Autonomous transportation techniques

Abstract

An amusement park attraction system includes a plurality of autonomous vehicles configured to accommodate one or more guests and located in an attraction dispatch area. An individual autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle controller including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the vehicle controller to receive an indication that the individual autonomous vehicle is loaded at capacity within the dispatch area and drive autonomous operation of the individual autonomous vehicle from the dispatch area to enter the ride path.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An amusement park transportation system, comprising:
 an autonomous vehicle, wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to accommodate one or more guests; and
 a controller configured to communicate with the autonomous vehicle, wherein the controller comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the controller to:
 access a reservation or a return time of a guest for an attraction in an amusement park; 
 determine or access a location of the guest within a predetermined time window preceding the reservation or the return time; 
 provide instructions to the autonomous vehicle to go to the location; 
 provide an alert to a guest device related to the autonomous vehicle; 
 receive an indication from the autonomous vehicle that the guest is on or in the autonomous vehicle; and 
 provide instructions to the autonomous vehicle to travel to the attraction with the guest after receiving the indication. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is selected from a plurality of autonomous vehicles having different themes based on a theme of the attraction. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the autonomous vehicle related to a guest identity and send the instructions to the autonomous vehicle to travel to the attraction only after verifying that the guest identity is associated with the guest. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises biometric data or data provided by the guest device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to update the reservation or the return time based on an estimated arrival time of the autonomous vehicle with the guest to the attraction. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the location is determined using one or more of location information from the guest device, facial recognition data, or sensor data. 
     
     
         19 . An amusement park transportation system, comprising:
 an autonomous vehicle holding personal belongings of a guest; and
 a controller configured to communicate with the autonomous vehicle, wherein the controller comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the controller to:
 receive a request from the guest for the personal belongings; 
 determine or access a location of the guest; 
 provide instructions to the autonomous vehicle to go to the location of the guest; 
 provide an alert to the guest related to the autonomous vehicle; and 
 receive an indication that the guest has retrieved the personal belongings. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the request is from a guest mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the autonomous vehicle comprises a locker module. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the locker module is locked by a locking mechanism. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a biometric sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a locker request from a guest mobile device to store the personal belongings; and   travel to a location of the guest mobile device to receive the personal belongings;   
     
     
         25 . A mobile locker, comprising:
 an interchangeable module comprising a locking mechanism, the interchangeable module being coupled to an autonomous vehicle;   the autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle controller configured to control a path of the autonomous vehicle; 
 a sensor configured to detect one or more objects; and 
 a motor configured to drive the autonomous vehicle according to instructions of the vehicle controller; 
   
       communication circuitry coupled to the interchangeable module; and 
       a power source that powers operations of the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the interchangeable module comprises a biometric locking mechanism. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive guest verification data. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises a reader. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more cameras, laser scanners, and/or ultrasonic scanners. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the power source comprises a battery, a solar panel, an electrical generator, a gas engine, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the vehicle controller receives input from sensor and controls the vehicle path based on the input. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile locker of  claim 25 , wherein the communication circuitry transmits a location of the autonomous vehicle to a central controller.