Disney is always pushing the boundaries of technology as to what it can do in its parks and with its experiences. This is how we got such groundbreaking rides like Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This is also why we’ve got cute little robots wandering around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

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Well, Disney is continuing to expand what it can do with technology, and a new patent just filed by the company could hint at what some of its future rides might look like.

Disney just filed a new patent for a “Projection System Including a 3-D Extendable Projection Surface.” This patent includes a computing system with hardware and system memory storing code, as well as a projection unit controlled by the computing system with a 3-D extendable projection surface with an extending end and a non-extending end. In layman’s terms, Disney has filed a patent for a system that can create large-scale effects in scenes without ruining immersion.

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For a real-world example, imagine effects like weather, geysers, and changing terrain (and, yes, this immediately made us think of one of the new Cars rides coming to Magic Kingdom). In current rides, Disney does this with projection surfaces that are static…they don’t move. So you see those props before and after the effects, which kinda ruins the scene. So Disney is trying to solve that problem by creating a movable projection system that can hide itself when it’s not in use, with an automatically-controlled process.

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So how would Disney make this work? The 3-D projection unit would have a fabric stretched over it with rings. Then the system would extend or retract using cables. So when an effect is used, it forms either a cone, pyramid, or funnel shape. To disappear from view, the rings lay flat, which would keep the projection unit from being seen. So the effect happens, and the projection unit disappears immediately after.

Of course, there are also some highly technical things going on, like projectors, strobe lights, lighting, and more, to make the effect come to life. Disney even built in a way for it to be something guests could interact with.

©Disney

The patent shows four examples of effects it could use with this technology: a tornado forming and touching down, a fountain or mountain rising, a growing plant or tree limb, and a character’s arm reaching out. So, pretty much, the possibilities are endless. Being that Disney has many new rides in the works, including the Cars rides and rides for Villains land in Magic Kingdom, new Avengers Campus rides in Disneyland, and more, this technology could be put to good use soon.

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We’ll have to see what Disney comes up with for all these new rides, but it will be interesting to see how ideas from patents like this end up getting used. We’ll keep an eye out for updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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