Product Innovations 2009

Antisway software is now available for our new systems. This gives a perfectly clean finish to horizontal movement of suspended objects and performers. The software calculates in real time to compensate for swing, even allowing speed changes to be made while an object is moving. This innovation has created quite a buzz at our latest project in Las Vegas, where it is being used on tall video screens that need to come together with an ultrasmooth finish.

Explorer Trucks 2nd Generation - The Explorer second-generation wireless stage trucks (based on those originally used in the West End production of Martin Guerre) follow micro-accurate laser guidance (as precise as ±3mm at a distance of 4m) which makes continuous correction during motion possible. The onboard computer contains a much more powerful processor that uses industrial radio Ethernet for communications and safety. The product range has been extended to include different steering geometries and trucks weighing upwards of 20 tonnes.

eChameleon and Teach & Learn over wireless - On our control desks, the ‘Teach & Learn’ functionality has been expanded to include radio-linked axes and to allow groups to be created from wireless and conventional axes within a system.

Automation & Medialon Show Control - This year, we also introduced the first automation system using a Medialon show controller in place of a control desk.  As well as all other aspects of the show (such as lighting, sound and video), the show controller commands the automation system and features loading of up to 99 moves for each axis, reduced set-up time due to auto-discovery of the axes, full speed override control during movements, and Ethernet communication that allows flexible and high speed information transfer.

Automation & Open Sound Control - We have helped to integrate our automation system with the OSC (Open Sound Control) communications protocol at EMPAC. As a result, operators are able to control and issue commands directly from an OSC-enabled programme, which also interfaces and synchronises with cameras, lights, audio and other stage equipment. We think this unique application has much potential and will be interested to see where this research leads performance creativity in the future.