Haptic feedback systems and methods for an amusement park ride

Abstract

An amusement park ride system including a ride vehicle, a ride control system that may track a location of the ride vehicle on a ride path and a haptic feedback system having a screen having a surface modifying component. The surface modifying component may be positioned on the ride vehicle. The haptic feedback system also includes a control system having a memory and a processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the haptic feedback system to convert data from the ride control system into tactile information representative of scenery surrounding the ride vehicle based on stored scenery data that is correlated to the location.

1 . An amusement park ride system, comprising:
 a ride vehicle configured to travel along a ride path; and   a haptic feedback system, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a three dimensional map of scenery along the ride path; and 
 a surface modifying component configured to output a tactile representation of a portion of the scenery along the ride path based on data from the three dimensional map and a status of the ride vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying component comprises a plurality of pegs configured to extend and retract from a base of the surface modifying component. 
     
     
         3 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying component comprises a plurality of fluid-actuated pockets configured to expand and contract. 
     
     
         4 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional map comprises optical data of the scenery. 
     
     
         5 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying component is configured to output the tactile representation of the portion of the scenery based on a location of the ride vehicle along the ride path corresponding to a location of the portion of the scenery in the three dimensional map. 
     
     
         6 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the tactile representation comprises acoustic waves, vibrations, or both passing through a surface. 
     
     
         7 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 1 , wherein the scenery comprises actuation features and wherein the haptic feedback system comprises at least one processor configured to activate one or more portions of the scenery within a proximity to the ride vehicle to perform an action. 
     
     
         8 . The amusement park ride system of  claim 7 , wherein the action comprises a motion, speaking, or both. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing haptic feedback in a ride system, comprising:
 accessing, via one or more processors, a three dimensional map of features along a ride path;   detecting, via the one or more processors, a ride system status; and   forming, by and on a surface modifying component, one or more shapes associated with one or more of the features based on a correlation between the ride system status and the three dimensional map.   
     
     
         10 . The method of providing haptic feedback in the ride system of  claim 9 , wherein detecting the ride system status comprises receiving location data indicative of a location of a ride vehicle on the ride path. 
     
     
         11 . The method of providing haptic feedback in the ride system of  claim 10 , comprising:
 receiving timing data indicative of time elapsed during operation of the ride vehicle; and   identifying the one or more of the features based on the timing data, the location data, and the three dimensional map.   
     
     
         12 . The method of providing haptic feedback in the ride system of  claim 10 , comprising supporting the surface modifying component on a screen or window of the ride vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of providing haptic feedback in the ride system of  claim 9 , comprising:
 identifying a first type of the features; and   forming, via a plurality of pegs on the surface modifying component, the one or more shapes representing the first type of the features.   
     
     
         14 . The method of providing haptic feedback in the ride system of  claim 13 , comprising:
 identifying a second type of the features; and   forming, via a plurality of fluid-filled sacs on the surface modifying component, one or more additional shapes representing the second type of the features.   
     
     
         15 . A haptic feedback system, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a three dimensional model of a track, scenery along the track, or both; and   a surface modifying component configured to output a haptic representation of the track, the scenery along the track, or both based on the three dimensional model.   
     
     
         16 . The haptic feedback system of  claim 15 , comprising at least one processor configured to activate one or more portions of scenery in a proximity to the ride path to move, speak, or both. 
     
     
         17 . The haptic feedback system of  claim 15 , wherein the three dimensional model comprises optical data. 
     
     
         18 . The haptic feedback system of  claim 15 , wherein the surface modifying component comprises a plurality of pegs configured to simulate a first type of structural feature, and a plurality of fluid-filled pockets configured to simulate a second type of structural feature. 
     
     
         19 . The haptic feedback system of  claim 18 , wherein each peg of the plurality of pegs is configured to be actuated by a magnetic field, an electric current, or both. 
     
     
         20 . The haptic feedback system of  claim 15 , wherein the haptic feedback system is configured to provide a first haptic activity having a first intensity to represent a first environment, and a second haptic activity having a second intensity to represent a second environment, wherein the second intensity is greater than the first intensity.