Systems and methods for controlling special effects of reactive show action equipment

1 . A reactive show action equipment system comprising:

a plurality of actuators;

show action equipment;

a special effects system coupled to the show action equipment, the special effects system comprising:

an effects source; and

an effect emitter configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide a first special effect;

a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the first special effect and transmit sensor data indicative of the characteristic; and

a control system configured to:

receive the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the first special effect;

instruct at least movement or orientation of the show action equipment by instructing a subset of the plurality of actuators based on the characteristic of the first special effect; and

instruct the special effects system to provide a second special effect different from the first special effect by adjusting the effects source, the effects emitter, or both based on the characteristic of the first special effect.

2 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein one or more components of the special effects system is onboard the show action equipment and travels with the show action equipment, is offboard the show action equipment and travels with the show action equipment or is offboard the show action equipment and is at least position independent or orientation independent of the show action equipment.

3 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to instruct a reaction based on the characteristic of the first special effect, wherein the reaction is at least an audio effect, a lighting effect, movement of the show action equipment, or an alteration to the special effects system.

4 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to use one or more machine learning algorithms to determine the reaction based on the characteristic of the first special effect.

5 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:

a show action controller configured to instruct the subset of the plurality of actuators based on the characteristic of the first special effect; and

an automation controller separate from the show action controller and configured to instruct the special effects system to provide the second special effect different from the first special effect by adjusting the effects source, the effects emitter, or both based on the characteristic of the first special effect.

6 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the effects source comprises at least a first tank and a second tank, and the first tank contains at least a first substance to produce the first special effect as a first type of special effect and the second tank contains at least a second substance to produce the second special effect as a second type of special effect.

7 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the first special effect comprises at least bubbles, fluid spray, flames, foam, smoke, fog, or confetti.

8 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the effect emitter comprises a nozzle assembly and the special effects system comprises a pressure regulator configured to convey the substance from the effects source to the nozzle assembly.

9 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a lookup table configured to designate the subset of the plurality of actuators based on the characteristic of the first special effect.

10 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , comprising an additional sensor configured to detect additional sensor data indicative of at least brightness, pollution, sunlight, weather conditions, time of day, humidity, barometric pressure, wind conditions, presence of one or more guests, or proximity of one or more guests associated with the first special effect.

11 . The reactive show action equipment of claim 10 , wherein:

the additional sensor is configured to detect whether one or more guests are present, and

the control system is configured to instruct blocking of the effect emitter from expelling the substance when a guest presence is not detected by the additional sensor.

12 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , comprising additional show action equipment having an additional special effects system, wherein the additional show action equipment is configured to react to the first special effect.

13 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises a type of special effect associated with the first special effect, a location of the special effect associated with the first special effect, a volume associated with the substance, a direction associated with the substance, a pressure associated with the substance, or a combination thereof.

14 . A reactive show action equipment system, comprising:

an animated figure;

one or more actuators that are configured to move a portion of the animated figure;

a show action controller configured to instruct the one or more actuators;

a special effects system comprising:

an effects source; and

a nozzle assembly configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide a special effect;

an effect sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the special effect and transmit sensor data indicative of the characteristic; and

a control system configured to:

receive the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the special effect; and

control the one or more actuators to move the portion of the animated figure based on the characteristic of the special effect.

15 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to instruct a reaction in response to the sensor data indicative of the characteristic of the special effect, wherein the reaction is at least an audio effect, a lighting effect, movement of a portion of the animated figure, or an alteration to the special effects system.

16 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 14 , wherein one or more components of the special effects system is onboard the animated figure and travels with the animated figure, is offboard the animated figure and travels with the animated figure or is offboard the animated figure and is at least position independent or orientation independent of the animated figure.

17 . The reactive show action equipment system of claim 14 , wherein the special effects system comprises a pressure regulator configured to convey the substance from the effects source to the nozzle assembly.

18 . A method of operating a reactive show action equipment system, the method comprising:

receiving input data from an input source as received input;

determining, based on the received input, a type of special effect to produce from a special effect system having components disposed onboard or offboard show action equipment as a determined type of special effect;

controlling the special effect system to produce the determined type of special effect as a produced special effect, wherein the special effect system comprises an effects source and an effect emitter configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide the produced special effect;

receiving sensor data indicative of a characteristic of the produced special effect from a sensor configured to detect the characteristic of the produced special effect; and

controlling one or more actuators to move a portion of the show action equipment based on the characteristic of the produced special effect.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the input source is an additional sensor or a communication system and the input data is received using a wired communications system or a wireless communications system.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the characteristic comprises a location associated with the produced special effect, a volume associated with the substance, a direction associated with the substance, a pressure associated with the substance, or a combination thereof.