Illuminarium Experiences, a global experiential entertainment company that develops and presents immersive experiences, recently opened its first spectacle in Atlanta entitled WILD: A Safari Experience, with Powersoft Mover linear transducers playing a key role in a haptic Infrasound floor that provides realistic sensations such as the ground-shaking feel of an elephant‘s stomp or the low-end rumble of a lion’s roar.
The immersive 8,000 square-foot entertainment complex on the Atlanta BeltLine showcases the beauty and splendor of Africa’s exotic animals in their natural habitats. Illuminarium places guests “inside” the narrative using techniques from traditional motion picture production and virtual reality, combined with interactive features that facilitate the experience of the real world.
WILD transports visitors to Africa through cinematic content shot by RadicalMedia on location across South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania, showcasing the animals in their native habitats. Complementing the sights of a safari, visitors will also be immersed in its authentic sounds and scents, all without leaving the venue. WILD will be followed by SPACEWALK, a journey through our solar system designed for audiences to experience what it’s like to walk on the surface of the Moon and Mars.
At Illuminarium, 162 Movers are deployed throughout the 8,000-square-ft room, making it the largest installation of the linear transducers to date, and they’re driven by 12 Ottocanali 4804D amplifiers to optimize low-frequency reproduction. In this application, the linear motors/shakers have been used in their Inertial Drive version, which can be mounted directly on surfaces, including underneath floors.
With space at a premium, one of the requirements at Illuminarium was to use compact technology capable of reproducing credible movement. Mover is based on Powersoft’s patented moving magnet linear motor technology introduced in 2013, stated to have extended power handling, electromagnetic conversion, reliability, and maximum SPL in comparison to conventional moving coil arrangements.
“Illuminariums are places that can take you any place, in a manner never before experienced, through state-of-the-art technology that literally allows the audience to feel an elephant walking in front of them, or leave footprints on the simulated dirt floor beneath them,” says Alan Greenberg, CEO of Illuminarium Experiences. “Through this collective team of best-in-class partners, we are ultimately building a new media model to support Illuminarium’s completely unprecedented experiences and spectacles. And, this format is so exciting because it creates endless opportunity for content creators and makers who want to push the boundaries of tech and media experiences.”
Powersoft U.S. general manager Tom Knesel adds, “Mover was engineered to provide the best and most realistic immersive experience to users. We are incredibly proud to be providing our patented haptic infrasound technology to help reproduce realistic sensations for visitors in what is set to be the next generation of entertainment venues.”
Following Atlanta, Illuminarium will open in Las Vegas at AREA 15 in January 2022 and in Miami at Mana in the Wynwood Arts District in the autumn. Other North American locations under consideration are New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Austin.
