Overview
- USPTO publication US 2026/0027482 A1, filed July 24, 2024 and published January 29, 2026, lists inventors Derek Lee Howard, Gaku Sato, and Edward Allen Nemeth for Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- The design pairs a track-running chassis with an articulating boom arm that can extend, pivot, and adjust a ride vehicle’s vertical and lateral position, aided by counterweight or spring mechanisms.
- Described effects include simulated jumps or brief lifts, side-to-side obstacle dodging, height changes for ramps or uneven terrain, acceleration-style boosts, and spanning gaps in the show floor.
- The filing outlines guest controls such as a steering wheel, joystick, or lever to influence vehicle positioning, plus the ability to switch between multiple ride paths, with examples noting up to four routes and multi-vehicle layouts.
- Illustrations show applications for cars, boats, motorcycle-style and flying vehicles on land or water, while reporters stress the document is a patent application and any link to Piston Peak’s rally race or family ride remains unconfirmed.