Entertainment: Dynamic cinema seats

New armchair adventures made possible by dynamic seat modules

Who

Simworx, a supplier of 4D effects theatres and simulation attractions, has based the dynamic seat modules for its Dimensions range of effects theatres on Festo fluidic muscles. The seats bring experiential realism to 3D movies by subjecting occupants to a wide variety of movements synchronised to the film being shown. 

Technology

The seats are based on a modular design, incorporating motion control actuators in a shallow, floor-standing plinth that supports four seats. The Dimensions 4D seats feature backwards drop and vibration functions, while the Dimensions 5D models add forwards/backwards tilt, left/right tilt and vertical drop functions. The headrest can be equipped with air-blast and water spray capabilities and the pedestal of each seat fitted with a pneumatic leg tickler.

Simworx has employed a variety of actuators for its dynamic effects seats. Most have been pneumatic since this type of technology is cost-effective and offers a much higher power density than electric actuators, making it easier to integrate into the body of the seat. Simworx became aware of Festo’s fluidic muscles; these are a form of pneumatic actuator resulting from Festo’s bionic concepts research programme. Fluidic muscles are tensile actuators which mimic their biological counterparts by contracting when fed with compressed air. They are capable of fast and smooth operation, as well as slow, jolt-free movement, and can generate an initial force 10 times higher than a conventional pneumatic actuator of the same diameter.

Simworx chose to use the 40mm-diameter versions of Festo’s DMSP series fluidic muscles for the Dimensions seats. These muscles employ press-fitted connections to minimise size and weight. Each four-seat plinth module contains four DMSP fluidic muscles – one in each corner – together with four manifold-mounted Festo VPPM proportional pressure regulators, and a control unit. The VPPMs use a cascaded dual-stage regulator, designed specifically to provide an easy and precise means of varying the flow rate to pneumatic actuators. 

Application

Simworx director Andy Roberts said: “The muscles are considerably better than conventional pneumatic actuators for simulator-type applications like ours. They provide excellent dynamic performance, and have a much higher power density. We have just installed our new Dimensions seats in Manchester Science Museum and are putting the finishing touches to a system for an indoor theme park on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier.”