Portfolio: ActionBase Fireworks, a Hardware-Software Complex

Overview

The art of creating and managing fire originates in the ancient times. Due to new digital
opportunities in the XXth century, the pyromusical fireworks displays appeared. It is the art
of synchronizing fireworks with music. Our group of engineers was inspired by the idea of
bringing new digital opportunities to creative pyrotechnists. We developed the Action Base
Fireworks digital system, that allowed to organize spectacular pyromusical shows of high
complexity.

ActionBase – embedded solutions that bring people joy!


History

ABF system has long history of success in the market, starting from 2006. Today, more
than 10 professional pyrotechnical teams use the ABF as a primary equipment for all scale
shows. It is the most technically advanced system on the territory of CIS countries and we
have a long-term upgrade plan.

ABF generations:

• ActionBase Fireworks
• Pyro АBF 10 lite
• Pyro – RF 10/120


Time-line

ActionBase gen1 ActionBase gen2 ActionBase gen2 ActionBase gen2 was
2nd place at the 1st place at the Sharp 1st place at the the used at the Grand
Sharp Fireworks Fireworks festival in Sharp Fireworks Opening Ceremony of
festival in Moscow, Moscow Russia (SLK festival in Moscow Kyiv Olympic and Lviv
Russia Fireworks team under Russia (SLK Arena stadiums built
(SLK Fireworks team) the ABP team guidance) Fireworks team) for the EURO 2012

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

ActionBase gen1 ActionBase gen2 Three teams took ActionBase gen2 A new version
First version of Core modification prize places using 3d place at the ActionBase gen3
hardware and that enables 14 400 AcitonBase gen2 at International Fireworks will be released,
software cues control the Fireworks Festival Navalnitsa
using completely
architecture festival in Yalta, 2010, Belarus wireless
Ukraine. (Didzhereffects team
technology
under the ABP team
guidance)


Requirements

The task was to develop a hardware-software complex, an affordable digital system to
control the launch of fireworks igniters during the pyromusical displays. Instead of
expensive, cumbersome and complex systems, we had to design a simplified and modern
one.

• Design control software
• Choice of peripheral accessories
• Design a reliable system that has protection on each channel
• Efficient transmission technology to provide greater data transfer
• Develop special, high accuracy testing method of the equipment
• Script writing and training: the system must run the most comlplex scenarios
• Provide custom services such as customization for a client's equipment and standards


Implementation

Software:

• Ability to download the script of the fireworks and music
• After installing all the pyrotechnic equipment on the court, the program provides
testing of the entire network and all connections before starting the fireworks display
• A simple click on the button «Start» allows to shoot the pyromusical scenario of any
complexity


Implementation

Hardware:

• Modular structure, you can add/remove modules and shoot fireworks with 30 up to
3000 channels
• The module is completely autonomous. It needs to be connected with digital
transmission line RS-485 and pyrotechnic ignitions
• The module is protected against all types of overload (short circuit)
• The module was designed for operation in harsh weather conditions

Firmware:

• Real-time system with discrete 10 ms


Technology and Features

The system resides in a rugged water and dust proof metal casing. Secure connectors for
the power and network cables prevent from occasional cut-offs.



All-in-one-case pyrotechnic unit makes system arrangement quick and simple.


Different types of connector modules for e-matches can be used dependable on the task. This
makes the equipment applicable to broad range of situations.


ActionBase visualization software provides broad possibilities of control and usage. Voltage,
temperature, connection with a module and electric matches resistance can be distantly
monitored. Electric Matches circuits testing allows to find potential problems and easily fix
them before the show.


• The system was designed basing on the hard requirements for the usage in real time.
• Music synchronization lagging not more than 0.01 second
• Show distance range up to 3 000 meters
• Up to 14 400 cues controlled from one PC
• Cues resistance gauge
• Modules temperature monitoring
• Battery charge indicator
• Small weight of the system
• Simple use
• Resistance measurement range is from 0.1 to 50.0 O
• Testing speed is 400 cues per minute
• Sampling 0.01 second (100 shots per second)
• Cue firing amperage 5 AMP
• Cue firing voltage 12 V


Tools

Development platforms
• RAD Studio 2010
• Microchip MPLAB IDE

Embedded platform
• Microchip PIC Microcontrollers

Network side
• Fieldbus network based on RS-485

Language
• C++


Benefits

• For the audience: fireworks quality and spectacularity increased
• For the pyrotechnic companies: decreased the weight and amount of the equipment,
reduced the operations and maintenance costs
• Speed of installing the fireworks equipment increased in several times.
• Testing equipment before the start was simplified, the probability that the ignition won’t
work decreased to zero.
• Decreased the manpower: less people and time to organize the pyromusical displays.
• Pyrotechnists can shoot complex fireworks with great panorama (more than 10,000
shells)


Future Development

Today, we manufacture several modifications of ABF gen.2. In 2012 we’ll announce the third
generation. It will have the following innovations:
• wireless and combined transmission
• substitution of the centralized model of operation from a PC for a cloud model. This will
increase the scalability and reliability
• advanced options of operation from a PC

Also we plan:
• mortar racks with integrated ABF modules
• own modeling software with unit libraries
• applications for operation via iPad and iPhone


Recommendations

“We have had great pleasure of working with this professional team of engineers! Our company started using their Action Base
hardware-software complex in 2010. We performed great pyromusical masterpiece in Navalnitsa 2010 International Fireworks Show in
Belarus. This pyrotechnic system is very reliable, its work even exceeded our expectations. In 2011, our company ordered development
of the special system for the spectacular fireworks shows. We had the honour to organize grand fireworks displays at the opening
ceremony of Kyiv Olympic and Lviv Arena stadiums built for the EURO 2012. The engineers successfully completed the task and we
really enjoyed collaborating with them. I shall not hesitate to work with this team again! Thank you for your diligent work and
professionalism!”
Dmitry Didkovskiy,
Director / DIDZHEREFFECTS, a company specialized in the pyrotechnics and special effects, Ukraine http://didzhereffects.com/

“I am proud to have a pleasant, long-standing relationship with developers from Edgewood Services. I know them as a friendly,
professional and creative team! They always invent, improve, look for new challenges, have drive for results in electronic engineering.
They have performed a brilliant solution for our company. We’ve been working with their Action Base system for 5 years. Along with
outstanding and reliable computerized system, they provided us with technical instructions, trained the pyrotechnists and travelled with
us around Ukraine during our first fireworks displays. They paid attention to every detail! I am grateful for their careful service,
dedication to work and will definitely continue to work with them!”
Dmitry Kadyba,
Chief Pyrotechnist / FEERIYA, pyrotechnic company in Ukraine, http://www.pyro.com.ua/

”I really appreciate working with this talented developers! Due to their skillful engineering decisions and years of experience, they have
designed an innovative ActionBase system. With this system, at the Sharp Fireworks festival in Moscow we took the 2nd place in 2006,
and the 1st place in 2007 and 2009! We organized really fantastic shows over the heads of thousands of guests. They are very gifted
developers, professional and mature, deeply dedicated to embedded systems development. You do an excellent job!”
Viktor Ivanov,
Director / SLK FIREWORKS, pyrotechnic company in Russia, http://slkfireworks.ru/


Media

VI Sharp Fireworks festival in Moscow, SLK Fireworks team, 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M0wvhSIVjA&feature=player_embedded

A fireworks display on the wedding day, Pyro Syntez team, 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amwLP7cD2x0&feature=player_embedded

Fireworks festival in Yalta, Feeriya team, 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Fe4ueQWcc&feature=player_embedded#!


Media

Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, built for the UEFA EURO 2012 final
October 8, 2011. Didzhereffects team (Kyiv, Ukraine)


Contacts

Edgewood Services LLC

www.edgewoodservices.com
sales@edgewoodservices.com
Tel: +38 (056) 770 76 11
Cell: +38 (067) 637 12 56

11 Sninnaya St. Dnipropetrovsk
49107 Ukraine


Portfolio: ActionBase Fireworks, a Hardware-Software Complex

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