At the 2003 Paris air show Smiths Aerospace stunned visitors and exhibitors alike by replacing the traditional display of engineering hardware with a multimedia presentation showing the company's full capabilities. Based on a ground-breaking concept by Rapier Design and JABOD, Smiths' bold corporate presence was the talk of the show.
Flying Pixels work was an integral part of the multimedia content and the animation of engine components assembling formed a striking centrepiece. "Showing all the individual components in situ gives a very powerful impression of our client's capabilities and can only be achieved with computer animation." comments Steve Hill, animation lead for the project.
Another unique aspect of the animation was showing the specialised manufacturing techniques used by Smiths to produce these components. "We liaised very closely with the client to ensure that we had an accurate understanding of how some of the complex assemblies are created. The animation had to stand up to the scrutiny of professional engineers as well as being informative to a non-technical audience." continues Hill, "That is something which can only be achieved when you've got a solid understanding of what's happening."
One of the biggest challenges facing the animation team was the lack of 3D reference material. "There were no CAD models available at the time so we had to make do with low resolution photographs and isometric views. Only by working closely with the client could we ensure that the finished models were the correct size and in the right positions." Hill reflects, "My life-long interest in aerospace and my engineering background were vital when it came to communicating with experienced engineers – if I hadn’t known the fundamentals of how jet engines work then the project would never have run as smoothly as it did."
The final animation was so successful in demonstrating Smiths engine components capabilities that it has been used, without need for modification, for the past four years.
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