Patent ID: 8858351

Claim:
An apparatus for operating a ride or show element with enhanced interactivity with guests or visitors, comprising: a mechanized object with one or more movable components, wherein the mechanized object is positioned near a traffic area; an image capture assembly, spaced apart a distance from the mechanized object, operable to capture images of the traffic area and to output image data; and a control system, physically separate from and spaced apart from the image capture assembly and the mechanized object, with a processor running an object recognition module to process the image data to determine an object is positioned in the traffic area and wherein, in response to the object being determined to be in the traffic area, the control system operates the mechanized object to move at least one of the components, wherein the control system further comprises an object tracking module run by the processor operating to track a physical position of the determined object within the traffic area, wherein the control system performs the operating of the mechanized object to move the one or more movable components at least partially responsive to the tracked physical position, and wherein the determined object includes an item worn or held by a person in the traffic area.