AV instruments play an important role in Thea’s acclaimed Shanghai Astronomy Museum.
by James Careless
In November 2022 Shanghai Astronomical Museum (SAM) Received the TEA Thea Award for outstanding work in the science center category. (The award will be formally presented at the TEA Thea Awards Gala in April 2023.) It is a prestigious accolade for the expansive 420,000 square foot (38,000 square meter) facility open since July 2021 and is the set of the largest buildings in the world Planetarium and various exhibitions It showcases the scale and grandeur of the cosmos in a way designed to be as awe-inspiring as it is educational, making the most of enhanced audio-visual enhancements.
From the official statement of Thea’s Jury: “The Shanghai Astronomical Museum utilizes an incredible space and an imaginative experience. Visitors should forget for a moment the limitations of space and time in the museum. Leaving reality and the world behind as the view of ‘seeing the world’ enlarges.”
With the help of Wincomn Technology, Marvel Vision and Zhongqing Yingye Group Projectors, media playback and performance control systems made by Christie. are helping present content to impress and educate visitors. SAM is featured in several of the museum’s featured exhibits. Wincomn Technology is the distributor of Christie projectors in China, while Marvel Vision is the distributor of Christie media. Pandoras Box and the show control system there. These companies provide technical advice. program design product delivery and system integration services to museums during the SAM project.
The “Evolution of Earth” exhibit uses animated video projected onto a 66-foot (20-meter) diameter globe to show how the Earth has changed over its lifetime. Content displayed by seven Christie D20WU-HS 20,600 lumen projectors.
The “Interstellar” exhibit features interactive projections along a covered bridge. Views of onlookers are displayed in real time as galactic stardust on a wall 196 feet (60 meters) long and 13 feet (four meters) high. The “Interstellar” images are from GS Series projectors. 10,875 lumens, 10 units
In the “Odyssey” exhibit, the content will be projected on A ribbon-like 50-meter “cosmic yarn” was created using 10 DWU630-GS projectors with Pandoras Box software. Interact with the display by touching the wall. Create a great experience of being in space. full of fun and novelty.”
Challenges and Solutions
Throughout SAM, AV technology is in full force – all kinds of display challenges are encountered when projecting images impress visitors.
Suhan Bijai, deputy product manager at Christie, said, “Our HS Series and GS Series projectors are ideal for challenging installations such as the Shanghai Astronomical Museum. due to high light output ultra short throw lens and small form factor” Christie’s BoldColor technology delivers vivid images. It uses red and blue laser diodes. video processing and special software to create the color balance necessary for vivid, realistic color representation and a better visual experience.
“This is one of the most unique projects we have embarked on in China. Not just in terms of actual size. “Not only in terms of technology, but also in the types of advanced AV technologies being used in the whole factory,” said Christie’s senior sales director, April Qin, for Greater China.
There are significant challenges involved in translating the concepts of Evolution of Earth, Interstellar, and Odyssey into reality.
Key point: to make the projection The “evolution of the world” on the sphere was realistic and believable. Wincomn had to deal with three major technical challenges.
“First of all, the Astronomy Museum is a place for popular science. Therefore, projection is necessary to reproduce the image with maximum accuracy,” said Chen. “Secondly, due to space limitation It is necessary to ensure that the projection completely covers the entire sphere. and place the projection in such a way that the content will not be obscured by other building structures. It was difficult to calibrate the displayed image to cover the entire area perfectly.”
with a combination of hard work The projector’s built-in distortion and blending capabilities. and meticulously calibrated, Wincomn can present a seamless image on the sphere and complete the guest’s visual experience. making it look like the world really exists 4.6 billion years of history is unfolding before their very eyes.
Wincomn also tackled the challenge of projecting onto covered bridges. “Interstellar” This was not meant to be done: the width of this gallery was quite narrow and space was extremely limited to mount the projector. In response, Wincomn opted for a projector. with ultra-short-throw lenses, Chen explains, that these are placed in custom-designed mechanical structures. for precise mounting on the ceiling
Thea’s judging panel noted that “Each area Be it long corridors, narrow spaces, bridges or domes, they were meticulously and intentionally created for the exhibition” and “each exhibition’s design takes full advantage of the opportunities provided by the museum’s architecture. Features.”
Marvel Vision, meanwhile, plays “Odyssey.” ‘The cosmic spiral’ is 50 meters long,” said Marvel Vision owner Dacheng Xu. Using the powerful features of the Christie Pandoras Box, coupled with our many years of experience and knowledge in operating these systems. We have been able to overcome these challenges and deliver a highly satisfactory AV installation that we are all proud of.”
As he describes the intricacies of Marvel Vision on their “Odyssey,” Xu credits Christie’s technology a lot. visit compact Advanced electronics and connectivity and a durable, dustproof design. This makes it an ideal choice for installations such as theme parks, museums, exhibition halls and theaters,” he said. “At the same time, Pandoras Box offers advanced system architecture design and unparalleled system configuration flexibility. Real-time video playback and processing capabilities and other advanced technologies.”
AV’s next step
in the world of museums Science centers are always at the forefront when it comes to bringing AV innovations to tell their stories. The Shanghai Astronomical Museum continues to lead this trend, placing AV at the heart of its activities. A feature-packed versatile projector and powerful media playback controls and displays are the fundamental link between SAM’s mind-expanding content and thrilling visitors as they learn and explore.
“AV technologies help museums engage visitors in a deep and compelling way,” Qin said. And as these technologies become more sophisticated, they are giving media producers and designers new immersive storytelling tools to enhance the visual experience of museums. Taking the show to the next level “Now we can leverage technology to transform the display. which can interest and educate visitors in new and exciting ways,” said Qin.
The Shanghai Astronomical Museum keeps the public engaged by introducing technologies such as motion detection. visualization Augmented reality virtual reality and biometrics to create a multi-sensory experience of sight, sound and touch, Chen said. “This allows the museum to create a realistic cosmic space environment. With interactive exhibits accounting for more than 50% of the total area. which combines education and recreation.”
stellar place
“The new Shanghai Astronomy Museum just opened in China. Probably the greatest museum in the world dedicated to the skies.” ArchitecturalDigest.com
Designed by a US company Ennead ArchitectsSAM’s futuristic curved architecture and massive size astound visitors. multi-layered round shape There are no right angles or straight lines. comparable to a disassembled spaceship
As Thea’s panel of judges described it, “From a distance, its structure appears celestial and extraterrestrial. and no one can stand in its weirdness,” and “the design of each exhibition takes full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the architectural character of the museum.”
Innovative AV plays well in this futuristic scene. “SAM’s architectural space structure and display structure design express imagination and creativity,” Xu said. Christie’s projection system and tools (particularly the Pandoras Box) helped the design team. content creation team
Visitors love what they see and experience at SAM, and they are talking about it online in forums like WeChat and Weibo. interest in science and enabling them to better understand the solar system and distant galaxies,” Xu said. “Many social media posts attest to their popularity.”
as Qin said “The Shanghai Astronomical Museum marks a new step in integrating science, nature and modern technology. to provide an ‘out of this world’ experience to astronomy enthusiasts and the general public” • • •
