Toshiba's NAND flash utilized in unique entertainment application for voice and control of theme park animatronic robots
Authors: Kaseroff Rachel 
Published: August 2005

Demonstrating the versatility of applications development for
its NAND flash product line, Toshiba America Electronic Components,
Inc. (TAEC) announced on July 14, 2003 that its NAND flash
technology has been designed into various sound, lighting, and
motion controller systems from Simon Kaloi Engineering, Ltd. These
systems are being used to add audio, movement and lighting control
to various theme park animatronics characters and dark rides
throughout the world. High quality digital audio recordings as well
as control and lighting information are all stored in together in
Toshiba's solid-state NAND flash memory. Multiple audio messages
and control and lighting cues can be triggered instantaneously in
numerous ways such as ride cars passing through sensors or from
interactive laser guns firing at targets. The sequences and
interactive triggering can be programmed into the NAND flash memory
within seconds using Simon-Kaloi Software and a standard PC. NAND
flash is used to store up to 256 tracks for up to eight channels of
digital audio along with synchronous control of multiple characters
and effects as well as scenic lighting information. The use of NAND
flash technology is an advancement for theme park dark rides
because it has no moving parts to wear out while providing the
ability to change the message and control information.
Previously the audio and motion control were handled by multiple
pieces of equipment utilizing tapes, CD ROMs or laser disks for
information storage and playback. The Simon-Kaloi systems combine
multiple functions into a single unit substantially reducing the
massive wire schemes and amount of equipment typically required
with a more cost effective and reliable integrated solution. The
all solid-state design in the Simon Kaloi systems, including the
NAND flash memory, completely eliminates the mechanisms found in
tapes, CD ROMs and laser disks. This solid-state approach allows
for instantaneous and random access trigger response that was not
possible with older mechanical technologies. It also enables the
audio, control, and lighting information to be in precise
synchronization.
"We chose Toshiba's NAND flash technology because of its
incredible density and that it also gives us flexibility in
recording and playing. NAND flash memory is a cost-effective,
convenient and reliable memory solution that could take the wear
and tear of daily use plus it provides a medium we could write to,"
said Rick Simon, CFO at Simon Kaloi. "We use Toshiba's NAND flash
products in almost all of our systems and plan to continue to
design future applications using their technology."
"It's amazing what an ideal solution our NAND flash technology
is for theme park animatronics applications, and we're thrilled
that the innovative designers at Simon Kaloi realized the
advantages of using NAND," said Scott Nelson, business development
director of memory products at TAEC. "Toshiba pioneered the
development of flash memory and we are committed to continuing to
reduce the cost-per-bit of NAND flash, and to continue to advance
flash memory performance to enable the next leading edge
application."
"With a thousand people per hour standing in line to view a new
ride, we have to have very high reliability and believe our most
important assets are tucked away in the memory we use," said Howard
Kelley, president of Sally Corporation. "We've been able to make
significant advancements in functionality and quality by using
solid state memory. NAND flash technology introduces amazing
flexibility that allows us to reproduce or program offline and
literally send the whole program via mail or email."
The most recent utilization of the technology is in a dark ride
developed by Sally Corporation for Six Flags Belgium called
"Challenge of Tutankhamon" that features 16 different elaborate
scenes in a 4 1/2 minute ride. The control of the lighting, motion
and sound of each scene is performed by the NAND flash used in the
SLAM 2000 controller system from Simon Kaloi. Sally Corporation
utilizes the products from Simon Kaloi to design all its dark rides
and animatronics which are seen in parks and attractions
worldwide.
For additional company and product information, please visit
TAEC's website at chips.toshiba.com. For technical inquiries,
please e-mail Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com.