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Special lighting with various accessories and optimized controls are used by one creative boutique to light multiple scenes easily and effectively. Three Light Units Help Create Cinematic Visual Effects Special lighting with various accessories and optimized controls are used by one creative boutique to light multiple scenes easily and effectively. Film and TV Jul 21, 2025 Aaron Sims Creative (ASC) is a full-service creative boutique that focuses on cinematic visual effects (VFX). ASC has provided iconic characters and worlds for a broad number of high-profile projects, including the Netflix drama “Stranger Things” and the Warner Bros. movie “Ready Player One.” ASC has adopted Litepanels’ Gemini 2x1 Soft LED panel. Gemini delivers precision color control along with a broad array of dynamic lighting and cinematic effects in a highly portable, battery operated, and lightweight LED panel, providing the ASC team with newfound flexibility and versatility in creating unique lighting applications. According to Mauricio van Hasselt, production manager for ASC (see photo below), “Lighting plays a critical role in our work, enabling us to add real-world components to our computer-generated visual effects for enhanced realism. We need highly versatile lighting tools that are not only dependable but offer fine-tuned control. I had heard about Gemini, but once I saw it for myself, I knew I’d found the ‘all-purpose utility knife’ we needed for lighting our projects.” All photos courtesy of Litepanels “Gemini produces true, full-spectrum white light and offers an extensive choice of control options for most lighting applications the team might dream up. The light’s exceptional color and realistic skin tones virtually eliminate the need for color correction, saving our clients time and money in post-production. And since I’m no stranger to Litepanels—their Astra LED panels have been my mainstay lighting kit for many years—I knew I could count on the product’s durability, performance, and outstanding light quality.” Gemini delivers flicker-free light for any frame rate, shutter angle, or intensity, making it ideal for high-speed photography, with smooth dimming from 100 percent to 0.1 percent for the smallest glint of light. The ASC crew is able to set Gemini’s correlated color temperature (CCT) anywhere from 2,700 to 6,000K to get accurate color rendition and add or subtract green with the turn of a dial. The crew can select virtually any color in the different color modes from the 360-degree color wheel in HSI Mode or create specialty colors in RGBW Mode by controlling each color independently. With Gemini’s new firmware release, the units now offer a broad array of dynamic special effects ranging from emergency lights, lightning, and fire, to pulsing, square, and strobe, just to name a few. In one on-location example, the ASC crew can use Gemini to generate on-set muzzle flashes that the actors and environment can react to, making the scene much more realistic than if the effect were added later in post-production. In another example, a scene with a laser beam, the crew was able to use Gemini to change the color of the laser instantly to support the director’s creative vision as he tried different scenarios for the scene. ASC also uses Gemini to generate interactive lighting on location that will later be motivated by sources created in CG. Van Hasselt added. “We were especially impressed with Gemini’s extremely light weight. I can carry the light with me to any location, and we can easily mount the panel on a boom—a phenomenal advantage when dealing with tricky top-lighting situations. Also, with Gemini’s highly intuitive and easy-to-use control interface, we can achieve a desired effect almost instantly. We’ve been able to save multiple USB presets for a variety of different looks, such as action or horror, and then trigger them any number of times with the touch of a button.” ASC VFX continually pushes the boundaries of cinematic visual effects, and its otherworldly creatures and setting have brought chills and thrills to audiences all over the world. Through the use of Gemini, from Litepanels, this single lightweight piece of equipment provides the ASC visual effects team with greater flexibility than they’ve had in the past—and with a wider range of solutions. For more information: Litepanels Aaron Sims Creative Videndum Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Lightweight boat demonstrates flexible on-site manufacturing capabilities of 3D printing using industrial robots. Robot 3D Prints Fiberglass Boat Lightweight boat demonstrates flexible on-site manufacturing capabilities of 3D printing using industrial robots. Jonas Micheler, Global Content Marketing Manager Sports Sep 4, 2025 Cool Stuff Strikingly blue, this 6.5 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, 800 kilograms boat, the MAMBO (Motor Additive Manufacturing Boat), is the world’s first 3D printed boat built using KUKA robots—and finished by an expert hand. Moi Composites came up with the idea and then collaborated with leading experts from the automation sector, including Autodesk UK and the boatbuilding industry during the realization of the project. The first 50 percent of the boat was produced at Autodesk’s advanced production facility in Birmingham, which included parts of the hull produced using KUKA robots. Simultaneously, KR Quantec in Milan printed the second half of the boat. Final assembly of the MAMBO was carried out in a shipyard in Milan where the individual components were joined and coated in order to create a one-piece sandwich structure without hull-deck division. The makers want to use the different locations to demonstrate one of the strengths of 3D printing with industrial robots: flexible on-site manufacturing. This process was cloud-based, enabling the team from Moi Composites to monitor progress at all times. All photos courtesy of KUKA. The fiberglass boat is revolutionizing design in boatbuilding Moi Composites unveiled MAMBO to the world at the “Boat Show” in Genoa a few years ago, where it impressed visitors with its unique design: side elements reminiscent of waves and a fin-like form that becomes more accentuated toward the stern. Gabriele Natale and Michele Tonizzo, co-founders of Moi Composites, wanted to use innovative 3D printing with industrial robots to encourage traditional boat builders to exploit the advantages of automation, saying, “This approach not only saves time and materials, but opens up new, unprecedented design possibilities—such as the uniquely-shaped hull of the MAMBO fiberglass boat.” Traditional boatbuilding is not nearly as flexible as 3D printing. Robots have the freedom and precision to produce any conceivable geometric form, including those that could not be realized by other means. All photos courtesy of KUKA. All individual components of MAMBO are made of glass fibers, printed in 3D using the Continuous Fiber Manufacturing (CFM) process patented by Moi Composites. This innovative 3D printing process starts as a three-dimensional model that is processed by software and implemented using robots such as the KR QUANTEC. In this way, the KR QUANTEC can process continuous fibers that are impregnated with thermosetting resin. CFM not only saves unnecessary weight but also enables a core to be printed that increases the stability of the boat. The technology offers further advantages, too: real-time curing without the need for specific molds. This reduces costs and lowers the profit threshold for companies even in the case of small batches. For more information: KUKA Moi Composites Autodesk KR Quantec Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

How Tolomatic accurately positioned a large and heavy camera in a very tight space. Camera Positioning System for Theme Park How Tolomatic accurately positioned a large and heavy camera in a very tight space. Terry Persun Theme Parks Jun 12, 2025 When a well-known amusement park required a digital camera positioning system for a popular attraction, they turned to Tolomatic for a solution. The major attraction required the positioning of a large and heavy, 25-pound camera to happen in a very limited space. The solution could not use a separate control cabinet or extensive cabling, yet the motion control drive components were required to maintain an overall pleasant attraction experience. In addition, maintenance free operation was highly desirable. For the final solution, the engineering team selected to use the JVL integrated servo motors integrated with the Tolomatic ERD electric cylinder actuator. JVL’s innovative motors are integrated with the drive included, providing a flexible motion control solution that can exist outside of the control cabinet. Tolomatic’s ERD series is an economical electric cylinder that is compatible with many NEMA and metric mount stepper and servo motors to create a flexible and powerful, yet cost-effective electric cylinder solution—over the use of traditional pneumatic cylinders. ERD actuators are available in three body sizes, offer force/thrust capabilities up to 500 lbf (2.2 kN), and stroke lengths up to 24 inches (610 mm). IP67 and IP69K options are available. The Tolomatic and JVL camera positioning system for the amusement park application was chosen based on its compact size, maintenance-free ball screw design, and ease of system integration. Offering a very simple setup and configuration software added to the ease of implementation. The system incorporates a closed loop positioning configuration to ensure proper positioning of the camera every time and with minimal electric components. The final application stroke length is three inches which happens within a speed of 6-8 inches per second. For the customer, Tolomatic provided an all-in-one actuation solution that also eliminated the need for additional components. The easy, clean actuator installation with minimal maintenance requirements provided an enhanced attraction aesthetic by eliminating the need for separate control enclosures. For more information: Visit Tolomatic Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

The next generation of animatronics is face technology that is capable of providing realistic facial movements to make characters truly come to life. Let's Face It: Disney's Next Gen Animatronic Technology is Changing the Game The next generation of animatronics is face technology that is capable of providing realistic facial movements to make characters truly come to life. Edited by EE Staff Theme Parks Jan 27, 2026 Cool Stuff In exploring different technologies to use in animatronics, Disney Imagineering has provided a closer look at its Next Gen Animatronic face technology, which shows how real-time projection and calibration tools are reshaping character performance in the parks. In a new video episode of “We Call It Imagineering,” you’ll see highlights of how R&D teams are experimenting with front-projection techniques and custom software to create more expressive, lifelike characters. Start with a static shell A surprising detail in the video is how the team incorporated a completely static facial shell with absolutely no internal mechatronics for motion. Yet, the face is fully capable of showing micro-expressions through a projection system alone. Real-time front projection actually maps over the molded face shell. Skin textures and fine details are rendered through shading, which allows for transformations like scars or surface damage to be applied digitally and on-the-fly. This approach allows Imagineers to create subtle emotion and texture that traditional mechanically designed faces can't achieve. The team demonstrates how they can shift a character's look instantly—for example, by adding a cut or weathering across the face—without needing physical rework. Matching Physical and Digital Worlds In a later part of the video, the imagineering team highlights the tools used to calibrate the system. A crown fitted with AR markers sits on the figure's head. Cameras track those markers and translate their positions into the digital projection space. The calibration software was developed in-house at Walt Disney Imagineering to provide precision registration between the projection and the physical head. The goal is perfect alignment, so the character's projected expressions always sit exactly where they belong. Even small misalignments can break the illusion, so the crown helps the team fine-tune accuracy before performance testing. This is the same system used for cockpit media alignment in the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. The purpose behind this new Next Gen Animatronic face technology is simple: better emotional storytelling. By combining projected expression with physical structure, R&D teams can explore a broader emotional range and more nuanced facial movements. Although this work is still happening inside Imagineering’s mock-up spaces, it shows the direction Disney is moving—toward characters that feel more responsive, more detailed, and better at pulling you into the story. *Lead image courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering. For more information: Disney Research Read more about animatronics >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Rent touch screens and digital kiosks for product demos, interactive maps, digital signage, wayfinding, presentations, and more. From Museums to Trade Shows, Touch Screen Displays Are More Accessible Than Ever Rent touch screens and digital kiosks for product demos, interactive maps, digital signage, wayfinding, presentations, and more. Megan van Meer Museums Jan 27, 2026 Touch screen tables and kiosks built specifically for public spaces are the ideal element to add to your tradeshow booth or local event. These interactive elements are turnkey systems that are reliable and easy-to-use. Designed and manufactured by Ideum, these rentable tables and kiosks include the company’s Platform II multitouch table and their Pico touch screen coffee table as well as the Drafting II, the angled horizontal kiosk, and the Portrait vertical touch screen kiosk. The Vertical touch screen kiosks are available with 43- or 55-inch displays. Image courtesy of Ideum. Every touch screen rental uses Ideum’s responsive projected capacitive touch technology that supports up to 80 simultaneous touchpoints. They are built out of aircraft-grade aluminum and use high-quality commercial-grade components. Multitouch tables and kiosks feature a computer with a dedicated graphics card running Windows 11 Pro, which allows users to easily run any Windows-based software with ease. On-site vinyl wrapping was used on the Drafting II table to alter the color of the kiosk to fit company logos. Image courtesy of Ideum. The tables and kiosks are easily added to your event through a smooth process that can include delivery and pick-up to and from your location. Each rental ships in a wheeled ATA travel case, ensuring safe and secure transportation. The case is easy to unpack, and once the table or digital kiosk is unloaded, all the user needs do is plug in the power and press the power button. The system automatically boots to Windows 11 Pro, and once connected to the internet, allows the operator to browse, download, and install any applications required for the event. No internet available? Each table also includes USB ports, allowing users to install software directly from a USB drive. Ideum’s versatile touch screen kiosks and tables can be used for product demos, interactive maps, digital signage, wayfinding, presentations, and many other things. Shown is the Platform II multitouch table used at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Image courtesy of Ideum. As a company that specializes in interactive exhibits for museums and other public spaces, Ideum understands the demands placed on reliable hardware. Because of this, the company’s team can design and develop custom software with a focus on interactive experiences for a wide variety of events for small to large companies. Table and kiosk rentals are available nationwide with flexible timelines for events of all sizes. For more information: Ideum Platform II Drafting II Portrait Custom Software Touch Screen Rental For other display technology >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Small details like easy-to-use cases with squeak-free hinges enhance the high-end makeup experience. Innovative Pins Used in High-End Cosmetics Cases Small details like easy-to-use cases with squeak-free hinges enhance the high-end makeup experience. Terry Persun Cool Stuff Oct 27, 2025 There are a wide variety of plastics used in industry today, but only a few meet the demands and requirements for packaging cosmetics, some of which include PET, ABS, PCR and others. Regardless of which plastic material a company chooses to employ, the most important component might not be the cosmetic case itself. Functionality often plays an even more important role than aesthetics. We’re talking about the mechanism used to open and close the case: the hinge. There are a number of methods available to provide the hinge on cosmetic cases, such as snap-on or concealed hinges, butt hinges, and Solid Pin hinges, which have their own challenges. For example, a leading cosmetics packaging company of high-end products used two Solid Pins in their styrene case. The two pins caused the case to squeak when opened and closed. This was because the pins relied on deformation of the plastic for retention, which stressed the material and caused the noise. In addition, the holes had to be misaligned in order to keep the Solid Pins in place. Angular pressure caused by the misalignment along with the solid pins bending, also contributed to the squeaking. Image courtesy of SPIROL. The cosmetics packaging company looked for a new method that would allow multiple opens and closings without making a sound. After some analysis, the company chose to make minimal adjustments to their cases and incorporate SPIROL® Series 550 Cosmetic Coiled Pins as an excellent solution that eliminated the squeaking completely. Needed Modifications The plastic molding customer was willing to modify the existing hole size in the case to achieve the proper friction fit for the Coiled Pin. Further, redesigning the hole in the case allowed the company to incorporate a standard Series 550 Cosmetic Coiled Pin, which also reduced costs by avoiding the need for a custom solution. Rather than misaligning holes in the case, the uniform radial spring force of the Series 550 resulted in a controlled hinge movement. Image courtesy of SPIROL. Uniform radial spring force allows for controlled hinge movement and hinge quality that remains consistent over time. Controlled hinge movement is achieved with wider tolerances and lower molding costs than when a solid pin or cut wire is used. The inherent design of the Series 550 Cosmetic Coiled Pin allows it to flex and absorb impact preventing premature damage to the hole wall. This feature means the quality of the hinge is maintained throughout the life of the product, preventing the lid from flopping open and spilling the contents. In the end, the cosmetic company got a product that created a seamless experience for the user where the lid opened and closed smoothly and stayed securely in place. Overall, the company was able to solve its squeaking problem with minor permanent adjustments and save costs as well. Manufacturing Efficiency The use of the SPIROL Series 550 Cosmetic Coiled Pins simplified the design and manufacturing process. For example, the low insertion force and compression of the pin during installation minimized hinge stress and scrap. SPIROL had designed a pin installation system Model HC Horizontal Dual Pin Inserter to dramatically increase production efficiency with minimal operator training. The Inserter is lightweight and portable for ease of use and flexibility. The cylinder/driving head modules can be moved in and out with ease, and fixture changes are simple, which enables quick conversion from one assembly to another. Pins are delivered automatically to the installation site, eliminating the need for the operator to touch them during the assembly operation. For more information, visit SPIROL . Read more consumer-related articles >>> Top image from CreativeCommons.com . Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Impact-absorbing innovation in sports gear can reduce the risks of bone, joint, and brain damage in sports. Here's how the materials behind helmets, rackets, and more make a meaningful difference. Shock and Vibration Take a Toll on Athletes' Bone, Joint, and Brain Health — These Materials Reduce the Impact Impact-absorbing innovation in sports gear can reduce the risks of bone, joint, and brain damage in sports. Here's how the materials behind helmets, rackets, and more make a meaningful difference. Edited by EE Staff Sports Feb 26, 2026 Using a series of specialized pouring machines, the engineering design staff at Sorbothane specializes in shock and vibration solutions. The company performs in-depth testing and quality assurance in its in-house laboratory. The company serves a broad spectrum of industries including, packaging, audio/visual, transportation, lab equipment, aerospace, and more. Here are two products in the company’s sporting goods and fitness line that are making a difference. Mayfield Athletics Facemask Brackets The design team from Mayfield Athletics reached out to Sorbothane, Inc. when searching for the right shock-absorbing material to use in their new S.A.F.E. Clip facemask brackets. The school realized that football helmet facemasks were underdeveloped and had the potential for impact-absorbing innovation. S.A.F.E. stands for Shock Absorbing Football Equipment. Design engineers from both companies collaborated closely to design and create the component required for Mayfield Athletic’s S.A.F.E. Clip design. A shock absorbing polymer material was designed to deform and deflect harmful forces upon impact then return to its original shape with the same compression capabilities as it had originally. Returning almost instantly to its original state the S.A.F.E. Clip is ready for the next impact. Testing has shown that the S.A.F.E. Clip is capable of reducing up to 35% of G-forces to the facemask. Mayfield Athletics’ S.A.F.E. Clip retrofits over 95% of existing football helmets. ShockSorb Tennis Racket Vibration Damper For tennis players who require an effective tennis racket vibration damper that maintains a live racket feel, Sorbothane has come up with a solution. All images courtesy of Sorbothane. Shoulder injury and recurring pain forced tennis instructor, and former pro, Sky Kim to search for a revolutionary product to control racket vibration and shock. The Sorbothane engineering and production team partnered with Sky to develop a racket damper that would reduce harmful vibration, while at the same time maintaining a distinctive satisfying “pop” when hitting a tennis ball. The design team was challenged to engineer an effective damper that not only reduced “bad” vibrations but also remained tear-proof and durable. Testing of the final production design of the ShockSorb shows that the damper helps reduce pain and fatigue in the shoulder and arm. Blind tests were held with the participants raving about the ShockSorb’s feel, sound, and how much the damper helped with their arm pain. For more information: Sorbothane Sorbothane Sporting Goods & Fitness Mayfield Athletics Sky Kim Details RTP Tennis Read more about sports technology >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Designing the right servo drive for camera motion in deep sea explorations meant the drive had to experience extreme pressures up to 8,800 psi. How a Deep Sea Camera Servo Drive Endures Extreme Pressures Designing the right servo drive for camera motion in deep sea explorations meant the drive had to experience extreme pressures up to 8,800 psi. Edited by EE Staff Cool Stuff Dec 2, 2025 At 6,000 meters below the surface of the sea, pressures can reach 8,800psi. The Titanic is only 3,800 meters below the surface. Equipment, such as the camera motion device, used at that depth often has to be encased inside a thick sealed container. When the customer approached ADVANCED Motion Controls (AMC) about using their servo drives without a sealed container, the customer suggested an alternative approach—submerging the electronics in a non-conducting oil bath. After speaking with AMC’s applications engineers the customer was encouraged to “give it a try” even though AMC had never tested their devices at the required depths. The customer purchased a standard DigiFlex servo drive and performed high-pressure testing of the device while submerged in the oil bath. The drive held up considerably well except that the standard electrolytic capacitors (shaped like small cans) were being crushed by the pressure. The customer’s solution during the testing process was to drill a small hole in the capacitor housing and allow the oil to equalize the pressure. This worked perfectly for the prototype but as a manual modification would be costly and inefficient in a production setting. Images courtesy of ADVANCED Motion Controls. After some design considerations, the AMC applications engineering team provided a custom solution using high-pressure tolerant, solid-state capacitors, which could easily handle the pressure naturally and without needing additional modification. For feedback, the customer proposed incorporating a magnetic encoder chip, which required a magnet on the rotating shaft and a sensor chip positioned precisely above it. The AMC team chose to design a custom daughterboard that the drive could plug into. The daughterboard held the sensor chip in perfect alignment with the motor shaft magnet—solving the mechanical difficulty of alignment and saving the customer from having to build their own brackets—reducing the mounting footprint. The customer required that the main communications between the drive and the host was set up using standard RS-232. Images courtesy of ADVANCED Motion Controls. Through a committed approach to make the design work, and by overcoming multiple challenges, AMC was able to work with their customer to produce the perfect solution to a difficult project. The underwater camera became a successful and integral product for undersea explorations. Cross industry applications for AMC technologies are explained in this video: For more information: ADVANCED Motion Controls DigiFlex Drive Servo Drive Selector Other underwater applications >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson informed the new show 'Flight,' which features the first-ever stage replica of the International Space Station. Simulating Zero Gravity in Royal Caribbean International's New High-Tech Stage Performance Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson informed the new show 'Flight,' which features the first-ever stage replica of the International Space Station. Edited by EE Staff Stage Events Jun 29, 2026 One of Royal Caribbean International’s technologically advanced shows, “Flight: Dare to Dream” is still an audience favorite. The cruise ship has always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in entertainment with their cutting-edge productions on stage, in the air, under water, and on ice on board Symphony of the Seas . Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. “Flight: Dare to Dream,” is a one-of-a-kind journey through the past, present, and future of air travel and space exploration that makes history as one of the most ambitious stage productions to date. Guests take off on a spectacular adventure through time, chronicling key milestones in aeronautics, beginning with the first leisure voyage to Mars and ending with a stunning homage to the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk. A Royal Caribbean Productions original, “Flight: Dare to Dream” introduces cutting-edge 3D flying technology, video, and automation to a 1,401-seat Royal Theater. Going where no stage has gone before, space and zero gravity is simulated as actors float within a detailed replica of the International Space Station (ISS). The first theater set piece of its kind, the detailed design of Royal Caribbean's ISS was informed by Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, who lived 167 days in space and completed 38 hours and 28 minutes over six spacewalks in two separate missions. Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. Complex, high-impact choreography and production also take form in 3D flying with a custom-built recreation of the Wright Flyer that takes off into the house; the set piece has a 22-foot wingspan and single-seat cockpit. The play needed more than a prop and planned for the creating of a ride-on prop that would simulate flight in a realistic way. The challenge was to have the plane soar over the audience with a performer in the pilot’s seat as the show’s finale. The moving set piece was fabricated using ultralight carbon fiber tubing, which assured the plane’s durability. The material allowed for precise weight control necessary for rigging the flyer to the theater’s ceiling and hoisting it above the audience. The overhead motion had to be executed perfectly and safely during the performance. Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. The plan also features motorized spinning propellers that add an authentic touch to the performance. Hand-held controls enable the performer to rotate the plane, which enhances the sense of flight and interactivity with the audience to create an amazing illusion of flight—a moment that encapsulates the magic of live theater. According to Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean Internations, “We continue to push the envelope with high-tech, immersive entertainment at Royal Caribbean, and we couldn't be prouder of how 'Flight: Dare to Dream' has brought to life the awe and wonder of flying.” Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. Other entertainment venues on Symphony of the Seas includes an AquaTheater that includes high diving, acrobatic performances in an open-air amphitheater overlooking the ocean and a performance pool—the deepest at seas—with hydraulic lifts and ten-meter diving platforms. At Studio B pairs world-class skaters performing extraordinary skills against stunning multimedia visuals and audio. Guests watch as the surface of the ice rink transforms before their yes, blending fantasy with reality. For information: Royal Caribbean International Read more stage production case studies >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Live production and signage workflow incorporates live social content into lively display screens Social Media Engages Recreational Crowd Live production and signage workflow incorporates live social content into lively display screens Brian Galante Sports Jun 4, 2025 The rallying cry of “Attention all sand addicts, duners, and dirtheads” resonated loud and clear in the YouTube event announcement for Polaris Camp RZR, one of the biggest dune gatherings of the year. It was the first serve in a social media volley that amplified the fan experience throughout the three-day recreation event. The annual event celebrates the sport and the machines, taking place at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area near Glamis, California. The location is roughly two hours east of San Diego in a region considered the Mecca of North American sand dune recreation. The reputation of the event and the region was enough to draw thousands of enthusiasts this year, driving everything from backyard quads to full-blown desert racers. Overnight, attendees transformed Glamis Beach into a massive campsite as the event prepared to open on Halloween day. Those preparations included the installation of three video walls and a fully loaded digital production facility. Alpha Sports TV, experts in delivering specialized broadcast content for sports and live events, provided the production front-end and handled content creation and delivery. This included playout of sponsor advertisements and more than 30 special features, as well as live content captured on a roving, wireless Sony HXC100 camera with embedded audio. “A lot of what we did involved processing literally terabytes of media files, primarily video, from many different sources,” said Andrew Allan, president of Alpha Sports TV. “We made sure that the high-quality content we processed was rendered in equally high quality with no artifacts, even though outdoor video walls are quite tolerant of high compression. We needed to make sure all the content, whether from an outside source or acquired live on-site, ultimately looked the same in terms of aspect ratio and overall quality.” Allan points out that many production companies can handle this, but Alpha Sports TV, with its history in Olympic Games and other high-profile events, was brought in for its expertise in integrating graphics, video, and data into live broadcasts and events. This was especially important for the social media aspect, which proved to be a major attraction and source of engagement for attendees. The social media gateway was opened courtesy of software from Bannister Lake, a graphics and broadcast automation specialist. Allan integrated Bannister Lake’s TweetOut and TweetOut Nano products into the workflow to keep screen content refreshed and dynamic. Allan ran TweetOut on the Ross Video XPression Studio platform, creating Twitter and Facebook routines for several different graphics layouts including insertion over the prerecorded Polaris features. This included full-page and lower-third layouts, the former of which could take advantage of TweetOut’s inline photo support. This means that the full-page graphics space was mostly reserved specifically for photos taken by attendees with their “feet on the ground.” Those photos were stored in the Flow database along with tweets and other data content, and made available for output into the lower-third layouts. Room to Spread The TweetOut Nano solution essentially offers users a compact form factor for integrating social media content into live broadcasts – especially ideal for temporary facilities where rack space is limited. Allan likens its size to “a few decks of cards,” noting that it’s very quick, reliable, and networkable. “We can conceivably have several different ‘content moderation clients’ networked into the switch, all providing their own social media contributions to the stream,” said Allan. At the Polaris event, the TweetOut software constantly polled Twitter and Facebook content based on search parameters, including several different hashtags provided by Polaris. The production team regularly received hits based on those hashtags. A built-in interface allowed for downstream editing of content that was raw or inappropriate. From there, the content went straight into XPression. That flexibility to moderate streams with simplicity also meant that Allan could focus on higher-end production aspects, including live camera feed monitoring and on-the-fly graphics creation. “I like to have all these different components broken out into modular functionalities, which is why we have TweetOut Nano dedicated to managing the raw data,” said Allan. “That way when there is someone on site who can help, we can put them in front of the Nano box to moderate the content. Everything that comes from the Nano into my Ross XPression has been pre-moderated. That relieves me from having to keep my eye on four different machines.” Flow Motion The complete workflow included transcoding tools from Handbrake and Adobe for format conversion, and a temporary site-wide satellite broadband solution for local WiFi device connections so that attendees and participants could engage and connect via social media. The combined output of video, graphics and social media was ultimately output through a Ross Carbonite switcher, which, along with the videowalls, Sony camera and RF hardware – including six antennae spread around the site for camera feed transmission – was provided under a contract with Screenworks. The broadband link was partitioned for private and public use. This ensured that Alpha Sports TV wouldn’t lose its slice of the bandwidth if attendees swamped the network. “Nano doesn’t require much bandwidth at all – it’s purely XML data, and as such doesn’t cause any bottlenecking in terms of data throughput,” said Allan. “It was essentially an input into the Carbonite switcher, networked with one of the laptops running XPression. We used a third laptop for standalone Xpression graphics, which were basically content layouts built in advance so we could quickly post updated event schedules.” Elsewhere, Allan notes that aspect ratio was an interesting challenge. All video content was delivered to Alpha Sports TV in HD 16:9, while the main giant screen was SD 4:3. To compensate, videos were formatted for HD and letterboxed to the screen to avoid loss of content. The screen's huge size allowed the letterboxing to be an acceptable compromise. Ultimately, turning the typical event production into a “SocialTV” experience was an important step. “You can very quickly tell when people catch on to tweets and social media activity on the screens, because the comments quickly increase in quantity,” said Allan. “If you make it clear that you’re looking for photos and things to accompany tweets, it comes fast and furious. That’s really what you want to see out of an event like this, and we had the right tools in place to out as much content as possible.” For more information: Alpha Sports TV Sony HXC100 Camera Bannister Lake (now part of Ross) Handbrake transcoding tools Adobe transcoding tools Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

This VR experience features realistic and intuitive navigation, helpful advice from Mission Control, and compelling and visceral science-related content. Explore the International Space Station with Immersive VR Experience This VR experience features realistic and intuitive navigation, helpful advice from Mission Control, and compelling and visceral science-related content. Edited by EE Staff Cool Stuff Oct 28, 2025 Every person on the planet, young and old alike, has wondered about our place in the universe. The idea of space creates a deep yearning for answers and experiences in all of us, and it serves as a common, unifying thread for humanity. NASA wanted to bring the magic of space travel to everyone and teamed up with Magnopus to bring Mission: I SS into reality and to help promote these common feelings through thrilling immersive technology. Mission: ISS lets users explore the International Space Station in detail to understand what it’s like to be an astronaut in a way that’s never before been possible. Based on NASA models and honed with input from astronauts who have lived in space, Mission: ISS recreates the International Space Station in painstaking detail. Users can experience how to move and work in zero-gravity, use space tools, dock a space capsule, and take a spacewalk. Images courtesy of Magnopus, NASA, and Meta. Real astronauts provide a sense of presence through instructional video clips. With strong STEM-related themes, anyone can take part in experiments and actual missions on the station. Since the experience is fully immersive, users feel a sense of weightlessness that can only be felt in VR, similar to what astronauts feel—a fact that Mission: ISS’s astronaut advisors have confirmed. In fact, more than one astronaut said it was like making a return trip! VR experiences are ideal for taking users to places that are too dangerous or too expensive to go. With that in mind, Mission: ISS was designed to remove those barriers—literally anyone with a VR headset can get a taste of space exploration. Images courtesy of Magnopus, NASA, and Meta. Mission: ISS is a non-profit initiative. It is freely available on Meta’s Quest store and has been demonstrated at science exhibits, international conferences, fairs, and exhibitions across North America and Europe to wide acclaim. The experience has won multiple awards including those from the Television Academy, VR Awards, XR Awards, and was even nominated for an Emmy. For more information: Magnopus NASA Meta Read more about applications in space >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Simulating brain-controlled flying at the Institute for Flight System Dynamics Brain-Controlled Flight Simulating brain-controlled flying at the Institute for Flight System Dynamics EE Staff Cool Stuff Jun 4, 2025 Pilots of the future could be able to control their aircraft by merely thinking commands. Scientists of the Technische Universität München and the TU Berlin have now demonstrated the feasibility of flying via brain control – with astonishing accuracy. The pilot wears a white cap with myriad attached cables. His gaze is concentrated on the runway ahead of him. All of a sudden the control stick starts to move. The airplane banks and then approaches straight on toward the runway. The position of the plane is corrected time and again until the landing gear gently touches down. During the entire maneuver the pilot touches neither pedals nor controls. "A long-term vision of the project is to make flying accessible to more people," explains aerospace engineer Tim Fricke, who heads the project at TUM. "With brain control, flying could become easier. This would reduce the workload of pilots and thereby increase safety. In addition, pilots would have more freedom of movement to manage other manual tasks in the cockpit." The scientists have logged their first breakthrough: They succeeded in demonstrating that brain-controlled flight is indeed possible, with amazing precision. Seven subjects took part in the flight simulator tests. They had varying levels of flight experience, including one person without any practical cockpit experience whatsoever. The accuracy with which the test subjects stayed on course by merely thinking commands would have sufficed, in part, to fulfill the requirements of a flying license test. "One of the subjects was able to follow eight out of ten target headings with a deviation of only 10 degrees," reports Fricke. Several of the subjects also managed the landing approach under poor visibility. One test pilot even landed within only few meters of the centerline. The TU München scientists are now focusing in particular on the question of how the requirements for the control system and flight dynamics need to be altered to accommodate the new control method. Normally, pilots feel resistance in steering and must exert significant force when the loads induced on the aircraft become too large. This feedback is missing when using brain control. The researchers are thus looking for alternative methods of feedback to signal when the envelope is pushed too hard, for example. In order for humans and machines to communicate, brain waves of the pilots are measured using electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes connected to a cap. An algorithm developed by scientists from Physiological Parameters for Adaptation of the Technische Universität Berlin allows the program to decipher electrical potentials and convert them into useful control commands. Only the very clearly defined electrical brain impulses required for control are recognized by the brain-computer interface. For more information: Technische Universität Münche Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next