A new Disney patent describes an AI system that could help technicians detect a ride’s mechanical problems.

AI Could Help Detect Ride Problems

Filed in March 2025 and published this month, the patent is titled “Techniques for Detecting Anomalies in Audio Recordings for Predictive Maintenance.” Here’s the abstract:

A computer-implemented technique for detecting audio anomalies includes processing a first frequency representation of a first audio recording using a first trained machine learning model to generate a second frequency representation of at least one voice and a third frequency representation of at least one sound produced by an equipment; detecting, using a second trained machine learning model, an anomaly based on the third frequency representation; and transmitting an alert to at least one computing device based on the anomaly.

Essentially, a microphone would be pointed at a piece of equipment like a track switch, actuator, or motor. It would be covered by a wind filter, blocking out excess noise. A sensor could detect when the equipment is actually in use, only recording at those times rather than constantly.

The first machine learning model then filters out human voices, including the screams of excited guests. It would be trained on similar audio of voices layered over equipment sounds, stripping unnecessary elements out of the audio. The second machine learning model is an autoencoder that reconstructs the filtered audio.

The AI models theoretically remove the issues with human operators manually listening to the ride. Operators may not hear unusual ride sounds because of guests screaming, talking, or other nearby sounds. With the system described in the patent, these distractions are filtered out.

Remember, just because Disney has filed this patent doesn’t mean it will be implemented in a park, or that implementation would happen soon. It could be years until such systems are in place, if they are ever used.

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