Interactive vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle for use in an amusement ride, and an amusement ride comprising at least two such vehicles, the or each vehicle comprising a driver, a motive power source, a transmitter adapted to interact with a receiver mounted on another vehicle, a receiver adapted to interact with a transmitter mounted on another vehicle, a controller, and a pickup for receiving signals from outside the vehicle and for communicating with the controller, wherein the controller is adapted, on receipt of a first signal from the pickup, to offer the driver at least one of the options of activating or deactivating the transmitter and/or receiver and/or adjusting the amount of motive power provided by the source.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vehicle for use in an amusement ride comprising at least two vehicles, the or each vehicle comprising a driver, a motive power source, a transmitter adapted to interact with a receiver mounted on another vehicle, a receiver adapted to interact with a transmitter mounted on another vehicle, a controller, and a pickup for receiving signals other than signals transmitted by a vehicle from outside the vehicle and for communicating with the controller, wherein the controller is adapted, on receipt of a first signal from the pickup, to offer the driver at least one of the options of activating or deactivating the transmitter and/or receiver and/or adjusting the amount of motive power provided by the source. 
     
     
         2 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is adapted, when the driver has not opted to deactivate the receiver to activate it and, when the receiver receives a transmission from a transmitter on another vehicle, to adjust the power source so as to reduce the amount of motive power available. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle according to  claim 2  wherein the controller is adapted, when the receiver receives transmissions from transmitters on more than one other vehicle, to reduce the motive power cumulatively, in proportion to the number of separate transmissions received. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle according to  claim 2  comprising an indicator adapted to give a visual indication to the driver and/or to the drivers of other vehicles that the motive power has been reduced. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is adapted, when the driver has opted to adjust the motive power source, to adjust the power source so as to increase the amount of motive power available. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  comprising an indicator adapted to give a visual indication to the driver and/or to the drivers of other vehicles that the driver has opted to activate his transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  comprising an indicator adapted to give a visual indication to the driver and/or to the drivers of other vehicles that the driver has opted to deactivate his receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the motive power source for a predetermined period of time, and then to restore the amount of motive power available to the level available prior to the adjustment. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is adapted, when the pickup receives a second signal from the pickup, to withdraw the option from the driver and to deactivate the transmitter and the receiver and to return the motive power source to a predetermined setting. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein the pickup is adapted to receive infrared, visible light or electromagnetic signals. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  comprising a display for indicating to a driver when options are available, and switches for the driver to signal his choice of option to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The amusement ride comprising two or more vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein the ride is configured as a course around which the vehicles drive. 
     
     
         13 . The amusement ride according to  claim 12  comprising one or more senders disposed at different locations around the course for sending the first and/or second signals to the pickups. 
     
     
         14 . The amusement ride according to  claim 13  comprising a ride controller whereby an operator controlling the ride can activate one or more senders to emit a first or second signal.