This NEW Disney Patent Could Fix an ANNOYING Ride Problem

We’ve all been there — you’re patiently waiting for the people in front of you to hop on the ride, but then the seatbelt check takes forever!

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Loading Area

The good news is, Disney just filed a patent to fix that. In theory, they wouldn’t even need ride operators to check the seatbelts and lap bars in the first place! If it’s implemented, ride loading times and overall throughput could decrease dramatically.

The patent is for a new AI system that uses cameras and machine learning to verify that ride restraints are properly secured before a vehicle dispatches. It works by capturing continuous video of each passenger seat during the loading process. A restraint verification platform analyzes footage using multiple machine learning models trained to detect the passenger’s body position and size, the restraint type, and whether the restraint is correctly securing the passenger.

©Walt Disney Imagineering

While the use of AI for something so safety-critical might sound scary, it could detect scenarios that human operators might miss. The patent mentions scenarios where a rider may be sitting on top of a seat belt instead of beneath it, or when the belt is intentionally extended beyond its proper length to create a false sense of it being tightly secured.

Test Track loading area

The system combines video analytics with data from current sensors, notably seat sensors that detect whether a guest is seated, clasping sensors that confirm whether a restraint is locked, and rotary encoder devices that measure the physical length of the seat belt extended. Right now, ride operators rely on a combination of manual visual checks and basic sensor data, which can’t detect all improper restraint situations that the new system would.

Expedition Everest

The patent notes that restraint inspection is “time-consuming due to the number of passengers and seat belts to inspect and/or due to the level of attention required by the operator to check the details needed to perform this task.” If implemented, it would decrease the time it takes for passengers to load a ride, so more passengers board in the same amount of time, which means shorter wait times!

Toy Story Midway Mania loading area

The technology can also help with safety checks. The system can detect if a guest unbuckles after the vehicle has dispatched and trigger an alert or stop the ride. It can also prevent ride dispatch if a restraint issue is detected. In addition, it ensures guests are in appropriate seats, like when a child can’t be in an outside seat.