Stage Autostop System for Hazardous Movement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stage show productions face challenges in ensuring the safety of participants and equipment due to complex and potentially hazardous movements of scenery and lighting systems, with existing technologies lacking effective mechanisms to automatically stop these systems when unsafe conditions arise.

Innovation Solution

An autostop system integrated into a stage control system that uses a networked architecture to receive emergency stop signals and control power to devices via relays, allowing for automatic shutdown of effects when configurable conditions are met, thereby preventing injuries and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complex stage movements and effects are implemented to enhance show production, then the entertainment value and complexity of the performance is improved, but the safety risk and potential for injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshow complexityVSAvoidsafety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures interlock conditions and safety parameters before the show begins. Unsafe conditions are defined in advance, and the system is prepared to automatically detect and respond to these conditions during operation, preventing injuries before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The autostop system continuously monitors stage conditions and provides real-time feedback by comparing actual conditions against pre-configured safety parameters. When unsafe conditions are detected, the system automatically stops effects, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that responds dynamically to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual monitoring of stage conditions is used to ensure safety, then the system complexity is kept low, but the reliability of safety monitoring decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring by automatically detecting unsafe conditions and triggering autostop without requiring human intervention. The control system serves its own safety monitoring function, eliminating the need for separate manual monitoring while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical monitoring is replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and communication networks to monitor and respond to unsafe conditions, significantly improving reliability while accepting increased system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple safety monitoring mechanisms are implemented to improve safety, then the reliability of safety protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidmonitoring mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs multiple functions including show control, safety monitoring, condition detection, and automatic stopping within a single integrated platform. This multi-functionality improves safety reliability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same hardware and software resources serve multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple safety monitoring functions are merged into a unified autostop system that shares common sensors, processors, and communication infrastructure. By combining redundant safety mechanisms into a single integrated system, the patent achieves high reliability while minimizing the complexity that would result from separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The autostop system effectively prevents injuries and damage by automatically stopping device operations when unsafe conditions are detected, ensuring safer execution of complex stage movements and lighting schemes.

Implementation Method 1

control power to devices via relays

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRelay: Relay

Data Source

PatentUS8170693B2Stage command autostop

Publication Date: 2012.05.01 PRODN RESOURCE GROUP L L C

AI summary

The present system teaches an autostop system for a stage control system in which some of all of the device implemented effects associated with a production may be automatically stopped when certain conditions exist. The conditions causing the effects to stop may be configurable by the show creator to prevent injury to the persons involved with the production and damage to the scenery and equipment.