Overview
- U.S. patent application 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 system mounts an articulating, extendable, pivoting boom arm to a chassis on a guided track so a ride vehicle can shift laterally and vertically relative to the path.
- A balance spring or counterweight offsets vehicle and arm weight to reduce actuator power needs and enable precise, responsive motion control.
- The filing describes effects such as simulated jumps, lateral dodges, acceleration boosts, and spanning floor gaps, and it illustrates use with cars, boats, motorcycle-style and flying vehicles on land or water.
- Multiple outlets note the timing aligns with Magic Kingdom’s planned Cars-themed Piston Peak area and suggest potential applicability, yet Disney has not confirmed any connection and the application is not a granted patent.