Animatronics

CGI (computer-generated imagery) is the technology of choice for special effects but this doesn't mean animatronics have been relegated to obscurity!

Star Wars and Aliens relied heavily on animatronics but even recent films such as Jurassic Park and Harry Potter made use of this technology for some effects.

Beyond the silver screen, animatronics can also be found in theme parks and museums. Animated characters have a range of complexity from simple on/off motion to sophisticated multi-axis coordination and kinematics. Many of these characters can be seen on theme park rides and shows. Museums use animatronics in dinosaur exhibits where they move and roar at passers-by.

• 12A8
• 25A8
• B25A20

• Arms, Legs, Tail, Hands & Feet
• Body
• Facial Features such as Eyes, Jaw and Expression
• Prop motion

• Z-Drives
• BX25A20AC
• BX30A8
• 30A20AC

Camera Control (Movies and Television)

Certain camera effects require that the camera is accurately tracked and the motion is exactly repeatable. This is especially important when combining live action with CGI effects. It's already difficult to realistically mix CGI with live actors, but when the camera moves the difficulty increases dramatically. The reason: when the camera moves, the perspective, location, lighting and relative size of the CGI character must change to match the relative movement of the live actors. A servo controlled camera makes it possible to film the scene with or without actors repeatedly and then port the motion into the CGI process to verify that the point of view is correct.

Important requirements in this application are repeatability and acoustic silence. Movie directors are very demanding and if unwanted noise gets picked up on the audio track, the offending piece of equipment may be kicked off the set.

• 12A8
• 25A8
• BE15A8

• Pan / Tilt
• Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist

• Z-Drives

Water Features

Anyone who has been to Las Vegas has probably seen the Fountains of Bellagio. The dancing water, light, and sound effects show in the lake in front of Bellagio has become an iconic Sin City visual. It takes a team of 36 engineers to run the show, controlling more than 1,200 water-shooting devices, 5,000 lights, and a sound system cranking out more than 56,000 watts of eardrum pounding music. The computerized system pumps water from the 22 million gallon lake into pressurized tubes that shoot the water in whatever direction they happen to be pointing based upon the intricate choreography.

208 water guns controlled by ADVANCED Motion Controls servo drives make the water appear to dance in time to the music. They pivot and swivel, allowing the comparatively thin streams of water they emit to go up, right and left, and forward toward the street or backward toward the hotel.

Water features powered by ADVANCED Motion Controls can also be found in many plazas and other public places.

• 120A10
• 50A8
• BE25A20AC
• 25A8
• DPRANIE-030A400 - Modified

• Nozzle Pan / Tilt

• 30A20AC
• B60A40AC
• B100A8
• 100A25

Theatre Elements

The theatre uses motion control to make rotating stages and to make props come to life. Servo controlled lighting systems automatically track performers on the stage.

• 12A8
• B15A8
• 50A8
• 120A10
• 100A25

• Stage Rotation
• Stage Slide
• Light Motion System
• Prop Motion

• Z-Drives
• B30A40
• B60A40
• DPRALTE-025B200

Battlebots

ADVANCED Motion Controls servo drives were in several of the battlebots seen on TV including Mechadon, Ronin and Overkill. AMC is up to the challenge of a fight to the death and win-at-all-cost battle!

High power to weight ratio, robustness and reliability are all qualities needed to win.

• 12A8
• 25A8
• 50A8

• Traction

• B40A8
• 100A25
• 120A10