Paul Milligan - September 2, 2009
Kinesys has designed and supplied the bespoke motion-control system for the big video screen on U2's 360° world tour. The system consists of 40 Kinesys Evo zero-speed chain hoists and eight custom-built winches, all controlled by the company's K2 3D software control package.
The centrepiece of the stage set contains 888 individual hexagonal panels which support 500,000 Barco LED pixels. The entire structure can 'stretch' from a compressed height of 7m to over 22m at full extension, forming a conical shape as it expands.
The screen hangs in the middle of a giant four-legged claw that sits centrally in the stadium above the stage, which is surrounded by the audience.
The 40 Kinesys Evo chain hoists (16 x 2 tonne and 24 x 1 tonne) are connected to the screen structure at equal intervals and at four different heights. Their movements follow pre-defined non-linear paths to ensure that the screen is structurally sound while meeting aesthetical requirements.
The hoists associated with the different levels of the screen move at variable speeds. The uppermost hoists can travel at less than 1mm a second, while those at the bottom move at more than 160mm a second when the screen is deployed at full speed.
The screen is moved up and down by 8 x 7.5 tonne winches running in synch. They are capable of speeds of up to half a metre a second, although some of the moves involve travelling just 2m over five minutes, resulting in a slow and smooth transition.
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