Digital Projection makes its first installation with MLS projection at HIVE

The Center for Immersive Visualization and Electronic Research (HIVE) of the Curtin University has updated its Dome and Cylinder screens with Satellite Modular Laser System projectors (MLS) of Digital Projection.

The Center for Immersive Visualization and Electronic Research (HIVE) of the Curtin University (Perth – Western Australia) Support research, being a pioneer in space exploration, Health Sciences, Education and engineering. recently, has set another milestone with the world's first installation of projectors Satellite Modular Laser System (MLS) of Digital Projection.

The HIVE is one of the most advanced display facilities of its kind and the only one to feature five different large-scale screens.. His work with technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, Data visualization and scientific, 3D photogrammetric reconstruction and volumetric images, have been used to help patients with spinal cord injuries, Research consumer behavior and create virtual shipwreck site experiences.

"First and foremost., It's a safe environment (sandbox) offering the opportunity to explore a wide range of options in display technology for research projects in all areas of expertise. The facilities were created in 2013, So it was time to upgrade their AV systems with the latest projection technology.", Explains Andrew Woods, Associate Professor and HIVE Manager, Curtin University.

HIVE's visualization facilities, located in an old exhibition space of 15×15 metre, They comprise five types of display configurations: Dome, Cylinder, Wedge, Tiled and Hologram Table.

Dome is a half-dome screen with 4 meters in diameter, that fills the user's primary and peripheral field of view. Cylinder is an immersive 3D that offers a virtual reality experience for up to 50 Users. Wedge consists of a pair of 3D screens of 3,8 diagonal meters that is mainly used for scientific visualization. Tiled features a resolution of 24 MP and is used for very high resolution images. And Hologram Table offers two users 3D images that are projected from the surface of a table. The upgrade project focused on the Dome and Cylinder screens.

"In the HIVE, Cylinder is the star system of the installation. It uses three projectors to illuminate a 180° cylindrical projection screen 3 meters high by 8 diameter. With its update what we wanted was to increase its resolution to use native 4K projectors, which would provide a quadrupling of the displayed pixels, and increase brightness. All without compromising the stereoscopic 3D capability of 120 Hz offered by the screen", clarifies Woods.

After speaking with Digital Projection, the team of InDesign Technologies, Project Consultant, understood that Digital Projection's Satellite MLS solution was the projection system that met the requirements of the HIVE (4Full K with 120 hz, and without being subject to the exclusion zones that would be necessary with a class laser product 3).

"Digital Projection's MLS was still in development as a technology when the talks began", remember Tanya Hall, Director of Business Development of Integrated Solutions of Amber Technology, Digital Projection distributor in Australia and New Zealand.

Hall collaborated with Woods, InDesign, the integrator Vizcom Technologies and Emilijo Mihatov, Regional Sales Director, Digital Projection, to discuss and outline the technological requirements of the project, and with Vioso to develop a solution that would adapt to the installation requirements of the HIVE Cylinder screen.

MLS separates the light source from the small, lightweight projector head, Offering more freedom to integrators, especially when space and access are limited, while reducing noise and heat in the audience area. This technology makes high-end RGB laser lighting accessible for any budget.

In the HIVE, three Satellite MLS systems have been installed on the Cylinder display, and another one in the Dome. Taking advantage of the modular nature of these projectors, that allow a separation of up to 100 meters between the projection head and the light source, InDesign was able to hang the heads of satellite projectors in exhibition spaces, while the light sources were placed at a 15 meters away in a server room that houses the rest of audiovisual and computer equipment.

"It was important that the projectors had as little noise impact as possible in the space", clarifies Scott Wrightson, Project Manager, Vizcom Technologies. "This made Satellite MLS systems a must-have.. By having the main laser processor housed in the central communications room, The operating noise level of the heads was very low, which was ideal for this project".

Working with such a new technology entailed certain challenges.. Projectors required special lenses that, at that time, had no local distributor, but with the help of Emilijo Mihatov of Digital Projection, Amber Technology was able to contact the lens manufacturer and establish a commercial agreement to bring them to Australia.

Similarly,, with the sophisticated mixing requirements for the cylindrical component of the project, Amber was able to contact Vioso through Digital Projection and get the mixing stations you needed.

Physical mounting positions also proved to be an issue., recalls Wrightson, as a complete structural reinforcement was necessary so that the mounting beams were in the correct positions for the Cylinder and Dome screens.

"With this mounting solution, there were also some environmental vibrations coming from the building's HVAC and ventilation systems", Wrightson continues., "which was especially noticeable when using the Jenoptik fisheye lens in the Dome screen area, So we had to design and build a custom lens neck to override them.".

For HIVE, The improvement of the audiovisual system is an important step forward for an installation whose work revolves around high-impact images.. "Ultimately,, our goal is to make HIVE screens essentially invisible to the user, and merely offer a window into a different world.", adds Woods. "Our goal is to put incredible images on the blank canvas of these screens., that support our users' applications and research projects".

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