as described in detail below.

<FIG> is schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along a first direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. To facilitate discussion, a coordinate system <NUM> may include a longitudinal axis <NUM>, a lateral axis <NUM>, and a vertical axis <NUM>, such that the axes of the coordinate system <NUM> are orthogonal to one another. Furthermore, the first direction of travel <NUM> is oriented substantially parallel to or along the longitudinal axis <NUM>. The ride vehicle <NUM> may travel along the ride path <NUM> in the first direction of travel <NUM> and stop on the rotatable track members <NUM>, which are aligned with the ride path <NUM> along the first direction of travel <NUM>. In an embodiment, a stopping device <NUM> may enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to stop on the rotatable track members <NUM> in a desired position. For example, the position at which the stopping device <NUM> blocks movement of the ride vehicle <NUM> may be a location in which the rotational axis of the rotatable track member <NUM> substantially matches or is aligned with the rotational axis of the corresponding roller assemblies <NUM> of the ride vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rotating motion system <NUM> actuating to enable the ride vehicle <NUM> to change direction of travel from the first direction of travel <NUM> to a second direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The ride vehicle <NUM> may travel along the ride path <NUM> in the first direction of travel <NUM> and stop on the rotatable track members <NUM>, as discussed above with reference to <FIG>. The bogie system <NUM> may include one or more roller assemblies <NUM> arranged to rotate relative to the chassis <NUM> about one or more rotational axis, as discussed below. For example, the chassis <NUM> may include four roller assemblies <NUM> (e.g., under the chassis <NUM> at each corner of the ride vehicle <NUM>). Each roller assembly <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the chassis <NUM>, such that each roller assembly <NUM> rotates in a respective first direction <NUM> about a respective first axis <NUM> substantially parallel to the vertical axis <NUM>. The ride vehicle <NUM> may stop on the rotatable track member <NUM> (e.g., via the stopping device <NUM>), such that the axis of rotation for each roller assembly <NUM> substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the corresponding rotatable track member <NUM> positioned beneath the roller assembly <NUM> when the ride vehicle <NUM> is stopped.

The control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to drive the rotating motion system <NUM> in rotation about the first axes <NUM> to change the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>. For example, the first direction of travel <NUM> may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction of travel <NUM> along a plane of travel spanned by the longitudinal axis <NUM> and the lateral axis <NUM>. In an embodiment, the rotating motion system <NUM> may include a plurality of platforms <NUM> configured to be driven in rotation via the drive system <NUM>, such as based on control instructions from the control system <NUM>. Each of the platforms <NUM> may be rigidly coupled to one or more of the rotatable track members <NUM> via one or more bar members <NUM>. While each platform <NUM> is illustrated as including two bar members <NUM> coupled to a corresponding rotatable track member <NUM>, it should be understood that any number of bar members <NUM> or platforms <NUM> may be employed to facilitate rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM>.

While the rotatable track members <NUM> discussed herein receive and couple to corresponding roller assemblies <NUM> to drive the roller assemblies <NUM> in rotation to modify a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM>, it should be understood that, in an embodiment, the roller assemblies <NUM> may include actuatable components communicatively coupled to the control system <NUM>. In this manner, the roller assemblies <NUM> may receive control instructions to individually drive the rotatable track members <NUM> in rotation to change the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>. In other words, the roller assemblies <NUM> may include components configured to actively drive rotation of the roller assemblies <NUM>, which may correspondingly drive rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM>.

It should be understood that, to facilitate discussion and illustration, features present in the embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG> have been omitted in the subsequent figures. However, it should be understood that the embodiments of the subsequent figures may include any of the features included in the embodiments of the preceding figures.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the second direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. After the control system <NUM> instructs the drive system <NUM> to rotate the rotatable track members <NUM>, the ride system <NUM> may verify that the position of the rotatable track members <NUM> is aligned with tracks <NUM> extending in the second direction of travel <NUM>, and the ride vehicle <NUM> may be driven along the tracks <NUM> in the second direction of travel <NUM>. It should be noted that, during the rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM> and the transition of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>, the orientation of the ride vehicle <NUM> remains unchanged. It should be understood that the control system <NUM> may actuate the bogie system <NUM> (e.g., the turntable <NUM> and/or the yaw drive system <NUM>) before, during, or after changing the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> to subject the passengers <NUM> to additional motion, thereby further enhancing the ride experience.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the first direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The ride vehicle <NUM> may travel along the first direction of travel <NUM> and stop along the rotatable track members <NUM> at a target position in which the roller assemblies <NUM> and corresponding rotatable track members <NUM> each have a substantially similar axis of rotation. Each roller assembly <NUM> may be configured to rotate about a respective second axis <NUM> to enable rotation of each roller assembly <NUM> in a second direction <NUM>. The rotatable track members <NUM> may be supported via a support assembly <NUM> configured to withstand the load of the ride vehicle <NUM>. The support assembly <NUM> may support the rotatable track members <NUM>, and when the roller assemblies <NUM> are engaged with the rotatable track members <NUM>, a portion of the load of the ride vehicle <NUM> may thereby the transferred to the support assembly <NUM>. The ride vehicle <NUM> may be held in place by a fork lift device. Alternatively or additionally, the ride vehicle <NUM> may be secured to pins positioned on the chassis <NUM> along the second axis <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the ride vehicle <NUM> may be held in place with a holding brake attached to each rotatable track segment <NUM> which engages with the roller assemblies <NUM> on the ride vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rotating motion system <NUM> actuating to enable modification of the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to a third direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. After determining that the roller assemblies <NUM> are secured to respective rotatable track members <NUM> at the target position on the rotatable track members <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to drive one or more rotating disks <NUM> in rotation. Driving the rotating disks <NUM> in rotation results in rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM>, which are coupled to the rotating disks <NUM>, to change the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the third direction of travel <NUM>. More specifically, the rotatable track members <NUM> are individually actuated from alignment with tracks <NUM> aligned in the first direction of travel <NUM> and into alignment with tracks <NUM> oriented along the third direction of travel <NUM>. It should be understood that, while the motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> is discussed above as being along a first, second, or third direction of travel, the motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> may be along any desired direction of travel.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the third direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The third direction of travel <NUM> may be oriented generally parallel to the gravity vector or may have a component along the gravity vector, such that motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> along the third direction of travel <NUM> may be gravity assisted. As discussed above, the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> may be changed by actuation of the rotatable track members <NUM>, which may align with the tracks <NUM>. It should be noted that, in <FIG>, the rotatable track members <NUM> are aligned with one another (e.g., collinear) along the first direction of travel <NUM> to define a single track. However, after the actuation depicted in <FIG>, the rotatable track members <NUM> are separately aligned with the tracks <NUM> of <FIG>. In other words, each of the rotatable track members <NUM> is aligned with a separate set of tracks <NUM>, each of which supports the ride vehicle <NUM> and guides the ride vehicle <NUM> along the third direction of travel <NUM>. Furthermore, in one embodiment, a holding brake attached to each rotatable track segment <NUM> may hold the ride vehicle <NUM> in place by engaging the holding break to the roller assemblies <NUM> on the ride vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> is schematic diagram of an embodiment the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the first direction of travel <NUM>, in according with aspects of the present disclosure. In contrast to the embodiments of <FIG>, in which the rotating motion system <NUM> includes four rotatable track members <NUM>, the embodiments of <FIG> illustrate the rotating motion system <NUM> having two rotatable track members <NUM>. In other words, each rotatable track member <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a track segment extending a width of the track or ride path <NUM>, as compared to the rotatable track members <NUM> of <FIG>, which included a single bar or track element. Utilizing fewer rotatable track members <NUM> may reduce the number of components actuated to change a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM>, which may be easier to implement in practice. As may be appreciated, the roller assemblies <NUM> may be coupled to one or more rotating disks of the bogie system to facilitate aligning the roller assemblies <NUM> with respect to the platforms <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rotating motion system <NUM> actuating to enable a change in the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The bar members <NUM> coupled to the platforms <NUM> may be coupled to an interior portion or surface of the rotatable track members <NUM>, such that the bar members <NUM> do not interfere with the roller assemblies <NUM> while the ride vehicle <NUM> travels along the ride path <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to drive the rotating motion system <NUM> in rotation about the first axes <NUM> to change the direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>. For example, the first direction of travel <NUM> may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction of travel <NUM> along a plane of travel spanned by the longitudinal axis <NUM> and the lateral axis <NUM>. In an embodiment, the rotating motion system <NUM> may include a plurality of platforms <NUM> driven in rotation via the drive system <NUM>, based on control instructions from the control system <NUM>. The platforms <NUM> may be rigidly coupled to respective rotatable track members <NUM> via the one or more bar members <NUM>. While each platform <NUM> may include four bar members <NUM> coupled to a corresponding rotatable track member <NUM>, it should be understood that any number of bar members <NUM> or platforms <NUM> may be employed to facilitate rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the second direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. After the control system <NUM> instructs the drive system <NUM> to rotate, such as individually rotate, the rotatable track members <NUM>, and after the positions of the rotatable track members <NUM> are verified as being along the second direction of travel <NUM> and in alignment with tracks of the second direction of travel <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may drive motion of the ride vehicle <NUM> along the tracks of the second direction of travel <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the third direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. A braking system may be engaged to decrease the speed of the ride vehicle <NUM> traveling along the third direction of travel <NUM>. In an embodiment, the ride vehicle <NUM> may free fall (e.g., via gravity-assisted motion of the ride vehicle <NUM>). The ride vehicle <NUM> may stop at target positions on the rotatable track members <NUM> via the braking system.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rotating motion system <NUM> actuating to enable a change in direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the third direction of travel <NUM> to the first direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. After determining that each roller assembly <NUM> is secured to one of the rotatable track members <NUM> at the target position on the rotatable track members <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to drive rotation of the rotating disks <NUM> of the drive system <NUM>. Driving rotation of the rotating disks <NUM> results in the respective rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM> about the second axes <NUM>, thereby also causing the roller assemblies <NUM> to rotate in a similar direction about the second axes <NUM>. In this manner, the rotatable track members <NUM> are rotated out of alignment with the tracks extending along the third direction of travel <NUM> and into alignment with the tracks extending along the first direction of travel <NUM>. As shown, the rotatable track members <NUM> may differ in size. Indeed, the respective sizes of each rotatable track member <NUM> may be selected to enable each rotatable track member <NUM> to properly align with tracks extending in the first direction of travel <NUM>, as well as tracks extending in the second direction of travel <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). For example, <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the ride vehicle <NUM> operating in the ride system <NUM> and traveling along the first direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As similarly described above, the control system <NUM> may individually actuate and rotate the rotatable track members <NUM> of different sizes to move the rotatable track members <NUM> from alignment with tracks extending in the third direction of travel <NUM> to alignment with tracks extending in the first direction of travel <NUM>. Rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM> also causes rotation of the roller assemblies <NUM>, which similarly rotate about the second axes <NUM> to align with the tracks extending in the first direction of travel <NUM>.

<FIG> is flow diagram <NUM> of a process for modifying a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM> from the first direction of travel <NUM> to the second direction of travel <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the process of the flow diagram <NUM> may be implemented by a processor-based device, such as a controller of a control system <NUM>. With the forgoing in mind, the control system <NUM> may track (process block <NUM>) a location and/or movement of the ride vehicle <NUM>. For example, the control system <NUM> may receive a position, velocity, or acceleration of the ride vehicle <NUM> via one or more sensor assemblies <NUM>, as discussed in detail above.

The control system <NUM> may instruct the ride system <NUM> to stop (process block <NUM>) the ride vehicle <NUM> traveling in the first direction of travel <NUM> at a target position on the rotatable track members <NUM>. A stopping system, as discussed above, may facilitate deceleration of the ride vehicle <NUM> to stop (process block <NUM>) along the rotatable track members <NUM> at the target position at which corresponding rotatable track members <NUM> and roller assemblies <NUM> may have a substantially similar axis of rotation.

In response to a determination that the roller assemblies <NUM> are at the target positions, the control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to actuate (process block <NUM>) in accordance with control instructions to individually actuate the rotatable track members <NUM> to rotate from alignment with tracks extending along the first direction of travel <NUM> to alignment with tracks extending along the second direction of travel <NUM>. As the roller assemblies <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the chassis <NUM>, rotation of the rotatable track members <NUM> may also drive rotation of the roller assemblies <NUM> relative to the chassis <NUM> to change a direction of travel of the ride vehicle <NUM>. After the control system <NUM> receives confirmation (e.g., via the sensor assembly <NUM>) that orientation of the rotatable track members <NUM> properly changed from alignment with tracks in the first direction of travel <NUM> to alignment with tracks in the second direction of travel <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may drive (process block <NUM>) the ride vehicle <NUM> along the tracks of the second direction of travel <NUM>.

After the ride vehicle exits the rotatable track members <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may instruct the drive system <NUM> to rotate (process block <NUM>) the rotatable track members <NUM> back to the original position. Rotating (process block <NUM>) the rotatable track members <NUM> back to the original position may include orienting the rotatable track members <NUM> to the position at which the rotatable track members <NUM> will receive the next ride vehicle <NUM>, such that the rotatable track members further define the ride path <NUM> from which the next ride vehicle <NUM> will be received. After the ride vehicle exists the rotatable track members <NUM>, the rotatable track members <NUM> may already be oriented at the position at which it will receive the next ride vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> each depict a schematic diagram of an embodiment of ride vehicles <NUM> operating on respective ride paths <NUM>, such that the motion of the ride vehicles <NUM> is facilitated via a rotating motion system <NUM>, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated, two ride paths <NUM> may share one or more portions of their respective ride paths <NUM> with one another. For example, two ride paths <NUM> may share a portion of the ride paths that includes the rotating motion system <NUM>. The rotatable track members <NUM> may partially define one ride path when oriented in a first configuration and may partially define another ride path when oriented in a second configuration. In this manner, the control system <NUM> may actuate the rotating motion system <NUM> to change the motion of the ride vehicle from one ride path <NUM> to another ride path <NUM> by rotating the rotatable track members <NUM> as described above.

While only certain features of the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
A track system, comprising:
a plurality of rotatable track segments (<NUM>) configured to guide travel of a vehicle, wherein each rotatable track segment (<NUM>) of the plurality of rotatable track segments (<NUM>) is configured to individually rotate between a first orientation along a first direction of vehicle travel and a second orientation along a second direction of vehicle travel, the system further comprising:
a first set of tracks extending along the first direction of vehicle travel; and
a second set of tracks extending along the second direction of vehicle travel; wherein each rotatable track segment (<NUM>) of the plurality of rotatable track segments (<NUM>) is
configured to align with the first set of tracks in the first orientation and align with the second set of tracks in the second orientation to further define the first set of tracks and the second set of tracks, respectively, wherein the first direction of vehicle travel is in a horizontal direction relative to the vehicle, and wherein the second direction of vehicle travel is in a vertical direction having a component along a gravity vector relative to the vehicle.