DUBAI – Using d3 Technologies’ 4x4pro media servers and a BlackTrax real-time motion tracking system, Protec provided dynamic projection on a moving sphere for the opening ceremony for the World Air Games 2015 held at Sky Dive Dubai.
More details from Protec (www.productiontec.com):
Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) ushered in the 4th FAI World Air Games (WAG) at an impressive and colorful opening ceremony on December 3, 2015 in front of an appreciative audience of nearly 5,000 spectators, which included officials and contestants from over 50 countries.
“It was great,” said Polish microlight team member Kajetan Ruks. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. And now, I want to see it again.” Joao Francisco, who came from Portugal to compete in the air navigation race said, “On a scale of one to 10, I give it 20!”
Protec was appointed by Dynamic Motion to provide the projection for the WAG 2015 opening ceremony. Projection was required on the 54m x 21m backdrop screen as well as the central 20m x 20m stage area and a 6m diameter inflatable sphere that would be revealed and raised during the show as part of the spectacle while being projected on. Being an outdoor event and along the beachfront, wind was always going to be Protec’s biggest challenge. An earlier decision to build a hard set backdrop to overcome the wind factor was upended and a fabric screen was to be used instead as the backdrop projection surface. While the projection on the main backdrop screen and the stage floor seemed straightforward, the big challenge to projection map the moving sphere continuously would be a first.
To us, it meant the use of BlackTrax, a real-time motion tracking system integrated with a d3 media server, both of which would help track the moving video surface (sphere) while projecting onto it, with the 3D mapping visualized and handled in real-time. This would be the first time this 6D tracking system would be used to motion track a moving sphere. With the BlackTrax technology, 3D moving objects, in this case – the sphere, could move, spin, rotate in dDoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) and still be tracked. The reason this system made this different from any regular encoder based tracking system was its ability to adjust content due to adverse weather moving the sphere. Traditional encoders would not correct this issue. True to form, the wind did play its part in blowing the screen, but Protec, with some accurate planning, delivered some impressive projection mapping.
The opening ceremony started off with a fusion dance act that sought to embrace the heritage of the UAE with the ultra-modern focus on development. Next were a series of zip-line performances that included a narration of the history of the nation coupled with the vision set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Dropping in on the stage, aerial performers dressed as skydivers and paramotor pilots flew over the audience suspended on cable lines taking the astounded audience on a theatrical flight over Dubai. The sphere was raised dramatically at this point with moving earth content, showcasing historical elements of the games along with key statistics ending with the flags of the participating nations. The show ended with the lighting of the Games torch with a crescendo of fireworks.
10 Christie Roadster 20k projectors where used for the main screen blend, 8 Barco 30k projectors for the central stage area all of which were controlled from the FOH with all signals run over fiber and a further 6 Barco 30k projectors used for the 6m diameter inflatable moving sphere. With d3 4×4 pro media servers, we were able to render and map seamless edge-blended images onto the unique circular surface area.
With the challenges met head on by the production team, the show was seen as a resounding success with great reactions from the audience.
Terming the opening ceremony as truly unforgettable, Dr Grubbstrom, FAI President said, “Dubai has shown that we are together capable of staging such a wide variety of sport on one platform. I am convinced that this common goal will bring us closer to the Olympic dream.”
In terms of significance, projection mapping on a moving sphere on this scale would be a first. In the words of Gilray Densham, President & CEO CAST Group of Companies Inc, the developer of the software, “No one has ever (that I know of), delivered dynamic content onto a moving sphere of this size in a real show environment. You guys did the pioneering to make it all happen.” Its significance therefore, wouldn’t just be to the audience viewing the show or to the client who wanted this theatrical effect, but to the industry as a whole.
