Entertainment system including a vehicle with a simulation mode

Abstract

The entertainment system of the preferred embodiment comprises a first vehicle including a user interface adapted to accept a vehicle input from a first user. The first vehicle further includes an event sensor adapted to sense a first trigger event, and a processor connected to the user interface and to the event sensor and adapted to operate in the following modes: normal mode and simulation mode. In the normal mode, the processor controls the first vehicle based substantially on the vehicle input from the first user. In the simulation mode, the processor controls the first vehicle based on a modification of the vehicle input from the first user according to a first rule, which simulates a first physical event.

1 . An entertainment system comprising:
 a first vehicle that transports a first user including:
 a user interface adapted to accept a vehicle input from the first user; 
 an event sensor adapted to sense a trigger event; 
 a processor connected to the user interface and to the event sensor, and adapted to operate in the following modes:
 normal mode—wherein the processor controls the first vehicle based substantially on the vehicle input from the first user; and 
 simulation mode—wherein the processor controls the first vehicle based on a modification of the vehicle input from the first user according to a first rule, which simulates a first physical event; 
 
   an event element that communicates a trigger event to the event sensor, wherein the event element is a simulated weapon separate from the first vehicle and is controlled by a user other than the first user;   wherein the processor transitions between the normal mode and the simulation mode upon sensing by the event sensor of a trigger event communicated from the event element.   
   
   
       2 . The entertainment system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated weapon is adapted to transmit a weapon signal and the event sensor is adapted to receive the weapon signal. 
   
   
       3 . The entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein the weapon signal is simulated ammunition of the simulated weapon. 
   
   
       4 . The entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein the weapon signal is a wireless transmission from the simulated weapon to the event sensor. 
   
   
       5 . The entertainment system of  claim 4 , wherein the simulated weapon projects a physical element. 
   
   
       6 . The entertainment system of the  claim 2 , wherein the weapon signal is an analog signal transmission. 
   
   
       7 . The entertainment system of  claim 2 , wherein the weapon signal is a physical element sensed by the event sensor. 
   
   
       8 . The entertainment system of  claim 7 , wherein the physical element is water. 
   
   
       9 . The entertainment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle is a wheeled vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The entertainment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle includes a human powered based propulsion subsystem. 
   
   
       11 . The entertainment system of  claim 1  wherein the first vehicle includes a motorized propulsion subsystem. 
   
   
       12 . The entertainment system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor transitions from the normal mode to the simulated mode when the event sensor detects the trigger event communicated by the event element. 
   
   
       13 . The entertainment system of  claim 12 , wherein the first vehicle further includes a propulsion subsystem that is adapted to propel the vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the propulsion of the vehicle, wherein the simulation mode of the processor activates the disabled mode of the propulsion subsystem. 
   
   
       14 . The entertainment system of  claim 12 , wherein the first vehicle further includes a steering subsystem that is adapted to allow steering of the first vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the steering of the vehicle, wherein the simulation mode of the processor activates the disabled mode of the steering subsystem. 
   
   
       15 . The entertainment system of  claim 12 , wherein the first vehicle further includes:
 a propulsion subsystem that is adapted to propel the vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the propulsion of the vehicle;   a steering subsystem that is adapted to allow steering of the first vehicle and includes a disabled mode that reduces control of the first user over the steering of the vehicle;   wherein there are a plurality of simulation modes that are selectively activated, the simulation modes including:
 a reduced traction simulation that activates the disabled mode of the steering subsystem; 
 a disabled simulation that activates the disabled mode of the propulsion subsystem; 
 a reduced input simulation that activates the disabled mode of the propulsion subsystem and the disabled mode of the steering subsystem. 
   
   
   
       16 . The entertainment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second vehicle that transports a second user, wherein the second vehicle is substantially identical to the first vehicle. 
   
   
       17 . The entertainment system of  claim 16 , wherein the second user of the second vehicle controls the simulated weapon. 
   
   
       18 . The entertainment system of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of event elements that are simulated weapons controlled by a plurality of users that are not the first user or second user. 
   
   
       19 . The entertainment system of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of event elements that is not controlled by a user.