Electric Picture celebrates over a decade of partnership with Scalable to provide pristine edge blending and projection mapping solutions for maritime simulation
Cambridge, Mass. (August 2024) — In the early hours of March 24, 1989, just minutes past midnight, the supertanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, located off the southern coast of Alaska. This collision resulted in a catastrophic oil spill, with approximately 10.8 million gallons of crude oil pouring from the vessel’s ruptured hull. The spilled oil eventually contaminated over 1,200 miles of Alaska’s pristine coastline, creating what remains the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other official reports identified human error as the primary cause of the accident. Factors such as inadequate crew training, fatigue, and poor decision-making were significant contributors. In response to this tragedy, a series of corrective measures were implemented to prevent future occurrences. Among the most notable changes were increased crew training requirements, including the use of advanced computer simulations to prepare for emergency situations.
“In the maritime and aviation industries, rigorous training is essential,” said R.P. Higgins, president of Electric Picture. “For instance, when training to become a United States Navy officer, a merchant marine, or a commercial pilot, trainees don’t just receive a casual send-off. The Exxon Valdez incident in the 1980s was a wake-up call, leading to significant investments in simulation training to prevent ecological disasters. This effort extended into the 1990s with the construction of large-scale simulators, some as tall as 36 feet.”
Higgins added, “The United States Navy, too, adopted advanced navigation simulation to avoid incidents like ships running aground. Training programs, both commercial and military, cover various emergency scenarios, including fires, hostile attacks, and power failures. These scenarios are extensively rehearsed in maritime training to ensure preparedness for any situation. Unfortunately, this year’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was another reminder of the importance of rigorous training in emergency situations.”
Nearly 25 years later, on March 26, the container ship M/V Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The collision resulted in the bridge’s collapse, killing six people, severing a major interstate highway, and temporarily closing the Port of Baltimore. This incident further emphasized the critical need for rigorous training and advanced simulations to ensure that ship crews are well-prepared to handle emergency situations.
Electric Picture Display Systems delivers cutting-edge simulation training technology for watercraft operators, engineers, marine deck and engineering officers, cargo handlers, and operations crew members. Utilizing the latest in simulation technology, Electric Picture eliminates the need for launching vessels from the dock to provide hands-on training. Mariners can receive real-time training at ports before they even arrive, thanks to advanced maritime simulation. Instructors can create scenarios with unexpected threats or technical issues, teaching mariners to adapt to challenging situations. Depending on visual requirements, Electric Picture employs a combination of cylindrical and spherical simulator displays and integrates an edge-blending solution. Since 2011, Electric Picture has partnered with Scalable Display Technologies, leveraging their innovative software to automatically calibrate multiple projectors.
“Creating a sense of reality in simulation is essential, and Scalable Display Technologies does a fantastic job with its software by correcting all the geometry,” explained Higgins. “Accurate geometry is crucial; for example, when someone on a ship commands a 33-degree turn to starboard. It must be precise to avoid running aground. These critical skills are honed in a simulator. Scalable’s ability to eliminate blend zones and create seamless visuals enhances this sense of reality.”
Higgins added, “We have partnered with Scalable for 14 years, and their unique edge blending and color matching software stands out because it produces artifact-free, uniform colorimetry and seamless transitions between images. In a 360-degree display, all channels look the same, unlike poorly blended displays, which can resemble a patchwork quilt with visible separation between channels.”
When it comes to technical support and customer service, Scalable stands out for its depth of expertise and dedication. Its in-house team goes beyond the basics of warping and blending, offering a wealth of knowledge in 3D rendering, advanced graphics, machine vision, and cutting-edge projection technologies. This extensive experience translates into reliable and insightful support for their clients.
“From a partnership perspective, Scalable has proven reliable and consistent over our 14-year relationship,” noted Higgins. “Knowing their strengths and weaknesses allows us to manage installations efficiently without costly learning curves. Their technicians, who we typically use on-site, are knowledgeable, personable, and maintain good relationships with our customers. Importantly, Scalable respects its partners and does not attempt to bypass us to deal directly with customers, a rare quality in today’s market.”
Established in 2004, Scalable is the original inventor and patent holder of camera-based automatic warp and blend technology. Scalable’s proprietary technology was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by Dr. Rajeev Surati and Dr. Tom Knight. Building on their groundbreaking research, Scalable holds 12 patents related to edge blending, warping, and color-calibration technology.
