Disney's new Cars ride uses patent technology that lets you steer freely across a mountain race course; Boing Boing, March 16, 2026

RUBEN BOLLING, Boing Boing; Disney's new Cars ride uses patent technology that lets you steer freely across a mountain race course

"WDWMagic has reported on a patent application made by Disney in 2024, published on March 12, 2026, that seems to indicate that the new marquee Cars ride may have a totally innovative ride system that promises to be a lot of fun. Riders would drive free ranging vehicles through multiple paths over a mountainous race course.

The patent describes a ride system where vehicles can move freely across uneven terrain along multiple path options. Guests choose their route. A fleet controller manages all the vehicles on the track, overriding guest input when needed to maintain spacing, prevent collisions, and direct vehicles toward specific attraction elements.

The track itself is designed to handle rough terrain. The patent specifically mentions hills, valleys, bumps, rocks, stumps, puddles, potholes, and shrubbery – exactly the kind of terrain you would expect on an off-road rally race through a national park.

Vehicles navigate the terrain using a guide wire embedded in or below the track surface. Line detectors on each vehicle follow the guide wire, allowing the vehicle to steer along the designated path. Guests control their speed and direction within limits set by the system.

From Patent Application US 2026/0072453 A1, public document"

AI cannot patent inventions, UK Supreme Court confirms; BBC, December 20, 2023

 BBC ; AI cannot patent inventions, UK Supreme Court confirms

"The UK Supreme Court has upheld earlier decisions in rejecting a bid to allow an artificial intelligence to be named as an inventor in a patent application.

Technologist Dr Stephen Thaler had sought to have his AI, called Dabus, recognised as the inventor of a food container and a flashing light beacon."

This Guy is Suing the Patent Office for Deciding an AI Can't Invent Things; Vice, August 24, 2020

Todd Feathers, Vice; This Guy is Suing the Patent Office for Deciding an AI Can't Invent Things

The USPTO rejected two patents applications written by a "creativity engine" named DABUS. Now a lawsuit raises fundamental questions about what it means to be creative

"A computer scientist who created an artificial intelligence system capable of generating original inventions is suing the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) over its decision earlier this year to reject two patent applications which list the algorithmic system, known as DABUS, as the inventor.

The lawsuit is the latest step in an effort by Stephen Thaler and an international group of lawyers and academics to win inventorship rights for non-human AI systems, a prospect that raises fundamental questions about what it means to be creative and also carries potentially paradigm-shifting implications for certain industries."

Pitt researcher’s work featured by U.S. Patent & Trademark Office; Trib Live, November 12, 2019

Patrick Varine, Trib Live; Pitt researcher’s work featured by U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

"Rory Cooper, who was recognized earlier this year by the office with a trading card created to honor U.S. inventors, holds more than two dozen patents related to mobility-improvement research. Cooper is the director at Pitt’s Human Energy Research Laboratories, a U.S. Army veteran and also serves as director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation...

Cooper was recognized in the patent office’s SUCCESS report, an update on progress achieved through the 2018 Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success (SUCCESS) Act. The act aims to promote patent applications by women, minorities, veterans, the disabled and other underrepresented classes.

“Without diversity of thought, potentially life changing work for wheel chair users and others with disabilities might not be possible,” Cooper said. “We have a world-class team at our labs that is committed to helping people with disabilities and older adults live full lives and contribute to society as much as they can and they like.”"