A spectacular show requires both the perfect harmonization of visual, audio, and physical elements, and the seamless synchronization of lighting, sound, and machine automation.
Control Many Types of Technology in a Wide Range of Applications
| Technology | Application | ||
| Hydraulic | Overhead lifting | ||
| Electrical | Understage | ||
| Pneumatic | Other machines | ||
Navigator also communicates with other devices and entertainment systems using many digital protocols.
What is Navigator?
No matter the scale of your vision, the TAIT Navigator Automation Platform™ enables you to focus on creativity by removing the technical barriers to realizing that vision.
Navigator is TAIT’s proprietary system of scalable software, hardware, and infrastructure that supports show control and machinery automation. Specifically designed for live entertainment applications and using industrial robotics and networking technologies, Navigator software is embedded within machines, consoles, safety systems, and networked devices.
Navigator enables show designers to focus their efforts on creativity because it takes care of the complex aspects of show control and machinery automation
- Navigator provides a comprehensive suite of motion control tools to maximize creative freedom.
- Navigator allows changes to a cue or a whole show to be made quickly, within safety bounds, enabling the creative process to flow efficiently.
- Navigator takes care of cues by providing the power of rules-based conditional control.
- Navigator communicates with a wide range of other devices that form inputs and outputs for the
- system. It supports a large number of industry-standard and vendor-specific protocols.
- Navigator provides a safety supervisory system, built on robust industry-standard PLC systems.
- Navigator allows data logging, including the recording of real-time drive and other I/O data.
Navigator systems can have many user interfaces, from simple button controls to the epiQ console or browser-panel controls
How iQ Relates to Navigator
iQ is the intuitive user interface for the Navigator platform that runs on the ergonomic epiQ console. iQ provides operators and show programmers with user-friendly access to the cues and axis data required for each show. It takes care of complex details, such as the physics needed to create safe, precise, and repeatable motion, and the underlying configuration of I/O.
iQ provides a clear graphical user experience that’s easy to learn. It creates optimized workflows, while enhancing the deeper functionality to maximize its creative potential for live events. iQ’s intuitive interface includes real-time 2D, 3D, and tabular views that can be used with multiple consoles and displays.
Deeper dive: Navigator’s unique system architecture--what is distributed processing?
Benefits of Navigator's Unique Multi-Operator Capability
Some shows require multiple operators for safety. Navigator enables independent control of portions of the system from the most appropriate location while providing a single overarching safety system. During the show, control of cues can pass from operator to operator, ensuring that each has the desired line-of-sight to the machines being controlled.
The TAIT Navigator Automation Platform has been developed especially for entertainment. Navigator frees designers and producers working in a range of entertainment venues (including theaters, cruise ships, theme parks, film SFX, and interactive spaces) from the math and physics required for all types of motion. It also delivers the PLC interfacing necessary for the safe control of every kind of machine, from a simple linear axis to the performance of 3D flying with Navigator’s built-in anti sway algorithms.
The TAIT Navigator platform not only handles these aspects but it also offers operators useful user interfaces including input from many protocols or import from industry-standard 3D-design tools. In addition, Navigator’s powerful real-time protocol conversion capabilities help designers use their favorite show-programming tools (e.g., lighting consoles or video editors) while simultaneously offering the safety-bounds and E-stop systems that machine control requires.
Collaborative Multi-User Workflow
As shows become more complex, is an increasing need for multiple operators to work together or to transfer control to one another during a show. Navigator’s unique distributed architecture means each show can be divided up as required for programming and operation.
Navigator unites all elements of a live entertainment experience to deliver your creative vision, take care of safety, and automatically handle dynamic changes to the show or themed parade.
Easy Scaling of Shows and Addition of Machinery
If a show expands and requires additional machines, Navigator’s dynamically scalable distributed architecture enables easy plug-and-play of new equipment, with all devices controllable from any point. There’s no need to segregate over- and under-stage systems; Navigator unites them all.
Centralized Safety Supervision Across All Machines
Navigator provides one central system to take care of multi-machine safety, with rule-based interlocks between axes, collision avoidance algorithms for complex 3D motion, and automatic handling of dynamic changes to the show (or themed parade) based on real-time inputs. Navigator unifies all of your machinery automation within one safety system.
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