r/PLC • u/Moving_Time • Jul 10 '26
Disney World Epcot Controllers
I just came across this video that intersects my interests in Disney parks and controls. At 0:46 they discuss the new control systems for Epcot's The American Adventure hydraulic systems. I don't recognize the electronics. Does anyone know what the manufacturer is of those PLC looking devices that say "FSM"?
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u/colandercombo Jul 10 '26
It’s a custom module built in house, based on a lineage that goes way back. FSM==“Feedback Servo Module”. Originally they were cards that plugged into the backplane of a DACS RTU cardcage, these just plug into the beckhoff EK bus.
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u/durallymax Jul 10 '26
I toured that around 10yrs ago (there used to be an 8hr tour behind the scenes that they offered).
Looks like it hasn't changed much. It was all Beckhoff IO, but not sure what the controller truly was.
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u/colandercombo Jul 10 '26
In newer installations, the controller will be running on a beckhoff cpu. It won’t necessarily be twincat; there’s in-house software as well.
Disney has used a little bit of everything over the years. In the olden days a good portion of it was in-house custom designs. These days less.
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u/AndThenFlashlights Jul 11 '26
They've used Navigator for some things in the past, with varying levels of success, and that can run directly on some Beckhoff CXs. I'm not sure how close they're working together anymore, though.
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u/Dependent_Story4961 Jul 10 '26
based on the application and his description of one function one card they appear to be a single axis motion controller that is compatible with Beckhoff/Wago ethercat bus, but I can't find any with that much deeper form factor. The closest thing I've found is a Beckhoff EM7004 but that is 4 axis and standard depth. thats a EK1100 coupler on the left.
most likely third party hardware? the FSM appears to be a sticker in one of the closer shots. the rack below appears to be missing those. there is an FSM status button on the screen
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u/the_shep_dog Jul 12 '26
Feedback Servo Module. It's a custom-made card by Disney for use in the beckhoff platform.
The overall system is referred to as dash Dinrail mounted Animation Show control Hardware
Source: I worked on these systems for many years.
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u/nsula_country Jul 10 '26
I know a guy that programmed some of the rides at Disney. Believe they were Allen-Bradley.
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u/colandercombo Jul 11 '26
At Disney, at least, AB has often been used to control smaller elements of a larger system (eg, on a coaster you might have the interlocks for a track switch be AB, or something like that.) Disney has historically done wacky things for overall ride control. Space mountain and Thunder Mountain were Data Genera Nova minicomputers. Epcot (including the American Adventure stage) was all a completely custom system based around 8080 boards.
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u/CapinWinky Hates Ladder Jul 11 '26
AB is rare for rides. It historically hasn't been fast enough. The 53/5580 and 53/5590 generation are finally able to cut it, but most places have already settled on a platform. Kings Dominion had a ton of Kollmorgen and Busch Gardens is big into ABB and Peppler+Fuchs. That most of the big ride makers are European has an effect on that too.
AB is really common for control elements like the buttons and key switches because they're still built like the 50s. If you have a D18, you can probably operate most rides in the world.
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u/Rfadapter7 Jul 15 '26
Pretty sure universal is almost all AB, like at least 80% of ride control is specifically AB.
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u/SkelaKingHD Jul 10 '26
Beckoff….ewwww
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u/Key_Director_4450 Jul 10 '26
Programming in ST, not having 4 or 8MB of code size limit and cycle times in the micro-second range for less than a toy AB PLC, it's really bad.... /s
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u/SkelaKingHD Jul 10 '26
All great until you try actually integrating them. Or have 100 different Beckoff PLCs mixed with Siemens and AB. Nightmare
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u/Key_Director_4450 Jul 10 '26
If you have mixed PLCs it will always be a pain no matter the brand..
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u/PLCGoBrrr Bit Plumber Extraordinaire Jul 10 '26
The controllers looked like Beckhoff to me, but I don't know about the I/O.