US 12,434,160 B2
System and method for modular ride vehicles
Patrick Devin Boyle, Orlando, FL (US)
Assigned to Universal City Studios LLC, Universal City, CA (US)
Filed by Universal City Studios LLC, Universal City, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/207,597.
Application 18/207,597 is a continuation of application No. 17/065,849, filed on Oct. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,712,635.
Application 17/065,849 is a continuation of application No. 16/113,761, filed on Aug. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,821,369, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 16/113,761 is a continuation of application No. 14/461,141, filed on Aug. 15, 2014, granted, now 10,086,299, issued on Oct. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0390654 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. A63G 31/02 (2006.01); A63G 31/16 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC A63G 31/02 (2013.01) [A63G 31/16 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a plurality of ride vehicles, wherein each ride vehicle of the plurality of ride vehicles is configured to carry one or more passengers along a trackless ride path during a ride cycle; and
control circuitry configured to:
control a first cluster of ride vehicles and a second cluster of ride vehicles to travel together as a respective unit over a first portion of the trackless ride path during a first portion of the ride cycle to provide a visual effect of the first cluster of ride vehicles being operated in a coordinated manner with the second cluster of ride vehicles during the first portion of the ride cycle, wherein the first cluster of ride vehicles comprises a first two or more ride vehicles of the plurality of ride vehicles, and wherein the second cluster of ride vehicles comprises a second two or more ride vehicles of the plurality of ride vehicles; and
control the first two or more ride vehicles of the first cluster of ride vehicles to travel together as a respective unit over a second portion of the trackless ride path during a second portion of the ride cycle and the second two or more ride vehicles of the second cluster of ride vehicles to travel together as a respective unit over a third portion of the trackless ride path during the second portion of the ride cycle to provide an additional visual effect of the first cluster of ride vehicles being operated independently of the second cluster of ride vehicles during the second portion of the ride cycle.