Universal City Studios, Inc.

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Timothy J Eck

Anthony Alexander Mecca

Jeffrey Robert Schenck

David Michael Hynds

William Eugene Brasher

Brendan D Macdonald

Robert Cortelyou

Asa K Kalama

Anisha Vyas

Holger Irmler

William George Wiedefeld

James R Robertson

Eli Joseph Romaire

Benjamin Robert Clark

Terry Orion Sandin

Steven Beliveau

Alexandre Lupien

Byron C Miller

Pratik Sanjay Chatrath

Ethan Terwilliger

Christopher Cameron Stuart

James B Winfrey

Corey Cox

Justin Daimler

Phil Said

Haz Minor

Matthias Wolfgang Wittmann

William J Wiedefeld

Ilana Kirschbaum

Jahaziel Minor

A method of dynamic media generation for presentation via projection on an animated figure includes defining, via processing circuitry, a computer-generated model of the animated figure, operating, via the processing circuitry, a manufacturing system to generate a tangible model based on the computer-generated model, generating, via the processing circuitry, a revised computer-generated model based on the tangible model, simulating, via the processing circuitry, projection of imagery onto the revised computer-generated model, and operating, via the processing circuitry, a projector to project the imagery onto the tangible model based on simulated projection of the imagery onto the revised computer-generated model.

Systems and methods for animated figure media projection

A dual-surfaced mirror for a mirror wedge illusion. The dual-surfaced mirror includes a reflective material layer, a thin glass layer overlaying a front surface of the reflective material, a dark mask layer overlaying a back surface of the reflective material, and a thick glass support layer coupled to the dark mask layer.

Mirror wedge illusion system and method

Aspects of the present disclosure are related to a flexible shell structure. The flexible shell structure includes a plurality of rigid support strips that collectively define a three-dimensional shape of at least one part of a character form. The flexible shell structure further includes at least one coupling member configured to couple two or more rigid support strips of the plurality of rigid support strips. The at least one coupling member enables the flexible shell structure to flex when a first force is applied to the flexible shell structure in a first direction, and enables the flexible shell structure to resist flexing when a second force is applied to the flexible shell structure in a second direction.

Flexible shell structure for show elements

A reactive media system includes a motion control system having an animated figure with a body and actuators configured to adjust a figure portion of the body in response to interactive data received from one or more interactive data sources. The reactive media system includes a media control system having a tracking camera configured to generate signals indicative of a current position and orientation of the figure portion based on a set of trackers coupled to the figure portion. The media control system includes a media controller configured to receive the signals, determine the current position and orientation based on the signals, and generate data indicative of images to be projected onto an external surface of the figure portion having the current position and orientation. The media control system also includes a projector configured to receive the data from the media controller and project the images onto the external surface.

Systems and methods for optical performance captured animated figure with real-time reactive projected media

A reaction controlled system of includes a track, a trolley that travels along the track, an animated figure coupled to the trolley, at least one reaction control element coupled to a portion of the animated figure (e.g., on the features, limbs, and/or body of the animated figure), and a controller. The controller detects presence of a ride vehicle or a guest. The controller also controls the trolley to position the animated figure based on the presence of the ride vehicle or the guest. The controller also controls animation of the animated figure by operating the reaction control element.

Reaction controlled systems and methods

A control system for interactively operating a show control system (audio plus data) provided in a walk-around character costume. The system includes an interactive controller wearable with the walk-around character costume. The system includes an audio base station and a host controller communicatively linked to the audio base station. The interactive controller and the audio base station communicate via a wireless communications link. The control system includes a speaker controlled by the interactive controller, and the host controller transmits data over the wireless communications link via the audio base station including commands to play an audio file and an animation file, stored in memory accessible by the interactive controller, with the speaker. The control system includes microphones, linked to the interactive controller, capturing sounds near the walk-around character costume, and the interactive controller transmits the captured sounds over the communications link to the host controller via the audio base station.

Full-duplex, wireless control system for interactive costumed characters

A method for operating a driven output device provided in an articulated head, mobile prop, or other object worn by a performer. The method includes providing a wearable control system, the control system including a driver for the output device, a control module, a wireless receiver, and memory. The method includes storing a set of show control commands for the output device in the memory, and receiving a show control signal with the wireless receiver from a wayside controller. The method includes operating the control module to process the show control signal, to retrieve the show control commands, and to signal the driver to drive the output device based on the commands. The commands are selected based on a character identifier stored in memory associated with the output device such as in a character head junction box, and this memory stores tuning or configuration data for the output device.

Method and system for articulated character head actuation and control

Growing community of inventors

Orlando, FL, United States of America

Timothy J Eck