Engineering Movement at Scale: Inside the Automation Behind the CEER World Premiere

Moving scenic elements during a live show requires more than mechanical power. At large scale, movement needs to be accurately controlled, structurally coordinated and integrated with the wider show sequence.

For the CEER World Premiere on 21 September 2026 at the CEER Manufacturing Complex in King Abdullah Economic City, Evolution Technical worked with Balich World Shows to engineer the automated movement systems behind the reveal of CEER's first flagship EXOBOT electric sedan and SUV.

The project required custom automation for three major moving screen structures and two vehicle revolves, supported by rigging, control systems, engineering coordination, testing and onsite commissioning.

What Evolution Technical Delivered

Evolution Technical was responsible for the technical design, engineering coordination, automation, rigging and commissioning of the moving package.

The scope included:

• Two automated side screens, Alpha and Charlie, approximately 17m wide and 6.5m high
• One automated central screen, Bravo, approximately 14.4m wide and 6m high
• Two automated 6m-diameter vehicle revolves
• Bespoke tracking, carriage and drive systems
• Technical rigging and lifting systems
• Automation controls and position feedback
• Hard limits and E-stop systems
• Programmable movement speeds
• Controlled acceleration and deceleration
• Timecode-capable show control integration
• Structural engineering coordination and third-party review
• Full testing, commissioning, rehearsals and show support

Rather than adapting standard rental equipment to the production, the automation systems were developed specifically around the requirements of the CEER reveal sequence.

Moving 17-Metre Structures With Precision

The scale of Alpha and Charlie created one of the project's principal engineering challenges.

At approximately 17 metres wide and 6.5 metres high, and weighing up to 1.5T, both side screens needed to travel horizontally across the stage with controlled and repeatable movement.

Evolution Technical developed a bespoke rack-and-pinion tracking system using heavy-duty track and carriage components, geared AC motors and multiple distributed drive units.

Three drive units were used across each wall. Distributing the driving force helped manage the movement of the large structures while improving stability and control.

Encoder feedback provided accurate position information, while programmable acceleration, deceleration and movement speeds allowed the motion profile to be refined around the requirements of the show.

At this scale, even relatively small mechanical movements or drive vibrations at track level could become amplified through the structure. Alignment and movement profiles therefore required extensive testing and adjustment.

Engineering a Screen to Lift + Tilt

The central Bravo screen presented a different movement requirement.

Rather than travelling horizontally, Bravo needed to lift vertically and tilt as part of the vehicle reveal sequence.

Evolution Technical developed a multi-hoist automation system using Movecat VMK-S250 automation hoists suspended within a P50SL truss system provided by TECS.

Six primary suspension positions supported the main screen load, while additional rear automation points created the tilt movement by adjusting the relative suspension lengths.

Custom lifting brackets and engineered pickup points were incorporated into the scenic structure to support the system.

Because Bravo was a large suspended moving structure, the suspension geometry, lifting points, dynamic loads and venue roof loading required detailed structural coordination and independent engineering review.

Controlling the Vehicle Reveal

Two 6-metre-diameter automated vehicle revolves formed another key part of the movement package.

Evolution Technical integrated the turntables using geared AC drives, encoder feedback and Wahlberg control, providing controlled vehicle rotation for the reveal sequence.

The revolves were configured as part of the wider automation environment rather than as independent pieces of stage equipment.

This allowed the movement of the vehicles to be developed alongside the screen movements and wider show requirements.

Engineering for Safety + Show Control

Large automated scenic elements require multiple layers of control and safety.

The CEER systems incorporated encoder-based position feedback, hard limits, emergency-stop functionality, controlled motion profiles and programmable speeds.

The automation was also designed for timecode-capable cueing, allowing movement to integrate with the wider show-control environment.

Structural engineering formed another critical part of the process. Moving loads, suspension points and automation forces were coordinated with the scenic structures and independently reviewed where required.

These systems allowed complex movements to be developed around the creative sequence while maintaining the control required for live operation.

Testing Movement at Full Scale

The completed screens carried considerably more mass than their underlying structures alone.

Polycarbonate surfaces, projection treatment and lighting equipment all contributed to the final operational weight. The automation therefore needed to be developed and tested around the complete moving assembly.

Evolution Technical carried out full-scale testing before deployment, progressively refining drive alignment, acceleration, deceleration and movement speeds.

The final speed of Alpha and Charlie was confirmed onsite only after the structures had been completely assembled, loaded and aligned on the actual venue floor.

The projection finish also underwent physical sampling and projection testing as the content team worked to balance image requirements with the weight limitations of the moving structures.

From Creative Intent to Controlled Movement

The CEER World Premiere required several very different types of movement to operate within one reveal environment: horizontal screen travel, vertical lifting, controlled tilting and vehicle rotation.

Evolution Scenic fabricated the large physical structures, while Evolution Technical engineered the systems that enabled them to move, integrating automation, rigging, controls, structural coordination and show commissioning into one technical package.

The project demonstrates how event automation engineering can translate an ambitious creative sequence into precise and repeatable physical movement.

For a large-scale automotive launch, the technology behind the movement is ultimately required to achieve one objective: ensuring that every scenic element moves where required, at the required speed and at the correct moment in the show.

Event Automation FAQs

How were the Alpha and Charlie screens moved?

Each screen used a bespoke rack-and-pinion tracking system with heavy-duty track and carriage components, geared AC motors and three distributed drive units.

How was the Bravo screen able to lift and tilt?

Bravo used multiple independently controlled automation hoists. Primary suspension points supported the screen, while additional rear automation points changed the relative suspension lengths to generate the tilt.

How was movement accuracy controlled?

The automation incorporated encoder feedback, programmable speeds, controlled acceleration and deceleration, hard limits and emergency-stop functionality, together with show-control integration for the reveal sequence.