Disney has filed a patent that would allow maintenance to be performed on a ride vehicle to reset physical and/or digital effects out of view of guests between unload and load stations.
The patent, which shows a car-style ride vehicle describes an experience where the vehicle arrives at the load station in a whole state (first configuration) before a second configuration is triggered during the attraction experience that calls for physical and/or digital effects to transition into a second state (second configuration). In the image below, we can see that headlights have popped out, side-view mirrors are drooping, and more physical changes have happened to the ride vehicle during the attraction experience.
What Disney aims to do during this patent is create a transition stage between the end of one ride and the beginning of another to reset physical and/or digital effects on a ride vehicle. This transition would occur out of view of guests and allow maintenance to be performed on a vehicle to reset it for the next group of riders.
This patent takes the concept of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run a step further. Currently, if you ride Smugglers Run and do poorly, the ship is “damaged” via a series of sound effects and projection effects. By adding physical effects, Disney will be able to immerse guests further into whatever story they are telling on the attraction.
In addition to resetting physical effects, the patent covers the calibration of digital effects too such as screens, projectors, and audio systems. In short, the patent covers a complete reset and calibration of physical and digital systems on a ride vehicle between an unload station state and a load station state. The patent also talks about how the resetting can either be done with user input or automated by computer systems.
Where would you like to see this technology implemented in the Disney theme parks?
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!