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An insightful dialogue about what goes into designing something new and how it relates to other projects. WATCH: One-on-One with Chris Porter of igus An insightful dialogue about what goes into designing something new and how it relates to other projects. Videos Aug 11, 2025 Theme Parks In a casual conversation with the Industry Manager for Stage & Amusement in Central Florida for igus, Inc., Entertainment Engineering explores how closely designers get to their projects, how they start the process of designing something new, and how they are always working on several projects in several different industries at the same time. In this video, we show how creativity and inspiration can come from anywhere and how easily it can reshape a solution to fit a specific application. Whether working with off-the-shelf components or thinking up a completely off-the-charts custom approach, it’s all about brining your experience as well as an open mind to the table. Note to our audience: Technology Transfer DIY Stories Entertainment Engineering Magazine is looking for stories about your home projects where you take the technological experience you have at work and apply it to your home projects. I know engineers in aerospace who have rebuilt their lawn mowers, engineers in medical devices who built their own toy rocket. The spark of inspiration can come from anywhere. And once that spark is enflamed the design can morph and adapt along the way. We’re interested in your non-work-related projects. What are you designing at home, for yourself or a neighbor or relative? Is it a Halloween project? A Christmas project? Or just a backyard thing you’re working on? Here’s what we’d like to see: 1) What got you thinking about the project in the first place? 2) What is your background and why you thought you could tackle the project? 3) What technologies did you use (electrical, electronics, mechanical, fluid power, materials, etc.)? 4) How does the end product work and how did it do what you needed it to? 5) Answer those four questions in less than 800 words (and focus on the tech), then send us your story, some photos, and even a video if you have one. We can’t publish every story, but we can choose a few a month to publish. If you want to read an example, check this out: You can reach us at: Contact@EntertainmentEngineeringMagazine.com Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

To place the viewer at the center of the action, the French media company CANAL+ deployed multiple cameras to catch the raw speed of the French Grand Prix. High-Tech Camera and Software Capture the Speed of the French Grand Prix To place the viewer at the center of the action, the French media company CANAL+ deployed multiple cameras to catch the raw speed of the French Grand Prix. Blackmagic Sports Jul 22, 2025 MotoGP™, the motorcycle road racing world championship, has always tested the limits of what audiences can see and hear on screen. For its latest project, CANAL+ set out to capture not just the speed but also the quieter moments that define a race weekend. The documentary was filmed entirely with the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera and finished in DaVinci Resolve Studio. The sports documentary is part of a new generation of immersive workflows for capture, postproduction, and viewing on Apple Vision Pro. Produced in collaboration with MotoGP and Apple, the documentary follows world champion Johann Zarco and his team during their dramatic home victory at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans. The event was captured using the URSA Cine Immersive camera with dual 8160 x 7200 (58.7 Megapixel) sensors at 90fps, delivering 3D immersive cinema content to a single file mixed with Apple Spatial Audio. The MotoGP sports experience places viewers in the heart of the action, from the pit lane and paddock to the podium. All photos courtesy of Blackmagic Design “MotoGP is made for this format,” said journalist Etienne Pidoux at CANAL+. “You feel the raw speed, and you see details you’d otherwise miss on a flat screen. It puts you closer to the machines and the team than ever before.” To place the viewer at the center of the action, CANAL+ deployed multiple URSA Cine Immersive cameras. “Two cameras were on pedestals and one on a Steadicam,” explained Pierre Maillat of CANAL+. “We needed to swap quickly between Steadicam and fixed setups depending on what was occurring at the moment. The Steadicam setup was extremely valuable,” noted Pidoux. “It made us more reactive in a fast-changing environment, giving us more agility while filming.” All photos courtesy of Blackmagic Design “Immersive video changes how you shoot,” added Pidoux. “You plan more, shoot less, and you rethink composition because of the 180 degree view, especially in tight or crowded spaces like the pit lane.” Lighting was also a consideration inside the team garages. “We added some extra light to compensate for the 90 frames per second stereoscopic capture.” Each camera was paired with an ambisonic microphone to capture first order spatial audio. The mics were then supplemented by discrete microphones for interviews and other critical sound sources. The documentary was recorded in ambisonics Format A for the immersive mix and channel based for other sources. Everything was timecoded wirelessly and synced on both the cameras and the external recorders. Post Production A portable production cart with Mac Studio running DaVinci Resolve Studio, alongside an Apple Vision Pro, was set up trackside to monitor and test shots in context. “This approach allowed us to check the content right after shooting and helped us verify framing while still on location,” said Maillat. Canal+ had a second Mac Studio running DaVinci Resolve Studio and an Apple Vision Pro set up at the hotel in Le Mans to handle media offload and backups. With 8TB of internal storage, recording directly to the Media Module, the crew could film more than two hours of 8K stereoscopic 3D immersive footage on the track without needing to change cards. Postproduction took place in Paris, where Canal+ used a Mac Studio running DaVinci Resolve Studio for editing, color grading, and audio mixing. They were even able to preview the stereoscopic timeline directly in Apple Vision Pro, which was crucial for immersive grading. Spatial Audio was mixed using DaVinci Resolve Studio’s Fairlight. “Initially, we planned to use a different digital audio workstation (DAW), but DaVinci Resolve Studio and Fairlight was the platform that gave us both creative flexibility and the high-quality deliverables for Apple Vision Pro,” explained Maillat. “Filming with the URSA Cine Immersive camera and viewing it in Apple Vision Pro, we found incredible moments we’d normally treat as background,” Pidoux concluded. “Cleaning the track, helmet close ups, the crowd, they all become part of the experience.” NOTE: The MotoGP™ Apple Immersive sports experience will be available exclusively on the CANAL+ app on Apple Vision Pro starting September 2025. For more information: Blackmagic Design MotoGP CANAL+ Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Before a full-scale model could be manufactured, prototyping focused on smaller, more manageable designs allowing for greater creativity while keeping costs down. Prototypes Played a Crucial Role in Development of Tabletop Cricket Game Before a full-scale model could be manufactured, prototyping focused on smaller, more manageable designs allowing for greater creativity while keeping costs down. Edited by EE Staff Games Oct 30, 2025 TG&A (Tom Grimm & Associates, Inc.) is an international product development company that performs everything from concept exploration and creation to engineering development and manufacturing. The company’s projects are always managed collaboratively and with budgets and time-to-market in mind. Before producing a 56-inch x 40-inch office version of CricketLive, the game was first developed in a reduced size. TG&A worked closely with ThrowMotion in the early design, providing the Batsman mechanism and one of several bowler mechanisms as well as the basic configuration of the field and its ball-return geometry. Once design features were determined, the final construction was scaled for use in arcades. Cricket is a bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each alternate between batting and fielding, similar to baseball. There are a number of differences such as the shape of bat, the bowling action, and the shape of the playing field, but ball dynamics (speeds) are similar. The batting team scores runs by hitting the ball and running between three-stump wickets or hitting boundaries. The team in the field tries to either bowl out the batsmen, catch their hits, or run them out. In the tabletop cricket game, a real ball is bowled by one player, the bowler, and a batsman, controlled by his opponent, tries to hit the ball. The player is able to swing the bat and swivel the player in multiple directions to try to hit the ball. Sensors and a mounted tablet app display, tracks and shows the scores in real time. The CAD images below illustrate the development of the first prototype of the movement mechanisms for the batsman. The basic mechanisms have changed only slightly since the prototype was built. Images courtesy of TG&A. Alternative mechanisms for the bowler included a user-guided mechanical version and a fully electronically controlled mechanical bowler. Both were developed through the prototype phase. Ultimately though, the cost of manufacturing won out and drove the design toward the simpler user-guided, spring-loaded mechanism. Images courtesy of TG&A. Multiple iterations of the table design were also created and modeled from the original arcade-driven, larger size which enabled multiple players to participate, to the final smaller home/office appropriate size. Images courtesy of TG&A. Although TG&A was not involved with the final product shown at the top of this article, many of the prototyped mechanisms remained. Watch out for a home version of the cricket game coming to market in 2026. For more information: TG&A ThrowMotion, Inc. Read more about games >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Multiple Acorn-Style Post-Top LED lamps are used to illuminate the Los Angeles City Hall building and surrounding public park. LA Historic City Hall Park Turns Greener Multiple Acorn-Style Post-Top LED lamps are used to illuminate the Los Angeles City Hall building and surrounding public park. Cool Stuff Aug 13, 2025 For over 80 years, the park surrounding the main Los Angeles City Hall building had served as a gathering place for the community and elected officials in the urban center of the city. Eventually, the park was cordoned off by a chain-link fence, after police cleared hundreds of Occupy L.A. demonstrators who had camped on the lawn for nearly two months. When City Hall Park reopened after eight months of repair work, sustainability and energy conservation were among a variety of articulated criteria for its restoration. At the time, the mayor felt as though they city was presented with a chance to reinvest in a park that was greener, smarter, and more sustainable. The nearly $1 million in renovations included a smart irrigation installation, water retention schemes, turf reduction, replanting with water-stingy native vegetation, and investing in “energy-efficient LED lighting. All photos courtesy of LEDtronics. Located around the tree-lined pathways and stairs of the 1.7-acre park, 13 lampposts – previously fitted with ballasted 130-watt high-pressure-sodium post-top bulbs – were replaced with 27-watt LED lamps from LEDtronics. With its latest rehabilitation with environment-friendly landscaping, water conservation and energy-efficient lighting from LEDtronics, the park has also become, a symbol of sustainability for the city. Apart from the energy savings of 103 watts per unit, the LED lamps offer much longer product lifespans than HPS or Metal Halide, resulting in reduced replacement and maintenance costs; improved visibility and enhanced night vision (as compared with the high glare emitted from HID lamps), and reduction of hot-spots, all helping with crime prevention; reduced light pollution, because light can be directed where it is needed and not into surrounding office buildings; and instant illumination with no delay in re-strike, and no ultraviolet emissions that attract insects. All photos courtesy of LEDtronics. The installed warm-white LEDtronics Acorn-Style Post-Top Lamps operate on a 100-277VAC wide voltage range and provide a uniform pattern of light. The ETL-listed units feature a ventilated assembly that maintains a cool-running lamp, and an optimized circuitry that corrects the power factor for maximum efficiency. They are made in the USA from imported parts and meet Buy American requirements within the ARRA program. The lamps come with a 5-year factory warranty. Similar LEDtronics post-top LED lamps have been installed in neighborhoods all around Southern California, including the Pasadena Civic Center and its residential streets; Mountain Gate Park in Corona; all along Linden Avenue and the Metro station in Carpinteria; Library Park in Monrovia, and streets in Santa Ana. For more information: LEDtronics LA Parks Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Introducing X1: The World's First Multirobot System EE Staff Mini Story Oct 27, 2025 Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates joined forces to design and build a multimodal system. The aim was to create a robot that could fly, drive, and walk so that you don’t have to focus on one area of operation—and purchase three devices. This demo shows how three distinct robot types come together to form a multimodal system that will offer a single solution to multiple challenges. We still think it operates similar to a Transformer, which is pretty cool. Read the whole article from CalTech here . *Photo courtesy of Academic Media Technologies/Caltech. Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas uses SKF giant main bearings and related technologies. World’s Tallest Observation Wheel Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas uses SKF giant main bearings and related technologies. SKF Home Cool Stuff Jun 4, 2025 Theme Parks The High Roller observation wheel expected to soar at the heart of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip in late 2013. The 550-foot-tall wheel, eclipsing the famed 443-foot-tall London Eye, will be equipped with two SKF spherical roller bearings, the largest ever produced at the SKF manufacturing facility. The two custom-designed spherical roller bearings (one within each side) will be virtually unprecedented in weight and size. Each bearing will weigh approximately 8,800 kg and be designed with 2,300mm outer diameter, 1,600mm inner diameter, and width of 630mm. Specially engineered features will include W26 lubrication holes in the inner ring, SKF NoWear®-coated rollers, and PTFE coating in the bore. The company will additionally incorporate advanced lubrication, sealing, and online condition-monitoring systems and take the lead in monitoring the bearings once the wheel is up and running. SKF was awarded the contract by American Bridge Company (Coraopolis, PA, USA), which is responsible for constructing the 143m-diameter tension wheel. In addition to the two SKF bearing assemblies, the structure will consist of four steel support legs, a single braced leg, fixed spindle, rotating hub, 2m-diameter tubular rim, and 112 locked coil cable assemblies as spokes. The High Roller wheel is the centerpiece of The LINQ, a planned $550 million, open-air retail, dining, and entertainment district situated between Imperial Palace and Flamingo Las Vegas. Each of the wheel’s 28 supersize cabins (which themselves will revolve) will accommodate up to 40 people during a 30-minute ride. The wheel turns out to be the latest SKF big-wheel project in a growing portfolio of expertise. The Navy Pier® Ferris wheel in Chicago similarly operates with two SKF spherical roller bearings and SKF Reliability Systems retains responsibility for ongoing proactive maintenance programs. For more information: SKF Home Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

The sport utility yacht industry is using Large Format Added Manufacturing technology to produce aerodynamic grille vents and elegant structures. Robotic Additive Manufacturing Technology The sport utility yacht industry is using Large Format Added Manufacturing technology to produce aerodynamic grille vents and elegant structures. Terry Persun Sports Jun 4, 2025 Produced by Pershing, one of the seven brands of Ferretti Group (Milano, Italy), the GTX116 sport utility yacht leverages LFAM technology for some of its main superstructures. The air grilles and visor above the windshield of the yacht are produced using the Heron AM additive manufacturing system to achieve aesthetically interesting geometries with reduced weight. In the luxury yachting industry, innovation in materials and manufacturing processes are critical to ensure an exclusive design along with high performance and reliability. Ferretti Group, involved in the design, construction, and sale of luxury motor yachts and leisure boats, chose to commission Caracol for the printing of the Pershing GTX116 as part of its new range of sports yachts combining elegance and comfort space for what they consider the Pershing thrill. Pershing GTX116 is a 35-meter (115-foot) sports yacht that focuses on an elegant style for extreme livability to elevate the seagoing experience to a new dimension. The yacht optimizes all onboard weights to achieve high performance. Photo: CARACOL printing the Pershing GTX116 The application of Caracol’s Heron AM platform demonstrates how large-format additive manufacturing can effectively be used to revolutionize yachting and luxury boat production, enabling the fabrication of complex superstructural parts with intricate geometries. In this project, Heron AM manufactured key elements, including side air intake grilles and visors, demonstrating its capability to deliver high-performance, customized solutions for the luxury yachting industry. From traditional to additive manufacturing Yacht air grilles and other superstructures are traditionally produced through manual lamination of fiberglass on molds. This process requires multiple molds depending on the complexity of the geometry and involves intensive manual work by highly skilled labor, impacting both production time and costs. Photo: Caracol Heron AM printing the Pershing GTX116 (left) and the Yacht's gills (right) In contrast, large-format 3D printing eliminates the need for master molds and tools entirely, streamlining the production process. With Heron AM, composite components featuring intricate geometries and highly customized designs can be produced directly from the digital model, bypassing the manual lamination phase. This significantly reduces prototyping and production times, enabling rapid iterations and design optimizations. Moreover, the process only requires finishing operations such as gel coat application, further cutting down on labor-intensive steps. Heron AM also allows for the use of lightweight yet strong materials, improving component performance while reducing material waste, making the process more sustainable than traditional methods. Its flexibility allows for small-batch or fully customized production, catering to the specific needs of each project. Additive manufacturing benefits The adoption of Large-Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) for the production of air grilles on the Pershing GTX116 yacht has led to remarkable improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and overall product quality. By leveraging Caracol’s Heron 300 system, equipped with a high accuracy extruder and a 3-mm nozzle, the grilles were printed using ASA reinforced with 20% glass fiber—a material chosen for its durability and resistance to harsh marine environments. The entire 3D printing process took only 72 hours to complete, producing an air grille measuring 4200 x 400 x 400 mm and weighing 40 kg. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, this approach has resulted in substantial reductions in lead time (50%), material waste (60%), and overall weight (15%), making it a more sustainable and cost-effective solution. To ensure both weather resistance and a flawless aesthetic, the grille was finished with a gel coat, enhancing its durability against environmental exposure. The implementation of additive manufacturing for such large-scale yacht components showcases the potential of this technology to revolutionize production, offering greater flexibility and performance while significantly cutting down on inefficiencies. The adoption of LFAM has proven to be a key strategy for the marine industry, enabling the production of highly complex and tailored components, optimizing manufacturing processes, and reducing time-to-market. In this context, Caracol’s Heron AM technology emerges as a cutting-edge solution, capable of delivering excellent performance and greater versatility than traditional methods. For more information: Video of the Robotic LFAM Pershing Yachts Heron AM Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

The U.S. debut at RPM Raceway brings an immersive, game-like experience. Kart Klash Merges Go-Karts and Video Games for a Unique Experience The U.S. debut at RPM Raceway brings an immersive, game-like experience. EE Staff Theme Parks Oct 7, 2025 Sports RPM Raceway, an immersive go-kart and entertainment destination with U.S. locations on the east coast, is merging go-kart racing with the familiar party video game experience of popular games such as Mario Kart. Kart Klash, which launched in September, is the first of its kind to do this type of interactive go-kart experience, according to RPM, which they call and “arcade-style battle where speed meets strategy.” Driving go-karts equipped with F1-inspired steering wheels and LED displays, racers collect and activate power-ups, including missiles, MPs, TNTs, boosts, and shields while navigating the track. Similar to the Mario Kart format, “mystery boxes” and “boost zones” add a layer of tactical gameplay, where each decision can make or break the race and give the edge needed to pass competitors on the track. “Kart Klash isn’t just about recording your fastest lap, it’s about outsmarting your opponents and crossing the finish line first,” said Andrew Farage, CEO and Co-Founder of RPM. “We’re rolling out a social reinvention of go-karting that blends the thrill of racing with the interactivity of gaming, appealing to a demographic that may prefer strategy over raw adrenaline.” In April, RPM was awarded the Guinness World Records for Longest Indoor Multi-Level Go-Kart Track in the World. The convergence of software and karting Built on RPM’s R-TECH platform and developed in partnership with SODIKART, each kart is equipped with an LED heads-up display that delivers real-time stats, sector data, and performance insights, streamed directly to each racer during the race. The technology includes projection mapping and elements such as power-ups and missiles which are displayed on the screen of the go-kart. For viewers, TV screens show what’s happening in real time. Kart Klash is $30 for members and $40 for non-members with designated race sessions where juniors, teens and adults can compete together. Live leaderboards and detailed performance tracking are available for participants and spectators. Kart Klash is launching at RPM Raceway’s Stamford, CT and Long Island, NY locations, with other locations to follow. Source: RPM Raceway Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

The Gröna Lund Amusement Park recently inaugurated some new rides, including a refurbished “Blå Tåget” ride. Stockholm, Sweden Amusement Park Features Synchronized AV System The Gröna Lund Amusement Park recently inaugurated some new rides, including a refurbished “Blå Tåget” ride. Kreativ Teknik Theme Parks Jun 4, 2025 The “Blå Tåget” ride went through a total makeover. This ride is a ghost train loaded with new chills, thrills, and effects especially designed for visitors’ enjoyment. The train passes through several chambers, each filled with skeletons, scarecrows, rats, wolves, fire, lightning, ghosts, and more. The setting inside the ride was designed by artist Magnus Sörman and the entrance to the ride was designed by artist Joakim Hansén. For the technical portions of the adventure-ride, Kreativ Teknik was contacted by Gröna Lund. Kreativ Teknik, a Swedish-based company that mainly works with lighting, control systems, and effects, selected Medialon to be part of the project. Kreativ Teknik delivered a total solution including lighting, smoke, video projectors, control system, as well as the programming of the entire ride’s special effects. One Medialon Showmaster Pro embedded show controller controls and synchronizes the entire AV system. Medialon controls everything from light and sound to lightning, smoke-effects, movements of the animatronics, and video, which are continuously timed and trigged by the exact positions of the train’s chariots. “It was surprisingly quick and easy to set the timings of the animatronics together with the effects. I really liked the system and I want to continue to work with it in my future projects” says Marcus Persson, Project Manager and CEO at Kreativ Teknik. “We think that the project has been carried out really well and it’s been done with great interest and commitment,” Peter Osbeck, Ride Manager at Gröna Lund said. For more information: Gröna Lund Amusement Park Home Kreativ Teknik Home Medialon Home Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

Truss systems used for public events require the right fastener and interface components to withstand shock, vibration, and the high shear values needed for public safety. Coiled Pins Prove More Reliable for Stage Event Truss Systems Truss systems used for public events require the right fastener and interface components to withstand shock, vibration, and the high shear values needed for public safety. Stage Events Aug 13, 2025 Frames for truss systems designed to support stadium lighting, sound equipment, and even bleacher seating systems are often composed of extruded aluminum tubing and solid or tubular couplers. Considerable liability surrounds the use of these systems for public events, and the interface between these components becomes crucial to the integrity of the system. The fastener and its interface with the truss system becomes extremely critical as they are often subjected to shock, vibration, and high shear values when equipment is mounted to the trusses, or while audience members are seated during an event. A top manufacturer of truss systems consulted SPIROL about their needs for an existing design that was comprised of one tubular structural member and one solid male member that slid inside the tubular extrusion and was cross-pinned with two high carbon steel Slotted Pins to hold the coupler to the frame. During installation, the Slotted Pin was difficult to install and would often damage the expensive, yet relatively soft, aluminum frame. Once the hole was deformed, the manufacturer noted instances where the pin would begin to walk out of the hole over time, particularly in permanent installations. This was also noted in mobile systems if subjected to extreme loading. In some instances, the company noticed that the Slotted Pin had stress cracks located 180 degrees from the slot. In extreme weather conditions, the high carbon steel pin was also prone to corrosion. With a lack of options, the manufacturer had investigated implementation of an expensive machined Solid Pin with a secondary retention feature of a Cotter Pin. SPIROL was asked to evaluate the application and ultimately recommend the most robust and cost-effective solution for this incredibly demanding application. SPIROL’s Coiled Spring Pin; photo courtesy of SPIROL. SPIROL’s engineering team determined that 420 stainless steel coiled pins could act as a high-performance alternative to the Slotted Pins being used. Since the Coiled Pin does not need to be aligned in the shear plane like a Slotted Pin, this eliminates the potential of failure due to pin orientation in the hole. Since Coiled Pins remain flexible in the application after installation, they are able to absorb dynamic loading rather than transferring it into the host—which can cause deformation. This reduction in deformation increased the life of the structure, and reduced the potential of the holes opening up to the extent that the pin would eventually fall out. Since a 420 stainless steel Coiled Pin is heat treated, its shear value exceeds that of a machined low carbon steel Solid Pin. Complexity of the assembly was kept to one component rather than two, as proposed with the Solid Pin and Cotter Pin solution; thus saving time during set-up and tear down as well as the task of managing multiple components. By using 420 series stainless steel, the manufacturer would also achieve the necessary corrosion resistance, which would ultimately yield more reliable performance over the life of the structure. An added bonus to the Coiled Pin solution was that no adjustment to the hole size would be required to transition from the Slotted Pin to the Coiled Pin. This benefit extended beyond the manufacturer to their customers that already had truss systems in service throughout the country. Implementation of the Coiled Pin ultimately met all of the manufacturer’s performance and commercial requirements and significantly increased the integrity of the assembly. For more information: SPIROL SPIROL Coiled Spring Pins Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

The increase in the number of EVs on the road has also increased the demand for more charging stations, which require high-end components to keep them running cool. Pump Technology Keeps EV Charging Stations Cool The increase in the number of EVs on the road has also increased the demand for more charging stations, which require high-end components to keep them running cool. KNF Cool Stuff Jul 9, 2025 Sports The world has become more environmentally conscious, and emissions regulations are becoming stricter, making electric vehicles (EVs) increasingly popular. As the demand for newer, better EVs increases, so too does the demand for the charging stations that are necessary for keeping EVs powered and operational. These stations will need to be installed both commercially and residentially as more drivers move to EVs. Also from EE: Hydraulic Gimbal Aids Iron Man’s Motion Control Because charging stations output so much electricity, they also generate substantial amounts of heat. There are three different levels of chargers, with levels one and two available for both public and private use and level three available for public use only. The level three DC Fast Chargers (DCFCs) can output up to 500 A and 350 kW. Even more powerful chargers are on the horizon, which could be capable of outputting more than 400 kW and charging a vehicle to 200-mile range in less than eight minutes. How Cooling Systems Work Liquid cooling works by pumping a fluid, called coolant, through pipes or tubes, absorbing heat and dissipating it away from critical components. This reduces the temperature of those critical components, including capacitors, inductors, and control circuits, leading to more efficient charging and longer product life. The coolant is typically water mixed with glycol to prevent freezing or boiling. High quality liquid pumps are essential for effective liquid cooling operations. Constant and consistent flow is required for these systems to function properly. This ensures heat is being adequately transferred away from the element while also keeping the coolant at an appropriate temperature. Reliability is also key, as leaked coolant could result in catastrophic equipment damage. Photo from Depositphotos.com Liquid Pump Experts KNF has extensive experience creating state-of-the-art diaphragm liquid pumps for a variety of OEM and process industry applications. These pumps are self-priming and dry run safe, with flow rates ranging from 0.018 to 12.4 l/min and pressures up to 16 bar (rel.). KNF pumps are suitable for use with a variety of liquids, including abrasive and corrosive media and offer clean and reliable operation. Because of this, KNF pumps are trusted in some of the most demanding applications. In addition to offering a wide range of liquid pump series, KNF also provides custom options for all liquid diaphragm pumps. Pump heads, valves, and diaphragms are all available in various materials, while hydraulic and electrical connections can also be customized. Several motor options are available. KNF’s modular design approach allows pumps to be tailored to specific applications and ensures customer needs will be met. Cooling is Critical More power is required for EV chargers to provide faster charging. However, more power also leads to more heat generated. This makes cooling, specifically liquid cooling, an essential part of their operations. This is especially true in the larger, publicly available fast chargers, which need to output huge amounts of power to charge vehicles quickly and effectively. Faster charging is important for increased adoption of EVs, but it is also directly correlated to excess heat generation. Many readily available cooling systems are unable to adequately cool EV chargers quickly or efficiently enough, leading to slower charging speeds, performance issues, and increased maintenance costs. Cooling is also important in EV charging station cables, which are required to transport large amounts of energy very quickly. Reaching adequate charging speeds requires cables that are capable of doing so, often resulting in large, bulky cables that can be difficult to maintain. Liquid cooled cables allow for faster charging and better performance while also being easier to handle. A New Era for EVs The latest data from the International Energy Agency estimates there are more than 40 million EVs on the road worldwide, an increase from about 26 million in 2022. Sales of electric vehicles are climbing worldwide, increasing substantially in North America, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. Estimates vary, but predictions for percentage of global vehicle sales for EVs by 2030 are as high 86 percent. With this relatively new technology rapidly gaining in popularity, efficient and safe charging stations will be a necessity. For more information: KNF's Website Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

A rehabilitation of Atlanta’s historic Fountain of Rings earlier this year included the installation of a new, transformative technology that’s dramatically improved the water feature’s programming capabilities. Fountain Technology Transforms Iconic Water Feature A rehabilitation of Atlanta’s historic Fountain of Rings earlier this year included the installation of a new, transformative technology that’s dramatically improved the water feature’s programming capabilities. Theme Parks Sep 4, 2025 Cool Stuff Built nearly 30 years ago, the enormously popular LED-lighted show-style water feature comprises more than 250 manifold-mounted precision jet nozzles supplied by several large dry pumps. Designed to reflect the iconic interlocking Olympic rings, this choreographed display has become one of Georgia’s most photographed attractions, delighting guests with daily performances of synchronized water, lights, and music. Led by Texas-based fountain design firm The Fountain People, the comprehensive restoration effort included the installation of 256 new display nozzles and an integrated LED ring light fixture for dramatic color-changing effects. The project also added plug-and-play connections and a new water feature show panel with a touchscreen interface that allows operators to select among up to ten choreographed musical fountain shows. Video courtesy of The Fountain People. Further improvements included modernized pump and filtration systems, fog system repairs, and remote access capabilities that give staff greater control over the fountain’s operation. Perhaps the most exciting addition brought by the renovation, however, was the installation of a new fountain valve technology that’s enabled vastly richer nozzle effects and choreographies, thrusting the historic attraction into a new, growing class of elite manifold-based fountains and water features. Until recently, manifold-based water features such as the Fountain of Rings used a water switch, a three-way valve installed at each nozzle that allows on/off nozzle sequencing. The ability to independently control spray height for each nozzle, however, has always required a distributed pump architecture where each nozzle is controlled by its own VFD-driven effect pump. This approach required extensive submerged electrical infrastructure but allowed for show flexibility where programmers could provide complex effects such as waves, variable height chase scenes, and more. Now, this same level of control is available among manifold-based water features. The Robotic Water Switch Developed by Texas-based aquatic robotics company SplashBotix, the SplashValve is a single-axis, fast-acting robotic valve that uses a specially shaped diverter to bring proportional nozzle height control to manifold-based water features for the first time. The Fountain People’s restoration effort marks one of the first and largest uses of the new technology, representing a new standard in manifold-based water feature design and programming. SplashValves are three-way valves installed at the nozzle, designed to divert incoming water to effect or bypass. Unlike water switches, however, SplashValves can also divert water to varying proportions of effect and bypass, enabling both on/off and spray height control. Capable of cycling up to four times per second, SplashValves marry the speed and on/off action of a conventional water switch with the height control flexibility of a VFD-driven effect pump. Image courtesy of The Fountain People. SplashBotix is a division of ARM Automation, an industrial robotics and automation firm with more than 30 years of experience developing high-performance motion systems for semiconductor, aerospace, and factory automation. Unlike other technical suppliers in its industry, SplashBotix takes much of its design and engineering inspiration from the world of industrial automation. For this reason, the story of SplashBotix and the SplashValve challenges assumptions about where advanced robotics and automation principles can provide value—not just on factory floors, but in public and municipal spaces as well. Design Features The secret behind the SplashValve’s advanced flow control capabilities lies in its clever electro-mechanical design. Rather than using a pilot switch to control the flow of water, the SplashValve uses a specially designed, servo-actuated diverter. Set inside the SplashValve’s bore, the diverter rotates 90-degrees between effect and bypass, incrementally changing the nozzle spray height as it shifts its position. Fully enclosed, the SplashValve’s servo motor transmits motion to the diverter through magnetic actuation, a clever static-seal design that makes the SplashValve virtually leak-proof. Image courtesy of SplashBotix. Composed mainly of 316 stainless steel and a proprietary blend of wear- and chemical-resistant plastics, the SplashValve also offers advantages over competing solutions when it comes to maintenance and durability. Effectively a one-inch diameter pipe when the diverter position is at full effect, the SplashValve allows most fountain debris to pass right through to the nozzle, making screen filters largely unnecessary. When clogs do occur, SplashBotix has made the diverter easily accessible for maintenance personnel, who can remove the diverter from the magnetic coupling, clean the valve and return the diverter back to the SplashValve all in less than a minute. From a fountain engineering and design perspective, the SplashValve represents a major paradigm shift. By bringing proportional control to manifold-based systems, the SplashValve is enabling designers to deliver world-class shows without the cost, complexity and power requirements of installing hundreds of VFD pumps. For municipalities like Atlanta and other stakeholders, this means richer experiences for guests, safer public amenities, and less frequent, less costly maintenance. For more information: SplashBotix ARM Automation The Fountain People Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next