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An optical/infrared telescope recently got a mirror control upgrade that is more accurate and cuts costs. Pneumatic Telescope Controls Adjust for Atmospheric Variation Automatically An optical/infrared telescope recently got a mirror control upgrade that is more accurate and cuts costs. Edited by Terry Persun Cool Stuff Mar 24, 2026 The Canada-France-Hawaii hosts a world-class, 3.6-meter optical/infrared telescope. The observatory is located at the 4,200 meter summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano located on the island of Hawaii. The mission of the CFH Telescope (CFHT) is to provide its user community with a versatile and state-of-the-art astronomical observing facility. The CFHT’s primary mirror is positioned on a set of pneumatic puck assemblies, and three hardpoints for stability. This design maintains the mirror figure throughout varying gravity vectors by modulating the pneumatic pressure that follows a cosine curve from zenith to horizon. Twenty-four pneumatic puck assemblies are placed around the mirror cell in two concentric circles, with fifteen pads forming the outside ring and nine on the inner ring. Load cells are mounted on each of the hardpoints to monitor the pneumatic support performance. Photos courtesy of Proportion Air. A geometry constraint, bending of mirror cell, even with compliant pads, will cause uneven pressure support on the mirror causing unintended bending and stress concentrations. Incorporating a pressure constraint allows the mirror support to be independent of mirror cell bending. The original cosine regulator incorporated a passive, mechanically based, open loop system, using mass and gravity to regulate the pressures driving the inner and outer rings of the support system’s pneumatic mirror pucks. Although this had been a reliable method for years, the mechanical regulator required constant air bleed to maintain the proper pressures. This resulted in a very high air compressor duty cycle, which meant excessive electrical costs and air compressor usage. Photos courtesy of Proportion Air. A full evaluation of the system indicated that incoming pressure to each regulator needed to be supplied by at least 0.0353 CFPS at 72 psi. That is 3049 cu-ft at 72 psi/day/regulator. Pressure to each controller had to be regulated to 35 psi +/- 2.85 psi. Controllers (regulators) were required to be aligned in two planes to within 2 arc-min. An alignment error of 3 minutes would cause a system error of 0.05% (0.005 psi) at a zenith angle of 90 degrees. Each of the nine inner pads provided 1086 lbf at zenith, and each of the fifteen outer pads provide 1034 lbf at zenith—totaling of 25,284 lbs (12.64 tons). Total load for the nine inner pads, fifteen outer pads, and three defining points needed to be 28,433 lbs. Design Objectives In addition to meeting the necessary specifications for fault tolerances and fail-safes to reduce repair time in the case of damage, the objectives for the new regulator upgrade included minimizing component count, using altitude-rated components when possible and minimizing the use of electrolytic capacitors. The new design also had to prevent control from faulty Raspberry Pi. Plus, the plan included using automotive-qualified parts and low-temperature dependent parts wherever possible. The new design would provide a high level of reliability. A secondary, but equally important aspect of the design was meant to achieve a high level of maintainability. This included having tested spare parts on-hand, minimizing the number of custom parts required, and using legacy CFHT components wherever possible. The design was also to use MIL-SPEC bulkhead connectors to the outside world. Finally, it was important to have online parameter tuning for the system. Proportion-Air provided the CFHT with a new highly accurate, closed-loop system that incorporated a microprocessor to control the company’s QBX electronic variable pressure regulators, while strategically placed pressure sensors provided the required feedback. Most importantly, the system does not require constant air bleed. Photos courtesy of Proportion Air. The new system was installed and tested extensively prior to being released for operations. It was calibrated and tuned to match the performance of the previously existing cosine regulator. Since the mirror support system was critical to providing image quality and damage to the mirror pucks could incur many man-hours of work, the new system was designed with multiple redundant features that allowed for either false-safe or fault-tolerant, depending on the failure mode. While all of the components were chosen to ensure high reliability and safety, the circuit board was specifically designed with hardware limitations that intentionally prevented damage to the system. Programming philosophies were adopted from the space industry to ensure robust, standalone operation. Proven command lockout schemes and control philosophies ensured safe command and setting of the new system gains. By design, the system prevents the pneumatic pads from over-pressurizing. Cost Savings and Improved Accuracy The original system cost was around $65,000, which today translates to roughly $400,000, including non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs. The pneumatic replacement system—including the necessary regulators—cost only $5,000, primarily thanks to its simplicity and not having to start from scratch. An estimated $17,000 in annual energy savings is expected to be realized, and other optimizations to the dry air system could increase the savings even further. Ultimately, the customer reports that the new system, using Proportion-Air regulators, is much more accurate and does not require constant bleed. This reduces the air compressor’s duty cycle, electrical cost, and usage. For more information: Proportion Air CFHT QBX Pressure Regulator Read more about telescopes >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Industrial automation products can be applied to a wide number of unique applications, like the advanced control needed for a sophisticated escape room. Escape Room Experience Uses Automation Tools Industrial automation products can be applied to a wide number of unique applications, like the advanced control needed for a sophisticated escape room. Terry Persun Games Jun 16, 2025 Stage Events Escape rooms are immersive adventure games where players solve puzzles to break out from a themed environment within a set time. While seemingly unrelated to industrial automation, a systems integrator leveraged expertise gained from working in industrial applications to enhance escape room experiences through advanced automation. Andrew Schulman details how he applied industrial-grade automation to 13 Hour Escape Rooms’ Campground project. An Entertainment Game Changer Andrew Schulman, the founder of Schulman Engineering, transformed his mechanical background into a successful systems integrator career, executing industrial-focused projects across multiple sectors. His client in the escape room industry was a bit of a departure from the typical project and needed improvements to an existing PLC-based (Programmable Logic Controller-based) system that controlled audio and effects for enhanced gameplay and elevated player engagement. Schulman’s objective was to develop a flexible programming structure that could accommodate future expansions, while addressing immediate operational needs. Immersive environments of this type often incorporate digital control and programming to manage various technical elements, including sensors, sound effects, lighting, and countdown timers. To meet these and other needs, the AtuomationDirect Productivity 1000, stackable micro PLC was chosen for its extensive input/output (I/O) capabilities and compact design, managing over 200 unique I/O points through digital and analog interfaces. This architecture allowed for smooth gameplay, along with real-time interactions based on player actions. Minimizing Code Risk The original code used AutomationDirect’s Productivity Suite software, which simplified programming but relied heavily on latching bits to ensure that logic proceeded in the correct order. This is a valid programming approach, but without careful attention to detail the logic can be left in improper states. Photo: The AutomationDirect Productivity1000 stackable micro PLC manages more than two hundred I/O points located throughout the room, utilizing software-based drum sequencing instructions ; photos courtesy of 13 Hour Escape Rooms and Schulman Engineering. To enhance manageability, Schulman implemented drum sequencer instructions, simplifying the program and facilitating easier maintenance. The interactive and unpredictable nature of gameplay required robust programming practices to ensure system reliability. An AutomationDirect C-more headless HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) lets game operators monitor progress, and override actions where necessary, using a computer or mobile device. Sound Programming Practices An essential aspect of the escape room experience is sound design to enhance gameplay, and even deliver clues. The escape room design company had developed a custom printed circuit board (PCB) sound board to do this, featuring multiple audio ports. The PCB was controlled via RS-232 serial communication from the PLC, and it allowed for concurrent playback of multiple sound effects in different locations. This approach minimized wiring complexity and optimized the use of I/O resources, and it provided sound playback in different rooms throughout the game. As gameplay progresses, PLC logic determines which sounds to play, and whether playback is a single-time event or looped. Backstage Support To ensure reliable technical support across multiple game room franchises, a secure AutomationDirect StrideLinx VPN router was integrated into the system. This provides Schulman and the game owners with remote access for monitoring and troubleshooting, and it streamlined the programming and commissioning phases, both of which were accomplished without any required on-site visits. With a solid commitment to providing intuitive, quality products and exceptional technical support, AutomationDirect was an ideal partner for this unconventional application. Similarly, Schulman’s client was impressed by the resulting system performance, and the training and support provided so they could develop their in-house ability to maintain the system. Overall, the collaboration between Schulman Engineering and the entertainment company exemplifies how industrial automation can enhance interactivity, leading to a successful application that is both technically sound and creatively engaging. See the escape room video here . A version of this article was published in Automation.com . For more information: AutomationDirect Schulman Engineering 13 Hour Escape Rooms Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Gimbal suspended from crane controls the motion of Iron Man props during street fight scenes with Iron Man’s nemesis, Iron Monger Hydraulic Gimbal Aids Iron Man’s Motion Control Gimbal suspended from crane controls the motion of Iron Man props during street fight scenes with Iron Man’s nemesis, Iron Monger Parker Film and TV Jun 4, 2025 Controlling the motion of Iron Man suits and other props from the Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment movie at times appears to be done with futuristic technology. But instead, the advanced motion-control technology truly responsible for moving props in the movie is actually here today and includes a hydraulic gimbal, cylinders, valves, hose, fittings, and other hydraulic products from Parker-Hannifin (Mayfield Heights, OH). Stan Winston Studios built the large and sometime difficult-to-move Iron Man suits. “The Iron Monger suit is 10 feet tall and weighs approximately 800 pounds,” says Shane Mahan from Stan Winston Studios. “We developed and built it during the course of filming and used it to help bridge the character into the digital world of ILM and John Nelson. A gimbal was also built, which allowed us to push it and mimic the actions of the big torso walking.” Mahan continues: “It takes up to five operators to operate the Iron Monger when you’re using both arms. We have had a couple of instances where we’ve been able to put both arms on and do manual puppeteering to accomplish shots as well. The Iron Monger wasn’t built as a hydraulic character, so it’s basically human muscle, a gimbal, and our stuntmen making it work.” For the gimbal, the film’s Director Jon Favreau relied on Parker’s D81FH and BD101 valves. “The crew was trained very thoroughly on the implementation of the BD101 and D81FH, so the start up and operation of the system for Iron Man went very smoothly,” notes Steve Camp from Parker-Hannifin. “Iron Man was a gimbal application; however, this gimbal was suspended from a crane.” The four-axis floating gimbal was used largely in the street fight scene with Iron Man’s nemesis Iron Monger. The gimbal used D81FH servo proportional control valves. These Parker valves are used for tilt control. They are two-stage pilot operated solenoid valves with electronic spool-position feedback and on-board integrated control electronics. Their performance is characterized by repeatability and high dynamic performance. The gimbal also relied on BD101 servo valves and valve drivers. These valves are for applications requiring high dynamics, high flow, and a defined spool positioning in case of power supply breakdowns. The DB101 has onboard electronics and a closed-loop, position-controlled pilot valve and main stage. Parker sold valves, cylinders, hose, and fittings used in the gimbal. The company also supplied accumulators, gas bottles, and D31FH EH valves along with the connectors. For more information: Parker Home Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering 1/2 Automation Articles focusing on Controllers, Control Panels, Data Collection & Monitoring Systems, Displays & Monitors, Lighting Controls, Cranes & Hoists, Networks, Human-Machine Interfaces, PLCs, Operational Control Systems & Software, and more. The Tech That Keeps This Distillery Operating Smoothly — and Securely A bourbon producer upgraded its facility to gain greater visualization and streamline operations. The team required deep visibility across all operations, which included grain receiving, mashing, fermentation, byproducts, and finished goods. Read More The Precise Engineering Behind an Emergency Training Center for First Responders It takes technological sophistication to create controlled chaos that mirrors the unpredictability of real-world emergency response, while maintaining uncompromising safety and reliability. Read More When Challenges Lead to Innovation: How Nordson EFD Delivers Custom Flexibility While Using Off-the-Shelf Products Welcome to our series on how companies solve customer challenges through creative innovation. We spoke with Nordson EFD about how they lead a customer through the design process while meeting all of their needs, wants, and specifications. Read More Using Sound and Vibration Simulation for Vehicle Development Advanced simulator allows vehicle developers to accurately experience the noise and vibration at every driver touch point to meet brand and customer expectations before building the first prototype. Read More What It Takes to Automate a 120,000 Square Foot Water Park The Island Waterpark at Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City includes 11 winding water slides, a 500-foot lazy river, and a state-of-the-art surf simulator. Read More The Smart Systems and Advanced Aquatic Engineering Behind Surf Parks With factors such as wave quality, energy consumption, water quality, safety, and guest throughput all impacting operations, surf parks are notoriously complex. These smart systems are helping to optimize operations. Read More The Specialized Visual Technology at Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism Tour Spanning multiple continents, the tour required a production system capable of maintaining consistent, high-quality visuals wherever it traveled. Read More Demystifying the Universe with Precise Motion Control Systems Interface helps a major South Korean University explore the depths of space by designing precise motion control for a 21-meter telescope. Read More Rock Band Uses Musically-Synced Pyrotechnic "Fire Snake" on Tour The pyrotechnic effects on the Disturbed “Take Back Your Life” tour was precisely controlled for safety as well as a spectacular presentation. Read More The Technology Behind The Lion King Musical’s North American Rafiki Tour A behind-the-scenes look at the drive systems, automation, and comms that keep America’s #1 Broadway musical running smoothly. Read More Subscribe to EE Mag! Interview with Legacy New Tech for Yachts Subscribe to EE Mag! 1/3 Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering 1/2

Engineers had to overcome challenges such as durability, weatherproofing, and isolated locations when designing a scale to track hive numbers, winter honey reserves, and more. Beekeepers Are Buzzing Over a Hive Monitoring System with Hourly Reports Engineers had to overcome challenges such as durability, weatherproofing, and isolated locations when designing a scale to track hive numbers, winter honey reserves, and more. Edited by EE Staff Cool Stuff Feb 2, 2026 Hobbies Beekeepers wishing to stay focused on their bees and harvests needed a way to continually monitor their hives. One way to do this would be to create a source of information that would be easy to decipher, such as the number of bees leaving the hive or an accurate estimate of the winter honey reserve. To do this, Thierry De Vreese, director of HoneyInstruments, put the first elements of a connected hive scale on paper. Technical challenges included how to create a highly accurate energy self-sufficient and absolutely reliable scale capable of delivering data in sometimes very isolated locations. The final product had to be extremely robust, very easy to use, weatherproof, and within a reasonable budget. The connected scale is aimed at professionals who generally work with more than 150 beehives, most often in transhumance: the hives are transported to different areas depending on the flowering season and the type of flowers to produce a specific honey. Images courtesy of HBK. To evaluate the weight of the hive with precision, HoneyInstruments incorporated the PW10 load cell developed by HBK. This device can measure a weight of up to 300 kg with an accuracy of 20 grams, has minimal power consumption, and is known to be totally reliable. The load cell operates outdoors and can easily withstand the harsh winters and hot summers that hives are often subjected to. With an accuracy of 20 grams, it is possible to estimate the entry or exit of about 200 bees. A hive contains more than 50,000 bees. The sensor is fixed in the heart of a metal structure known as a double H structure, which forms two support arms. The lower part is placed on the ground and connected to one side of the sensor, the upper part supports the hive and presses on the other end of the sensor. This structure creates a deformation proportional to the weight of the hive. A temperature sensor located in the housing completes the weight information. However, this is not the temperature inside the hive but the temperature outside in the local environment. Images courtesy of HBK. The sensor is powered by an electronics box that performs several essential functions and is powered from a single 3.7-volt lithium battery. The battery is changed once a year and has been preferred to the more expensive and more fragile solar collector. Once digitized, the signals of the hive's weight variations must be transmitted to the user. Beekeepers place their hives in places chosen for the quality of their flowers but often isolated from any communication network. GSM technology has been automatically excluded because it uses far too much energy. To solve the transmission issue, HoneyInstruments chose the Sigfox network. This network uses the ISM frequency band, which is particularly well suited to long-range, low-speed exchanges in rural areas. Images courtesy of HBK. This is because the hourly weight and temperature information does not represent a large volume of data. The range is about 40 km with a simple antenna of about thirty centimeters. The network of 2000 antennas cover more than 95% of the territory and is present in 70 countries. Once transmitted, the data is transferred to the Internet network and made available to the user on the Cloud HoneyInstruments platform. Users accesses their data using the serial number of the hive. Beekeepers generally have a great deal of knowledge about what is happening in the hive at different times of the day and in different seasons. Weighing results confirm day after day the evolution of the swarm and the normal course of these events. All of this attention results in fewer hive movements and an optimal honey harvest. For more information: HBK Load Cells HoneyInstruments Sigfox Read other articles about bees >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Closed-loop feedback system allows programmers to choreograph four-axes of eagle motion in sync with a musical soundtrack. Rose Parade Float Uses High-End Animatronics Closed-loop feedback system allows programmers to choreograph four-axes of eagle motion in sync with a musical soundtrack. Terry Persun Cool Stuff Jan 19, 2026 Fiesta Productions produced America250’s “Soaring Onward Together” float for the 137 th Rose Parade hailing in the 2026 new year. The design features three larger-than-life majestic eagles soaring above breathtaking landscapes, symbolizing the enduring strength, beauty, and spirit of America. With cascading waterfalls, intricate natural details, and extraordinary animated artistry, the eagles take flight with a complexity and creativity that reflects the grandeur of this historic milestone. Images courtesy of Rando Productions. To complete the project Fiesta Productions required animation for the three eagles and turned to Rando Productions for their technological expertise. The float, which measures 30’x18’x55’ features a cutting-edge, sophisticated electro-servo hydraulic system to animate each of the three soaring eagles, bringing them to life in front of adoring crowds. Each eagle has an 18-foot wingspan and incorporates four distinct axes of motion: head turning, neck lifting, body rolling, and wing flapping. A custom, computer-controlled Rando system precisely adjusts the speed and position of every movement, resulting in smooth, natural movements. The eagles are powered by a 6-cylinder industrial gasoline engine driving a 32-gallon-per-minute hydraulic pump. Images courtesy of Rando Productions. All mechanisms were assembled and tested off-float before the sculpted pencil-steel rod work was split and carefully attached and integrated into the moving components. A specially designed, closed-loop feedback system allows programmers to choreograph the eagles’ motion in sync with Aaron Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man soundtrack. The control system was built around Weigl Controls’ ProCommander hardware, combining proven commercial control electronics with fully custom motion programming and tuning developed in-house at Rando Productions. This state-of-the-art animation controller uses timeline-based animation programming to precisely manage the velocity and position of each movement. Motion smoothing and synchronization was used across multiple axes. Special care went into the design and engineering of the system to achieve the most natural, realistic, and majestic motion possible. Joe Rando and David Stark rode inside the float to manage the hydraulics and show controls. Images courtesy of Rando Productions. Rando Productions was involved from the beginning of the project and helped with concept design, which included hand sketches and napkin concepts, motion intent studies, and creative collaboration with the float design teams. Using SolidWorks 3D CAD modeling software, they were able to create multiple iterations for the internal mechanisms and structural and motion feasibility analysis for the float components. Once the design was determined, the team produced pre-visualization 3D-printed models to validate motion paths and proportions prior to fabrication. Besides providing the motion systems for the animatronics, Rando Productions was on-site for the installation and mechanical integration of the system. They provided testing and final motion tuning for the float as well as provide show readiness support. Rando Productions is known for their advanced custom fabrication, mechanical effects, show action equipment, and automation solutions for themed entertainment, film, broadcast, and live event industries. The “Soaring Onward Together” float commemorates America’s 250 th birthday and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Fiesta Productions is the production company behind the float. For more information: Rando Productions Fiesta Productions Weigl Controls America 250 Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

A deep dive into the hydrophone arrays and specific equipment used by scientists at Project Blue Whale at the University of Iceland. Noise Pollution is a Big Threat to Blue Whales — Here’s How Scientists Are Listening In A deep dive into the hydrophone arrays and specific equipment used by scientists at Project Blue Whale at the University of Iceland. Edited by EE Staff Cool Stuff Jan 19, 2026 Growing up to 30 m long and 180 tons, the blue whale is the largest animal in the world. In addition to its impressive size, its calls can be heard thousands of kilometers away and far below the ocean’s surface. But there’s a growing threat to their communication: noise pollution. These highly intelligent — and endangered — animals have a similar communication frequency range as a variety of man-made sounds, such as ship engines, low-frequency active sonar, seismic air gun array explorations, other oil exploration activities, and more. With growing evidence that noise interference can disturb vital life functions of these whales — feeding, breeding, navigation, and communication — and with underwater noise pollution on the rise, it’s imperative that researchers gain a better understanding of how, why, and where blue whales communicate, as well as the level and effect of noise disturbance on their lives. Project Blue Whale The Húsavík Research Center at the University of Iceland is a leading authority in the study of marine mammals. The center is led by Dr Marianne Helene Rasmussen, who is the driving force behind Project Blue Whale, a research project dedicated to gaining knowledge about blue whales in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean to better understand the impact of increasing ship noise on their habitat. The project aimed to better understand the blue whale’s communication patterns. This required the localization of individual blue whales and the recording of what sounds they were making at what times. Scientists wanted to answer key questions such as whether it was always the same animal calling, what the difference is between animals, and whether they are able to change the frequency of their calls to account for background noise (something other species of whales are able to do). The project also aimed to find out if and how underwater ship noises affect these communications, which involved projecting noises at certain frequencies to mask the sounds created by blue whales and investigate their responses. Images courtesy of HBK. Hydrophones in Marine Research Dr. Rasmussen came to the project with broad experience in marine research using hydrophone arrays to record beam patterns and sound levels. In an earlier project in Northern Norway, her team recorded the sounds made by sperm whales using Type 8101 hydrophones from Brüel & Kjær. The project had been a great success, so it was a natural decision to use the same equipment again for Project Blue Whale. The Brüel & Kjær NOTAR recorder allows underwater sound recording for hours at a time — even without the need of a laptop. NOTAR is a small and rugged solid-state recorder that has no shock-sensitive moving parts (unlike tape recorders or PC hard drives) which means it can be used in locations where no PC-based recorder can operate. Hydrophone Type 8106 has a built-in preamplifier which gives a signal suitable for transmission over long cables. It is usable down to 1000 m ocean depth. Recording the Whales To record the whales, a digital recorder was custom made at Aarhus University and specially configured to be able to capture sound on one channel and to give an accurate GPS signal reading on the other for precise localization data. Images courtesy of HBK. To get accurate recordings, the team also needed calm seas and no wind; otherwise, the subsequent waves and ‘cable strumming’ noise from the hydrophone cables would cause additional noise interference that would render the results useless. The frequencies of interest were as low as 10 – 20 Hz. In order to achieve any bearing (directivity), the distance between the hydrophones had to be far enough apart to secure a certain minimum angle. The team utilized four boats and four hydrophones in a large hydrophone array; the distance between the hydrophones was either 1 km or 500 m and they were at a depth of 30 m. Once a whale was sighted, all that was needed was for the boats to stay in place and record the whale sounds and locations for approximately one hour at a time. Images courtesy of HBK. Analyzing the Whale Recordings Aside from a few days of bad weather and some minor technical glitches, everything went as planned and the team managed to gather over 100 whale calls, along with a wealth of good positional data. The recordings were then analyzed onshore. Of course, the study didn’t end there. The second part — examining how ship noises mask and affect the whales’ communication — is an ongoing project. Nevertheless, the data so far has already revealed some interesting results about the nature of these fascinating sea mammals, how they communicate, what frequencies they use, why, and when. These findings are, in turn, giving rise to a host of new questions, such as whether or not blue whales can change frequencies when calling, if there is any interspecies communication, and if this methodology can be used to study other types of whales.Never one to sit still, Dr Rasmussen is already planning to apply for financial backing for a range of other projects to look more closely into these and other areas. For a project like this to have gone so smoothly so far, with so many extraneous variables to manage and overcome, is a huge achievement.Project Blue Whale has not only helped to form a far deeper understanding of blue whales — Dr. Rasmussen and her team also hope that their results will be a catalyst for a new dialogue with authorities about shipping lane regulations and other safeguards to the whales’ natural habitat. And if all this leads to more and better ways of protecting this enormous, endangered, and enigmatic sea creature, then this is the best possible result. For more information: HBK NOTAR recorder Hyrophone Type 8106 Read more deep sea articles >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Using Kodak film and Panavision lenses, director Gareth Edwards sought to capture the magic of Spielberg's original vision. Here's How Jurassic World Rebirth Captured the Nostalgia of Film Using Kodak film and Panavision lenses, director Gareth Edwards sought to capture the magic of Spielberg's original vision. Joe Gillard Film and TV Jul 8, 2025 Can you believe there are now seven Jurassic films? I still remember seeing the first two in theaters, and they were big moments in my childhood. They were all I could think about. And I’m far from the only one who experienced that joy in theaters. The films are some of the most influential ever made. “All those films you love, that you grew up with, that have that certain look that really hard to describe? It’s because it was shot on Kodak.” – Gareth Edwards, director, Jurassic World Rebirth. Jurassic World Rebirth premiered on June 17th and stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali. Capturing the Spielberg look with Kodak and Panavision technology The Jurassic films are known for pioneering visual effects , but all but one of the films was shot on traditional 35mm film. Jurassic World Rebirth continues the tradition. The past few decades saw a transition into digital to film movies, but there has been a nostalgic resurgence of interest in using traditional methods. Also from EE: The Technology Behind the Rotating Chairs on The Voice You can thank director Gareth Edwards for the decision to use Koday 35mm film and Panavision lenses. “All the films I grew up loving were ... shot on Kodak,” says Edwards in a video uploaded to YouTube. He says he “fought really hard” to shoot Jurassic World Rebirth on Kodak film a Panavision lenses. “All those films you love, that you grew up with, that have that certain look that really hard to describe? It’s because it was shot on Kodak,” said the nostalgic Edwards. But it goes beyond nostalgia. For Edwards, a film can look “better” than reality, even with the right camera technology, because of how colors can appear. “Having the film stock and the film veneer and grain and these really beautiful wide, animorphic, distorted lenses to work with has been really beautiful,” says David Vickery, Visual Effects Supervisor, in the video. “It’s something to help us bed the visual effects and creatures into, how much bowing and distortion and stretching of the image happens towards the edge, all sorts of chromatic aberration that happens to the highlights and make sure that when we add digital elements into the frame that we can sample that and put it all back on.” Panavision lenses preserve the magic In addition to Kodak film, the team also tried to recreate the magic behind Spielberg’s first film by using the iconic Panavision anamorphic lenses to shoot the film. Animorphic lenses work by using cylindrical lenses to compress the image during recording, rather than cropping or matting. Then, an additional lens expands the image back to widescreen proportions. This way, more image resolution is preserved. It's interesting to see film studios lean into the public demand for experiences that feel familiar, even if the technology is older. I suspect we'll see even more of this attitude towards film and TV as too much AI has the potential to overwhelm and exhaust audiences, particularly Millennials and Gen Xers who will likely pine for a simpler time. For more information: Jurassic World Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Using the latest in 3D printing along with creative license, this custom car builder is breaking the mold. Restoring Vintage Porsches with 3D Tools and 3D Printing Using the latest in 3D printing along with creative license, this custom car builder is breaking the mold. Edited by EE Staff Sports Mar 9, 2026 It all started with Rod Emory’s grandfather, Neil Emory who was a well-known custom car builder in Burbank, CA. Rod’s father, Gary Emory, was a countercultural influence whose restyling designs ranged from the original “Baja Bug” to race-inspired street variations of the Porsche 911. The unique Porsche 356 street and competition cars restyled and raced by Rod and Gary, whose aesthetics frequently offended brand “purists,” came to be known, fittingly, as 356 Outlaws. Emory Motorsports restores historically significant Porsche race cars and builds 356 Outlaws in their Oregon and California facilities. The spirit of the Emory bloodline remains true today: to make old Porsches far better than they ever were—mechanically and aesthetically. Yet for the ultimate brand enthusiast, the Emory Special , of which only a precious few have been made, is the benchmark for judging others in the genre. Specials are one-off cars whose combination of design and mechanical components will not be duplicated. Images courtesy of Quickparts and Emory Motorsports. With the technical precision required for today’s manufacturing processes, Rod Emory’s creative team needed to marry old-world fabrication techniques with the latest 3D tools and 3D printing from Quickparts. This combination of scan/design technology and rapid prototyping came in handy when a customer asked Emory to help restyle the windshield frame for an early Porsche Roadster. “Our customer wanted to update the windshield design with a lower and leaner profile than the original, while still paying tribute to the car’s design aesthetics,” said Rod Emory. Using data points acquired by scanning, we were able to restyle the “A-pillars” (the parts of the windshield frame that bookend the glass) within the existing parts’ footprint.” Images courtesy of Quickparts and Emory Motorsports. Since computer simulations can only communicate so much, the Emory team wanted to check the new part’s size and fit on the real-life car before committing to full production. So, they decided to 3D print a prototype with help from Quickparts, an on-demand 3D parts printing service whose customers quickly receive no-obligation quotes for their parts while offering fast online workflows and expert advice. Rod explained that, “Quickparts understands the challenges customers face while sourcing this type of service and the need for comprehensive information and material choice. Their website was easy to navigate. We uploaded our model, talked to customer support about the best printing processes for our part and their respective prices, then plotted a path forward.” Images courtesy of Quickparts and Emory Motorsports. Emory settled on SLA output, using an ABS-like grey material. The part arrived quickly within a five-day turnaround in total. Once the part came in it was test-fit into the vehicle while the customer watched, and who then immediately provided feedback about the design. According to Rod, “The 3D printed part itself had very high fidelity and a perfect finish. This kind of “closed-circuit” validation is critical to successful design processes and wouldn’t have been possible without 3D printing,” Rod said. “On a different kind of project, that print could even have been used as a finished part.” For information: Quickparts Emory Motorsports Read more about automotive technology >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering 1/2 Software Articles focusing on Application-Specific, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Engineering, Computer Aided Manufacturing, Computer Graphics Imaging, Controllers, Data Centers, Development Software, Games & Gaming, Manufacturing Execution Systems, Motion Control, Online Development, Operational, Organizational, Production, Productivity Tools, Project Management, Software as a Service, and more. Animating Realistic Piano Performances is Tricky. This Motion Capture Tech Provides a Solution The ultimate test for animation on-screen might be piano playing, where every key must be hit in its exact place, and the fingers’ motion has to match perfectly. Read More Digitizing Large Industrial Equipment to Streamline Custom Modifications To customize large, complex industrial equipment for specific project needs, you need to capture a 3D model with sufficient accuracy to perform reverse engineering before designing the modification. Read More Reimagining Online Music Lessons to Change Lives Musora’s Director of Production Josh Holliday uses Blackmagic Design’s products to better provide content to 10 million subscribers from over 100 global musicians. Read More In the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, You Need Incredibly Sensitive Equipment When designing and building satellites that will scan over a million stars in search of Earth-like planets and the potential for life, precision is key. Read More Mandalorian and Grogu Featured in New Update to Ride at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge An original storyline featuring Mandalorian and Grogu on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge gives guests greater control over new destinations. Read More How Licensed Toys Are Made, From Artistic Freedom to Engineering Control Not only do the toys require a close likeness to the licensed character, they need to be interactive. Here's how one renowned US manufacturer pushed toy design to an all-new level. Read More How a Global Design Team Achieved Continuous Collaboration for Quick Problem Solving When an urgent sub-assembly issue surfaced with a contract manufacturer overseas, the usual workflow could not keep pace. Thanks to this tech, what would have taken days was resolved overnight. Read More What Goes into Sculpting a Digital Character? Eye-catching digital artwork from Ayrton Diaz encompasses the unlimited creative possibilities in the world of digital sculpting. Read More How Industrial CT Scanning Allows Engineers to Examine Parts Non-Destructively Along with comparative analysis tools, Trek Bicycle was able to fine-tune prototypes, investigate potential issues, and adjust their manufacturing process. Read More 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. Read More Interview with Legacy Subscribe to EE Mag! New Tech for Yachts Interview with Legacy 1/3 Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering Subscribe to Entertainment Engineering 1/2

Advanced simulator allows vehicle developers to accurately experience the noise and vibration at every driver touch point to meet brand and customer expectations before building the first prototype. Using Sound and Vibration Simulation for Vehicle Development Advanced simulator allows vehicle developers to accurately experience the noise and vibration at every driver touch point to meet brand and customer expectations before building the first prototype. Edited by EE Staff Cool Stuff Apr 10, 2026 Vehicle comfort, quality, character, refinement, and brand DNA are all communicated and perceived through sound and vibration. When it comes to purchasing a vehicle, consciously or not, people form opinions and make decisions based on sound and vibration while test driving. This is why it is critical to get these vehicle characteristics right the first time—or risk poor perception with customers and poor performance in the marketplace. Like any other aspect of vehicle development, there are many ways to measure, analyze, and predict noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance. However, unlike many attributes, NVH is not easily explained, understood or communicated simply through plots, graphs, numbers, and data. Images courtesy of VI-grade. For many NVH phenomena, vibration is a key element, and both sound and vibration need to be assessed at the same time—and at accurate levels—to make a correct evaluation and decision about the acoustic and tactile character of a vehicle. The VI-grade COMPACT NVH Simulator helps to make this happen before prototyping even starts. Images courtesy of VI-grade. The Simulator To achieve an exceptionally stiff structure that is capable of delivering controlled and accurate vibration to the evaluator, the NVH Simulator incorporates carbon fiber materials extensively, including in the steering wheel. This provides extremely low mass and high stiffness. It has no rim modes below 200 Hz. Images courtesy of VI-grade. Seven independent inputs deliver vibration to the driver through the seat, steering wheel, and floor pan. This design maximizes the isolation of the seven distinct axes of vibration from one another, allowing for high accuracy and real-time driver-in-the-loop simulation. Embedded accelerometers are used for each axis of vibration to enable easy calibration and real-time feedback and monitoring capabilities of vibration levels. Using the simulator, customers can get vibration and sound results of CAE models and hybrid CAE/Test-based models. Real-time experiences include powertrain vibration and sound for such operations as idle, wide-open throttle, cylinder deactivation, start/stop, and more. Road interactions include smooth road, rough road, and impact events providing both vibration and sound. Users can even complete A/B comparisons between vehicles or designs with instant switching. When the COMPACT NVH Simulator is coupled with VI-NVHSim Software it brings NVH virtual prototypes to life. The software is designed to make it easy to understand and evaluate NVH data and to make decisions on NVH design iterations. Images courtesy of VI-grade. The simulator is available with either an immersive visual system, which includes a projector and large curved screen, or a space-saving ultra-wide curved display mounted on top of the simulator nose. A steering wheel with paddle shifters, pedals, a console-mounted shifter, dash screen, and console-mounted touchscreen enable driver input, interaction, and feedback. For more information: VI-grade VI-NVHSim HBK Read more about cars >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

To customize large, complex industrial equipment for specific project needs, you need to capture a 3D model with sufficient accuracy to perform reverse engineering before designing the modification. Digitizing Large Industrial Equipment to Streamline Custom Modifications To customize large, complex industrial equipment for specific project needs, you need to capture a 3D model with sufficient accuracy to perform reverse engineering before designing the modification. Paul Hanaphy Cool Stuff Jul 20, 2026 At the heart of every construction project around the world, there’s a handful of vehicles doing all the heavy lifting. Whether it be a trencher, bulldozer, backhoe, or crane, such machinery needs to be safe, efficient, and designed for a specific purpose—which can depend heavily on the project at hand. Often a standard tool change can make industrial equipment adaptable, but in certain cases, where necessitated by obstacles, ground clearance, or environmental hazards, more extensive modifications are required. That’s where 4C Creative CAD CAM comes in. For the last seven years, the Artec Ambassador, 4C Creative, has provided services to an excavation firm in the Netherlands. 4C’s latest modification project was to digitize a 10-meter vehicle featuring a cabin with complex internals, an air filtration system, and a boom mounted to a rotating platform with Caterpillar tracks. Traditionally, getting hold of CAD data for such a large, complex structure would require slow, methodical manual modeling. Introducing 3D scanning into the equation allowed 4C to capture the equipment in its current state for measurement later on. Better yet, pairing Artec Leo and Artec Ray II meant not having to compromise scale or accuracy, allowing for the best of both worlds. Artec Leo (left) and Ray II (right). With a built-in display, battery, and processor, Leo is usually more than capable of capturing large objects by itself. In this case, Ray II was brought in to supplement the device’s versatile scanning capabilities with long-range data capture. Mounted high above the rest of the vehicle, its robotic arm was especially difficult to reach with Leo—but was no problem for Ray II. Another challenge was capturing the underside of the vehicle. Weighing several tons, the equipment sat just 80 cm above ground level, making it unsafe to scan from below. Removing Ray II’s tripod and positioning it on the floor proved the perfect solution. This allowed the vehicle’s underbelly to be quickly and easily captured from all angles without any unnecessary risks. Artec Ray II alongside the customer’s hydraulic arm. To meet customer requirements, 4C was also asked to capture the machine’s staircase. This is where Leo and Ray II really shined. The challenge was to capture the geometry of the stairs and the handrails where it would be easy to lose tracking. Using Leo, the company would’ve had to align a lot of separate scans together. Instead, the data was captured from the side using the Ray II. After that, they used Leo to focus on scanning the most important parts with higher resolutions and accuracy. Merging Different Datasets In 3D scanning, the power is often in the software. This is especially true of Artec Studio, which boasts a completely unique feature: Smart Fusion. Not only does Smart Fusion combine point clouds from long- and short-range 3D scans, it uses the highest resolution data available for peak results. Those wanting to take full control over data processing can also align scans themselves. 4C aligned its scans based on geometric features and merged them using Artec Studio’s Sharp Fusion algorithm, which was more efficient than many other target-based workflows. Scan decimation came in very handy with this project. Capturing the entire vehicle with structured-light 3D scanning would’ve resulted in a huge file with around 50 GB of information. Decimating the final model to remove unneeded polygons reduced this figure to just 300 MB, making it much easier to send to third-party software for modification. Artec Studio’s ability to share fully formed meshes also lends itself to intuitive filesharing. Zooming in on point clouds can cause distortion, making them tricky to measure. But Ray II data can be sent directly as OBJs and STLs that are textured, polished, and ready to go—and with these meshes, it’s easy to use CAD primitives for perpendicular measurements. Artec Studio’s built-in tools unlock a range of other applications as well, including feature extraction for design referencing. In this particular project, collected data turned out to be critical to strength analysis, carried out via simulations designed to ensure modification durability. From forensics to the defense industry, 4C continues to find new applications for Leo and Ray II, a unique proposition in 3D scanning. No other solution merges LiDAR and handheld structured-light 3D scans so seamlessly—and new adopters are often left stunned by the results. Having the versatility to digitize large items in any environment also has real-world benefits. In another project, 4C was charged with capturing factory machinery. Without 3D scanning, it would’ve had to cease production for 2-3 days, so surfaces could be measured. Leo reduced overall downtime to just two hours, and adding Ray II makes this approach easy to scale. Although Leo and Ray II can be deployed on their own, together they make it possible to generate a lightweight 3D model with accuracy where it matters. * Images courtesy of 4C Creative CAD CAM Consultants. For information: Artec 3D 4C Creative CAD CAM Consultants Artec Leo Artec Ray II Artec Studio Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next