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comprised three rocking Arks on their 100ft/30m cart. To achieve controllable, smooth, safe motion coupled with low power demand from their generator, geared motors were required. Leroy Somer motors were selected for their high quality, low backlash and solid reliability. To control the motors, Gemini turned to Control Techniques drive distributor, Lamonde Automation, which supplied not only the motors, but also the drives to control them. The carnival cart application formed a perfect


showcase for Control Techniques’ innovative, simple to use, Commander S Series drives. These award-winning drives are simple to configure and commission – the configuration is carried out on a mobile app called Marshal and sent to the drives directly from the Marshal app via NFC (Near Field Communication). This app driven approach and the use of NFC are game changers for the drives industry, making configuration and commissioning a breeze compared to traditional lengthy drive keypad or PC application setup. The three ‘Arks’ on the Gemini Noah Carnival


DRIVING CARNIVAL


CART INNOVATION WITH COMMANDER S DRIVES


Lamonde Automation has supplied motors and


drives for a Noah’s Ark themed animated carnival cart. Here we learn about the role they played


illuminated carnival in the world, the Bridgwater Carnival, can be traced back to Guy Fawkes’ failed gunpowder plot of 1605. A tradition of bonfires, fireworks and ‘squibbing’ was established in Bridgewater and carried on for centuries – until a rather chaotic bonfire celebration in 1880 which ended in rioting and disorder. Following the chaos of 1880, the event was formalised by the formation of a committee. The inaugural Bridgwater Carnival was held in 1881, making it the longest running Bonfire Carnival in the country. Today there are around 22 carnivals held in


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Somerset each year, with dozens of carnival clubs competing to build the best cart (float). Each carnival has a competition element, with prizes and kudos for the winners and runners- up in each category. One such Carnival Club is the Ilminster based Gemini Carnival Club who, for the 2023 season, transitioned from competing in the ‘Tableau’ class (a static scene with costumed actors) to the ‘Feature’ class, where the cart, its features and actors are animated rather than static. The theme for the Gemini 2023 feature cart was ‘Noah’s Ark’, and their ‘Noah’ design,


MARCH 2024 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 13


he county of Somerset in the Southwest of England is synonymous with carnivals. The origins of what is believed to be the biggest


cart had the drives set to run the motors at slightly different speeds. This added to the realism of their rocking motion by putting them out of sync with each other. ‘Noah’ was well received at the carnivals it


entered, receiving deserved recognition from spectators and judging panels alike. For the 2024 carnival season, Gemini will be adding further movement and features to their new cart by using further motors and drives as well as some PLC motion.


Lamonde Automation T: 0203 026 2670 sales@lamonde.com


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