Automation Tracking

I started this project during the preparation week for Guildhall's Proving Up where I was lighting programmer on MA3. This was the first time I was using MA3 in a venue with automation so I wanted to explore PosiStageNet (PSN).

Unfortunately, the automation system in Milton Court does not support PSN, it only broadcasts Siemens SIMOTION drive data. To get around this, I wrote a script to consume that data from the auto network and convert it into PSN for use on the lighting network.

Here is a snippet of the code that decodes the network packets coming from the auto system and stores the values into meaningful variables for use later.

Have a look at the video below exhibiting live tracking from the auto system on MA3.
The tracking fixture is on the floor in the bottom right, on the far left you can see where the light intersects with the tracked bar. I am stood in the background at the automation console and no-one is behind the MA3 in the centre of the auditorium