Christie, the global visual and audio technology company, is illuminating the putting areas at Atomic Golf on the Las Vegas Strip with 32 Christie GS Series laser projectors.
The venue opened in March, and offers 100 golf bays and eight virtual putting areas across four floors and more than 99,000 square feet. The putting areas were designed by Beaudry Interactive, an award-winning experiential design and production studio, with projectors selected by Coherent Design
Innovative approach
The putting areas have been developed to make the game fun for all players, regardless of skill level.
David Beaudry, principal, Beaudry Interactive, explains: “Atomic Golf was looking for an option to entertain guests who may not want to use the driving bays.”
The virtual putting areas are outdoors, with an environmental enclosure above that houses the projectors. Each green spans 10 feet wide and 20 feet long, with four Christie DWU1100-GS projectors producing 200 ftL of luminance (visible light). The image is bright enough for the greens to be used day and night, and is visible against the venue’s powerful ceiling lighting. This setup offers a playable time of up to 20 hours each day.
Three initial putting games are now available, with more in development. The games are suitable for players of all abilities, who hit targets to earn points rather than aiming for a cup. Cameras track each golfer’s ball on the green in real time.
Beaudry says: “The project started off with an R&D effort. We were curious to see if we could track any golf ball – with or without a marker and regardless of colour – and then do a gameplay overlay. That was about half our efforts for the first year: building the math and the technology in the camera arrays to be able to track golf balls over a course of any size.”
As a result, Beaudry Interactive’s technology can track balls to within a few millimetres of their position on the putting green.
The balls on the greens are tracked by infrared cameras. To limit latency, the cameras operate at 170 frames per second. Additionally, the projectors include a low-latency mode that reduces the time between tracking and projection mapping, improving performance and guaranteeing smooth operation.
“The other half of our R&D effort was all the maths that brings it together, to ensure that a golf ball moving along the putting green is seamlessly transitioned from one camera to the next,” adds Beaudry.
The technology can also differentiate between players’ balls, allowing for competitive head-to-head play on the same putting green.
Projectors for unique environments
Coherent Design chose 32 Christie DWU1100-GS laser projectors for the putting areas based on their extensive experience with Christie technology.
Kevin Potts, managing principal, Coherent Design, says: “It’s a harsh environment so we needed a projector manufacturer that was backed by solid engineering. We know Christie has engineers and project managers who could help us with a successful project. There are a lot of companies who make 10,000 lumen projectors, but when we get into more complex projects, we want a manufacturer who has not only the engineering capabilities to build their product but the know-how to implement their product into unique environments.”
The Christie DWU1100-GS 1DLP projector boasts laser illumination and WUXGA resolution. It delivers 11,850 ISO lumens (10,000 ANSI lumens), quiet operation of under 37 dBA, an illumination lifetime of 20,000 hours, a comprehensive suite of lenses, and round-the-clock reliability.
Coherent Design collaborated with Christie to calculate the number of projectors required, their brightness, and the portal glass for the enclosures. The projectors were then installed by Simply Connected, a Las Vegas-based firm.
Beaudry Interactive and Coherent Design have delivered an attraction that provides visitors with a unique experience and expands Atomic Golf’s entertainment options.
“It’s always a challenge to find clients who embrace this type of technology. It’s unchartered territory, which they fully embraced,” adds Beaudry.
Paul Dumpel, sales manager, Christie, says: “With so many entertainment options in Las Vegas, it can be hard to stand out. But Atomic Golf has done just that. It’s a sports entertainment venue that’s not just for seasoned golfers but for anyone who wants to come out and have fun. What Coherent Design and Beaudry Interactive have created is truly unique and we’re thrilled that Christie projection was selected.”
Last month, Christie revealed that its 1DLP laser projectors have been integrated into the National Museum of Ethnology, Portugal. This installation is part of the museum’s digital transformation programme delivered by Total AV, a Christie partner. It marks a significant improvement in the museum’s AV capabilities, enhancing the quality and impact of its permanent exhibitions.
Images kind courtesy of altf.com
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