Innovation Special Planetariums 9 - Carl Zeiss Planetariums

Improved and extended software
Ralf Hasse, Christian Schlager, R&D
Carl Zeiss, Planetarium Division
Analog and digital shows with a
personal touch
When we developed powerdome, we
consistently followed the concept of
providing users with every possibility to
create their own shows, with digital audiovisual
contents for dome projection
in perfect combination with planetarium
projectors from Carl Zeiss.
Most planetarium visitors expect shows
that address them directly, reveal a presenter's
personal concept, and refer to
things and events of local interest. With
powerdome, you can prepare fulldome
shows with no need to be skilled in
scripting, 3D modeling and rendering.
Operate the planetarium projector in the
usual way, use the same operating panel
to control digital planetarium functions,
and make use of diverse digital resources
which you have previously positioned
on the timeline and now can call up for
playback. By animating these resources,
i.e. by adaptation and variation of parameters
such as position, color, movement,
text, sound volume etc., you can
create fulldome presentations the easy
way.
10 Innovation Special Planetariums 9, 2012
Classical planetarium and fulldome
video with powerdome
With powerdome you can easily and
quickly use your digitized planetarium
contents for projection, the simplest
way being the playback of fulldome
videos. We have made a point of saving
our customers unnecessary cost. Fulldome
videos can be encoded from dome
masters with the encoder that is integral
with powerdome. In this way you create
fulldome videos from dome master
frames on your own, without needing
help from Carl Zeiss or engaging slicing
and encoding services at costs that my
add up to several thousands of euros
per year with other fulldome systems.
With powerdome you have got at hand
everything you need to create and play
fulldome videos.
Since, in playback, powerdome also
performs channel distribution, geometry
correction and edge blending computation
in real time, fulldome videos and
powerdome shows, once encoded, can
be played on all powerdome®Systems.
All fulldome shows sold and delivered by
Carl Zeiss come encoded and tested. As
a powerdome customer you only need
to copy the show to your system in order
to present it.
New capabilities with
powerdome ® II
Fulldome systems delivered by Carl Zeiss
from the summer of 2012 will come
with the powerdome ® II platform. This
version offers users many added capabilities,
which have been integrated after
extensive exchange of experience with
powerdome users.
Control of 3D models
With powerdome ® II, 3D models
(DirectX ® ) can be loaded and controlled.
The parameters needed can be animated
and permit control of the properties
assigned to the 3D models. For example,
you can control the hatches of a space
shuttle or the solar collectors of the ISS.
The new function allows 3D objects to
be projected and animated realistically
and in real time. Otherwise, such presentations
can only be done with complex
and expensive 3D software and in
an indirect way via video programming.
Carl Zeiss will supply a library with several
3D models. Of course, every customer
can load and animate their own models.
3D model of Space Shuttle.