Southeast Asian Indoor Dinosaur Theme Project

We received a special project: to create a 1200㎡ indoor dinosaur exhibition featuring animatronic dinosaurs, located on the second floor of a national science center in a Southeast Asian country.
This wasn’t a temporary exhibition, but a permanent space designed to welcome thousands of young visitors day after day.

From our first site visit, we knew this wasn’t simply a matter of “putting a few dinosaurs” in place.

Challenge 1: Limited load-bearing capacity on the second floor – how to get the large dinosaurs “upstairs”?

The exhibition hall is located on the second floor of the building, and the floor design load of typical commercial or public buildings is usually only 3.0–5.0 kN/m² (approximately 300–500 kg/m²) – meaning that if a 10-meter-long large dinosaur were manufactured using conventional structures, the local pressure would easily exceed the limit.

The first thing we did was to review the load distribution with the building’s structural engineers.
Based on this, we lightweighted and reconstructed the internal skeletons of the dinosaurs, and added special pressure distribution plates to the bases to convert concentrated loads into evenly distributed loads, ensuring that the force per square meter remained within a safe range.

All large models were designed with modular disassembly, and the component sizes were strictly matched to the elevator and maintenance passages.
After on-site assembly, the appearance is seamless – no one can tell that it was “taken apart into pieces” and transported upstairs.

Challenge 2: Over 20 dinosaurs moving simultaneously without making noise

Imagine: over 20 motors, joints, and tails operating simultaneously – without careful attention, the exhibition hall would become a “mechanical symphony.”
Especially since this is a science center exhibition designed for education and immersion, quietness is key.

We selected industrial-grade silent reducers, combined with soft start/soft stop control logic: the movements start smoothly and end gently.
Now, even standing in front of the nearest exhibit, you can only hear the dinosaurs’ “roars,” not a single motor noise.

Challenge 3: Operating 8 hours a day, the sensors can’t “wear out”

These types of long-term indoor exhibitions are open 6 days a week, almost year-round.
Traditional infrared sensors are prone to false triggers or malfunctions under such high-frequency use. We switched to a microwave sensing system, which offers stronger interference resistance and a longer lifespan.
Furthermore, all vulnerable modules are designed with a quick-release structure – maintenance personnel don’t need to disassemble the entire machine; they can replace faulty parts in 5 minutes, without affecting the next day’s opening.

Challenge 4: High humidity and heat + air conditioning, materials must withstand the conditions.

Southeast Asia’s climate is hot and humid, and the exhibition hall operates with 24-hour air conditioning, resulting in drastic temperature and humidity changes.
Ordinary silicone skin is prone to aging and cracking, and metal parts may rust.

For long-term indoor operation, we optimized the skin material formulation to resist color fading and surface aging caused by continuous exhibition lighting.
All internal cables and connectors were designed with double-sealed protection to ensure stable performance under prolonged public operation and routine maintenance conditions.

Since its opening, the project has operated stably, with almost no interruptions due to equipment malfunctions.
Children gather around the Triceratops for photos, parents pause beneath the Brontosaurus, and teachers guide students in recording their observations – this is exactly the usage scenario we initially envisioned.

This project delivered over 20 dinosaur exhibits, including large animatronic dinosaurs, medium-sized interactive installations, static fossil exhibits, and themed scene installations; it also integrated wearable dinosaur costumes and environmental special effects, forming a complete indoor exhibition system capable of long-term operation.

In our view, a successful indoor dinosaur exhibition is not judged by the excitement on opening day, but by whether it remains stable, quiet, and attractive three to five years later.

This project once again validates our core philosophy: true immersive experiences often stem from engineering details that are invisible to the audience – load-bearing structures, noise control, sensing systems, and material selection determine how far a project can go.

If you are planning a long-term indoor dinosaur exhibition space, please feel free to contact us. We can help you avoid common pitfalls that “look good but are difficult to maintain in the long run.”

Video for this project：