WO2022233492A1

WO2022233492A1 - Method for operating an amusement ride, and amusement ride

Info

Publication number: WO2022233492A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/057266
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Heyse
Original assignee: Vr Coaster Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2021-05-04
Filing date: 2022-03-21
Publication date: 2022-11-10
Also published as: DE102021111457A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an amusement ride (1), in particular a roller coaster, for at least one passenger (5), comprising a track (10) and an HMD (20) that generates and displays a virtual reality, which corresponds to the ride, to the at least one passenger (5) while traveling along the track (10) on the basis of the position or on the basis of the position and the alignment of the HMD (20), wherein the position is determined by the HMD (20) while traveling; movement and/or position information is ascertained via an inside-out tracking system; and the position of the HMD (20) is determined by comparing the movement and/or position information with a digital model of the track (10).

Description

Method for operating an amusement ride and amusement ride

The present invention relates to a method for operating an amusement ride, in particular a roller coaster, an elevated railway or other passenger transport system, a cable car, a strip line or a slide or summer toboggan run, with the features of patent claim 1 and an amusement ride, in particular a roller coaster, a Cable car, a strip line, a summer toboggan run, with the features of patent claim 13.

Amusement rides and methods for operating an amusement ride are already known from the prior art in different designs. For example, such a method is already known from EP 3041 591 A1, where the at least one passenger of an amusement ride using a head-mounted display, henceforth called HMD, is shown a virtual reality that matches the ride while driving, and where the virtual reality is displayed depending on the position of the vehicle and depending on the position and/or the orientation of the HMD. The vehicle's position is detected by the vehicle and transmitted to the HMD via a communication interface, as a result of which the virtual reality presented to the at least one passenger can be presented without any significant latency.

Such methods for operating an amusement ride have proven themselves in the past. In the methods previously known from the prior art, the position and the rotation of the vehicle on the route must be transmitted to the HMD so that the journey shown through the virtual reality is synchronous with the real journey. Otherwise, the journey through virtual reality would be in deviating Directions take place, cornering appears with latency and in the wrong places, and the virtual vehicle would also move differently than the real vehicle. This divergence of virtual reality and reality is not only an optical problem, but also causes the passengers to feel dizzy and uncomfortable.

In the prior art, the virtual reality and reality are synchronized via hardware on the vehicle and/or on the route of the amusement ride, and the position data are transmitted to the HMD via an interface.

In the prior art, sensors are generally used to determine the position of the vehicle. Both the sensors and the required hardware are expensive to purchase. Maintenance and repairs have also proven to be expensive. Another disadvantage is that retrofitting an existing ride is often only possible with great effort and usually requires approval.

In the prior art, existing sensors on the HMD are used for optical inside-out tracking in order to determine the position of the HMD in compact spaces and with movement at walking pace at most. However, it has been shown that such a position determination does not work reliably and precisely in large areas or at higher speeds, because often not enough visual and traceable clues are visible for a brief moment. This happens, for example, whenever the passenger looks briefly at the sky or in a dark or empty area. This is where the present invention comes in.

Proceeding from this state of the art, it is the object of the present invention to propose an improved method for operating an amusement ride and an amusement ride business in an expedient manner that eliminates the disadvantages known from the prior art.

These objects are achieved by the method with the features of claim 1 and the ride, in particular a roller coaster, a cable car, a strip-line or a summer toboggan run with the features of claim 13.

Further advantageous developments of the present inventions are specified in the dependent claims.

The method according to the invention with the features of patent claim 1 for operating an amusement ride, in particular a roller coaster, an elevated railway or other passenger transport system, a cable car, a strip line or a slide or summer toboggan run, for at least one passenger with a route and a HMD, which generates and displays a virtual reality corresponding to the journey for at least one passenger during a journey along the route depending on the position or the position and orientation of the HMD, is characterized in that the position of the HMD is determined by the HMD is determined while driving. According to the invention it is provided that the HMD determines the position on the route movement and / or Positioni onsinformation via inside-out tracking and the position of the HMD based on a comparison of the movement and/or position information is determined on a digital model of the route.

The core idea of the present invention is that the HMD, in contrast to the methods previously known from the prior art, determines the position of the HMD or the position of the passenger TES and thus also the position on the route, with an inside-out for this Tracking is used in connection with a comparison with the route and/or the driving profile.

Here and below, inside-out tracking is understood to mean a sensory, also fragmentary and incomplete, detection of objects or clues by the HMD, with both the position of the object or clue relative to the HMD and/or a relative movement Connection to the HMD can be recorded or tracked by the HMD.

In the method according to the invention, the position of the HMD on the route is determined by using the movement and/or position data, which can also be incomplete and fragmentary and can be detected by the HMD using sensors. The movement and/or position information determined with inside-out tracking can be compared with the spatial data of the ride, in particular the route or the rail layout. The position on the route can be clearly determined by the comparison.

If you were to use only the conventional inside-out tracking function in a ride, especially under the open sky or, for example, in large, empty and/or dark halls If you use HMDs, the position determination would fail after a short time and stop as soon as there are not enough visual reference points in the field of view of the HMD. An absolute position determination is no longer possible there. In contrast, according to the proposed method, the inside-out tracking of the HMD is used on a vehicle along a known route. The digital spatial model of the route or the expected driving profile can be used, which means that even fragmentary and incomplete movement information is sufficient, for example by means of a comparison, a projection or correlation of the movement and/or position information on this digital model or driving profile to determine the position of the passenger on the route. In addition to the position of the HMD, the alignment of the vehicle can also be determined independently of the alignment of the HMD, since the alignment of the route to the determined route position also results in the alignment of the vehicle.

In the method according to the invention, objects are detected by sensors using the HMD in order to be able to determine the exact position on the route thanks to knowledge of the driving profile or the exact course of the route, even despite incomplete or fragmentary movement and position data. The exact driving profile of the route is stored, for example, as a two- or three-dimensional curve in the digital model on the HMD. For example, a bearing or a relative movement between the HMD and the object can enable the position on the route to be determined unambiguously. Since any head rotations can be calculated using the inertial sensors and gyroscopes of the HMD, translation data are preferably available here. Consequently, the movement or the position of the HMD can be relative to the environment, regardless of the orientation of the HMD.

For example, if objects, such as trees, move linearly past the HMD in the fragmentarily recorded space, it can be assumed that the journey is on a straight section. If these objects move past the HMD in a curved movement, it can be assumed that they are traveling through a curved section of the route. Based on the knowledge of the specified route, the continuously changing position on the route can be determined and this can also be continuously estimated in areas without tracking data using a known driving profile until tracking data are available again.

The HMD detects and follows visual clues or objects, compares the route with the digital model or the driving profile and determines the position, which means that the ride does not require a separate procedure to be carried out hardware must be made available. However, software and/or an app for the HMD is preferably made available by the ride, which can be loaded and installed on the HMD by the at least one passenger before the ride on the ride.

According to a preferred development of the present invention, it is provided that the comparison or the projection of the movement and/or position information on the digital model with the driving profile of the route includes a plausibility check. The plausibility check can, for example, determine or check whether the determined position roughly corresponds to a position on the route in general or to an expected position on the route. For example, it can be checked whether the position was reached in a predetermined time window after the start of the journey or whether the position with the distance traveled or the expected position can be plausible at all or not.

A preferred development of the present method provides that the comparison and/or the projection of the movement and/or position information requires a continuous movement of the passenger along the route. The continuous movement excludes a sudden change in position and/or disproportionately strong accelerations, as a result of which the projection of the movement and/or position information can continue to be checked for plausibility.

It has also proven to be advantageous if, when carrying out the method, the comparison and/or the projection of the movement and/or position information requires a continuous movement in one direction of travel. Unforeseen and/or sudden changes in direction can be ruled out and position determination becomes more reliable.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one additional item of movement and/or position information can be detected via at least one inertial sensor, acceleration sensor and/or a position detection device of the HMD, with the position of the HMD being hand a projection of the movement and / or Positionsinfor mation and the at least one other movement and / or position information on the digital model with the route of the route is determined. The position of the HMD can also be based on a projection of the movement and/or position information and a plausibility check with the additional movement and/or position information.

The position detection device can, for example, comprise a conventional navigation system, for example radio-based satellite or short-range navigation. The acceleration sensor and/or the inertial sensor can also be used to detect the orientation of the HMD.

A preferred development of the present invention provides that inside-out tracking is markerless tracking. Consequently, no optical or radio-based markers are used for inside-out tracking. Since the passenger is often exposed to a high level of dynamics and rapid movements while driving the amusement ride, there is a risk that optical markers in particular will not be clearly identifiable and that errors may possibly occur when the method is carried out. Therefore, according to this preferred development, objects or visual clues are preferably used as "virtual markers" in the form of landmarks, ride brands, which generally have clearly identifiable characteristics compared to the environment. These virtual markers can be recognized by at least one sensor of the HMD The virtual markers are preferably also shown in the digital model the route as well as objects in the immediate vicinity of the ride, such as trees, houses, other rides, signs or the like.

The at least one sensor of the HMD can preferably include a camera, with the HMD also preferably having at least two, even more preferably at least three or more cameras, which on the one hand can capture the surroundings of the HMD at a wide angle and on the other hand a depth resolution is possible , through which a rough estimation of a distance to the virtual marker is possible.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides that markers are used. In particular, it is advantageous if optical markers are used, which preferably emit light that is imperceptible to the human eye. Markers can always be used when either there are not enough "virtual markers" available or the lighting conditions make it impossible to clearly identify the "virtual markers".

In addition, it has proven to be advantageous when carrying out the method if the virtual reality is generated autonomously by the HMD while driving along the route using a data record stored on the HMD before the journey. The HMD preferably generates the virtual reality that is synchronous with the journey completely independently, which means that the method is not susceptible to faults, since the virtual reality is generated by the HMD independently of external data or the quality of a data connection.

The data record for generating the virtual reality can be preferred for the HMD by the operator of the amusement ride be provided in the form of software and/or an app for installation on the HMD before driving the ride. Furthermore, the software or the app can preferably provide different topics that can be presented to the at least one passenger while driving the ride. As a result, on the one hand, a virtual reality that is appealing to the target audience can be presented and, on the other hand, a large number of different experiences can be provided, which can be presented to several different passengers or to at least one passenger on several trips in succession. Even if the ride is used several times, varied experiences can be presented without losing the thrill of the ride.

A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the at least one passenger is forcibly guided along the route by guide means. Such guide means can be, for example, a slide, a rail guide, a cable car or what is known as a strip line. The guiding means serve to guide the at least one passenger while traveling with the amusement ride along the predetermined route, which is stored in the digital model.

According to a preferred development, the at least one passenger travels the route in a vehicle that is forcibly guided by the guide means. For example, such a vehicle, a car or a train, a roller coaster, a sled, a summer toboggan run or a gondola of a cable car can be. A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the route is stored in the HMD as a digital three-dimensional model. Furthermore, it is advantageous if virtual markers are also stored in the three-dimensional model.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to an amusement ride, in particular a roller coaster, a cable car, a strip line or a summer toboggan run for carrying out the method described above.

The method according to the invention and the amusement ride according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an amusement ride with a route and two passengers who move in one direction along the route and wear an HMD, which uses inside-out tracking and with knowledge of the route to determine the position of the HMD on the route, and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic and greatly simplified representation of the ride according to FIG.

Identical or functionally identical components are identified below with the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, the individual figures are not all the same or functionally identical parts with a reference number.

Figure 1 shows a greatly simplified and schematic ride 1 with a route 10 for at least one passenger 5. The route 10 has a predetermined route with guide means 12, which guide the at least one passenger 5 during the ride with the ride 1 along the Guide route 10 in a direction of travel 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the amusement ride 1 can be a roller coaster, a cable car, a strip line or, for example, a summer toboggan run, although this list does not claim to be complete. The guide means 12 of the amusement ride 1 can include, for example, a rail guide 16, see FIG. 2, a slide, a cable guide or the like.

While driving the ride 1, the respective passenger 5 can wear a head-mounted display, which in connection with this invention is called HMD as a whole and is identified by the reference number 20 in the accompanying drawing.

A passenger 5 can wear the HMD 20 on his head, the HMD 20 comprising a visual output device that preferably in the passenger's field of vision replaces reality with a preferably stereoscopic representation of a virtual reality, in the context of this invention virtual reality used as a synonym for AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), ER (extended reality), MR (mixed reality), etc. In addition to the visual output device, the HMD 20 includes an energy source (not shown), a data processing device (not shown) and preferably one or more sensors (not shown).

In addition to the visual output device, the HMD 20 includes an energy source (not shown), a data processing device (not shown) and preferably one or more sensors (not shown).

The energy source supplies the HMD 20 with electrical power and the data processing device includes a memory and processors and can run programs or apps stored in the memory and generate content and output it via the visual output device. For example, software or the app tailored to the ride 1 can be loaded and installed on the memory via an interface, which later during the ride with the ride 1 generates a virtual reality that corresponds to and is synchronized with the ride with the ride 1 and via the visual output device.

While driving the amusement ride 1, the HMD 20 generates the virtual reality as a function of the position of the HMD 20 along the route 10 or along the position of the HMD 20 along the route 10 and the orientation of the HMD 20, the virtual reality with is synchronized with the real journey on the route. The virtual movements in virtual reality and the real movements while driving are synchronous here, since the gaping apart would lead to considerable dizziness and discomfort in the passenger 5 . The position of the HMD 20 on the route 10 is determined by inside-out tracking and knowledge of the route, which enables the exact positioning of the HMD on the route 10 . First movement and/or position information is determined via inside-out tracking and the position of the HMD on the route while driving is determined using a comparison, preferably using a projection, of the movement and/or position information with a digital model of the route 10 determined. For this purpose, the HMD 20 preferably detects objects by sensors, or fragmentary or incomplete objects, and evaluates a relative movement to the HMD 20 or a bearing to the HMD 20, with knowledge of the route 10 enabling a clear determination of the position .

For this purpose, the digital model of the route 10 is preferably stored on the HMD 20 as a three-dimensional data set, in particular in the form of a curve.

The inside-out tracking is preferably done by the HMD 20 markerless, which is why the ride 1 does not have to have any special technical devices so that the position can be determined by the inside-out tracking. Items 30 provide visual cues and serve as "virtual markers" in the form of land or ride markers, which generally have uniquely identifiable characteristics from their surroundings. These virtual markers can be recognized by the at least one sensor of the HMD 20. Objects 30 are identified as examples in FIG. For example, the objects may be trees, houses, other rides, guides 12, signs, or the like.

The at least one sensor of the HMD 20 preferably comprises one or more cameras and can capture the surroundings of the HMD 20—preferably at a wide angle.

The HMD 20 detects the objects 30 and can use the inside-out tracking to determine a relative movement and/or the bearing of the object 30 using a comparison and/or a correlation or projection to determine a clear position of the HMD 20 on the route 10 . Furthermore, the orientation of the vehicle 14 can be determined based on the orientation of the route at the position, in particular independently of the orientation of the HMD 20.

A plausibility check is also preferably carried out in order to rule out possible misinterpretations of the position. In Figure 2 the projection is represented as a bearing. The optical axes - shown as a dashed line - between the HMD 20 and the objects 30 intersect the route at a distinct point

The plausibility check can check whether the determined position roughly corresponds to a position on the route 10 in general or to an expected position on the route 10 . For example, the Plausibili tätsprüfung include a check of whether the determined position coincides with an expected position. For example, the position to be expected can be a function of time, with each expected position being able to be assigned a time window in which the HMD 20 is to be expected after the ride with the amusement ride 1 has started. The position to be expected can also be predicted using an estimated route 10 that has been traveled. In addition, the plausibility check can assume, for example, a continuous movement and/or a constant direction of travel 15 , always under the constraint that the position of the HMD 20 is located on the route 10 .

The position of the HMD 20 while driving the amusement ride 1 is preferably recorded continuously. The position can be continuously detected, for example, at a rate of 1 to 60 Hz, with the rate preferably being able to be adapted to the reproduction frequency and clocking of the generation of the virtual reality.

During the ride with the amusement ride 1, the HMD 20 thus continuously determines its position on the route 10 and also generates the virtual reality.

Since both the position determination and the generation of the virtual reality take place autonomously by the HMD, the proposed method for operating an amusement ride 1 is particularly unsusceptible to faults. Detached from external data sources or the quality of a data connection, the virtual reality is generated by the HMD. Reference List

1 ride

5 passenger

10 driving distance

12 guide means

15 direction of travel

14 vehicle

16 rail guide

20HMD

30 items

Claims

patent claims

1. A method for operating an amusement ride (1), in particular a roller coaster, for at least one passenger (5) with a route (10) and an HMD (20), which wel Ches the at least one passenger (5) during a ride along the Route (10) depending on the position or the position and the orientation of the HMD (20) generates and represents a virtual reality corresponding to the journey, the position being determined by the HMD (20) during the journey, d a d a r c h g e c e n d e i c h n e t that a movement and/or position information is determined via inside-out tracking and the position of the HMD (20) is determined by comparing the movement and/or position information with a digital model of the route (10).

2. The method of claim 1, d a d a d a r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the comparison of the movement or position information on the digital model of the route (10) includes a plausibility check.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, d a d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the comparison of the movement and / or position information requires a continuous movement along the route (10).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comparison of the movement and/or position information requires a movement in a travel direction (15) along the route (10).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that at least one additional item of movement and/or position information is provided via at least one inertial sensor, acceleration sensor and/or a position detection device of the HMD (20), and that the position of the HMD is determined (20) is determined on the basis of a comparison of the movement and/or position information and the at least one further position information item on a digital model of the route (10).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the inside-out tracking comprises a markerless tracking.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the inside-out tracking comprises a marker-based tracking.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the virtual reality is generated autonomously by the HMD (20) while driving along a route (10) using a data set stored on the HMD (20) before driving.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the at least one passenger (5) is forcibly guided along the route (10) by guide means (12).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the at least one passenger (5) travels the route (10) with a vehicle (14) on a rail guide (16).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the orientation of the vehicle (14) is determined independently of the orientation of the HMD (20).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the route (10) is stored three-dimensionally in the digital model.

13. Ride (1), in particular a roller coaster, for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.