Entertainment

Interface provides torque and force measurement solutions to the global entertainment and amusement industry. From backstage rigging to sets and lighting equipment, Interface offers a broad range of measurement and weighing solutions. Our products are used in theatre staging, simulations, gaming equipment, displays and lifting, filming and drone equipment, as well as theme park machines and robotics.

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Entertainment Applications

Entertainment Overview

Interface offers force measurement products for testing, monitoring, and embedding sensors into products by OEMs for various entertainment environments including theatre, film, video gaming, television, theme parks and entertainment venue, as well as multimedia attractions.

With the entertainment industry’s growth into many different submarkets, Interface’s deep range of load cells and other sensor products are often used for highly accurate and reliable force measurement and data collection. Beyond our standard products, Interface’s experts often collaborate with engineers to design customizable force measurement solutions for unique applications in the entertainment industry. Interface offers highly accurate sensor systems to ensure safety and eliminate overload risks.

Entertainment LED Screens

There was an opportunity of a new venue’s construction project, requiring Interface’s wireless force measurement system for numerous giant LED screens. This customer needed a wireless solution to ensure the safety and overload protection of the structure holding up the LED screens. Interface suggested using their LW General Purpose Load Washer Load Cells being installed and assembled within rods that are part of the screen’s support structure. The LED screens hang off this structure, which is structurally supported by the rods. The compression forces from the weight of the LED screens applied to the rod was measured by the LW’s that were installed in between. The load washers are paired with WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Modules, where the force results are wirelessly transmitted to both the WTS-BS-1 Wireless Handheld Display for Unlimited Transmitters and the WTS-BS-4 Wireless Base Stations with included Log100 software. Interface’s load washers combined with WTS Wireless Telemetry System products successfully weighed the forces of the large LED screen for the customer’s new entertainment venue.

Animatronics

Animatronics is a multidisciplinary field that combines puppetry, anatomy, mechatronics, and robotics to create lifelike figures driven by electronic, mechanical, or pneumatic systems. They are essential in the entertainment industry, used across various sectors such as amusement parks, special effects, interactive venue experiences, and even consumer products.

The global market for entertainment robotics, which includes animatronics, is experiencing significant growth. Valued at over $3 billion, it is projected to surpass $18 billion by 2032. This expansion is fueled by technological advances, increasing demand for interactive experiences, and the growing use of robotics in consumer goods.

Animatronics and entertainment robotics are expanding sectors within the entertainment industry, employed in theme parks, movie productions, and exhibitions. To achieve maximum impact, ensure high-quality product development, and maintain safety, manufacturers rely on precise force and torque measurement. Continuous sensor monitoring is essential for successful launches and for the reliable operation of the equipment throughout its lifespan.

Sensor Applications for Animatronics

Animatronics must deliver accurate, repeatable, and safe movements. A key challenge is measuring the torque of the motors and joints that power these movements to ensure proper calibration and that they do not exceed safe limits. This testing is vital during the design phase and for ongoing maintenance.

Interface’s Solutions for Animatronics

Theme parks and amusement parks develop immersive, interactive experiences for rides and attractions. Films and television bring fantasy creatures and robotic characters to life for special effects. Interactive displays engage audiences in museums, retail spaces, and public venues. Consumer products range from animatronic Halloween decorations to robotic pets used in therapy.

Precise force and torque measurement solutions are essential for the success of animatronics and entertainment robotics. and entertainment robotics.

Venues and Theme Parks

Amusement park rides, theatrical stages, and large-scale entertainment venues rely on complex mechanical engineering to deliver immersive guest experiences while meeting rigorous structural constraints. For safety and design engineers, managing these attractions requires precise telemetry of force, torque, and weight to ensure compliance with strict global safety standards.

Because equipment wear or overloading can cause mechanical failure or safety issues, developers rely on real-time feedback during prototyping and operations. Sensors like load cells, miniature sensors, and torque transducers provide data on everything from roller coaster g-force shifts to animatronic rotational resistance, supporting continuous operation and safety. Embedding high-performance sensors in mechanical parts allows maintenance teams to detect tool fatigue, stress, and friction early, preventing system shutdowns

The main challenge in theme park and venue engineering is maintaining long-term sensor calibration in harsh environments with high vibrations, weather, humidity, and mechanical impacts. Safe force capture demands high-speed, low-latency signal conditioning to detect weight, tension, and torque in real time, providing immediate visibility for automation systems.

Delivering consistent entertainment experiences requires highly stable sensors capable of operating across indoor theatrical sets and harsh outdoor environments. As theme parks introduce increasingly complex automation, heavy-lift staging, and interactive robotics, accurate telemetry from components at critical mechanical intersections becomes crucial. Interface offers load cells, torque transducers, and instrumentation to measure forces and provide actionable insights.

Entertainment Venue and Theme Park Sensor Applications

Animatronic Limb Torque Testing
Roller Coaster Chassis Dynamic G-Force and Structural Strain Testing
Backstage Rigging, Hoist, and Stage Lift Safety Monitoring
Large-scale LED Screen Support
Motion Platform Feedback
Theme Park Ride Passenger Restraint Locking
Theater Stage Automation and Tracking
Themed Robotic End-Effector Grip and Reach Compliance Testing
Aerial Acrobatic Wire Tension Monitoring
Venue Lift Platform Center of Gravity
Structural Lift and Weight Distribution Analysis
Fountain and Special Effects Monitoring

Interface Products Used in Entertainment Venues and Theme Parks

LowProfile Load Cells
Mini Load Cells
S-Type Load Cells
Torque Transducers
Multi-Axis Sensors
Load Washer Load Cells
Wireless Telemetry Systems
Load Pins, Load Shackles, and Tension Load Links
Digital Instrumentation and Signal Conditioners
Custom Solutions

Interface provides engineers and structural testing teams with measurement solutions to track structural loading, force, weight, and torque across all types of rides, structures, robotics, displays, motorized platforms, and stages. Our hardware enables system designers to confidently confirm structural safety, extend component longevity, and maintain seamless operation in high-capacity venues.

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Additional Resources

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Entertainment Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Solutions for Structural Testing

June 20, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Structural testing labs use Interface force measurment solutions to perform tensile, compression, bending, fatigue and hardness testing on materials, components, or assemblies. Structural tests are used for measuring tension of push and pull forces, design proofing, and lifecycle fatigue validation. Each of these tests plays a critical role in verifying the quality and safety of a product, component or materialss. Each of these tests relies upon high accuracy force measurement sensor technologies form Interface.

Entertainment Venue Force Measurement and Monitoring Solutions

January 17, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

There is a great deal of critical sensor technology used to design, build, and monitor venue infrastructure and the public before and during events. Venues management, architects, product makers and engineers take inordinate steps to protect people from bodily harm, […]

Taking a Ride with Interface

November 1, 2022/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

One of the greatest pastimes in the world are amusement parks. They bring fun and thrills for all generations with attractions for purposes of entertainment that include rides, shows, and games. There is also a lot that goes into building […]

Exploring Interface Capabilities and Differentiators

August 19, 2022/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface is the largest producer of load cells defined by a particularly important core differentiator. The Interface difference is precision. How do we maintain this standard of excellence? Interface is directed by our foundational 4-pillars for success: quality, service, accuracy, […]

Interface Entertainment and Amusement Industry Solutions

July 28, 2022/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

The special effects of a movie or the thrills you experience on a roller coaster take a lot of engineering work behind the scenes. Force measurement plays a major role in the design, development, testing, manufacturing, and maintenance of equipment […]