Rise of the Machines

Released: 2014-03-04

Runtime: 60 minutes

Episode Overview

CGI animation explodes open a revolutionary new breed of airship–the Aeros Dragon Dream–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on during a series of grueling tests. Exploring the engineering breakthroughs within this helium-filled behemoth will reveal surprising secrets of how the technology evolved, inspired by extraordinary lessons from nature and history. How did the airship's unique buoyancy control system evolve from the swim bladder of deep-water fish? Which breakthrough in rocket engineering enables Corky to spin the airship on a dime? How did the Eiffel Tower inspire the extremely strong yet lightweight airship frame? If the test flight is successful, it will demonstrate how Dragon Dream's radical new design works and will open a new chapter in aviation history. Failure will consign the Dragon Dream to the scrapheap.

Series Overview

It is 2014 and the machines have not taken over…yet. The newest, most technologically advanced series from H2™, Rise of the Machines, reveals how the inventions behind the world’s most extreme machines have enabled them to evolve beyond humanity’s wildest imagination. This visually stunning series uses mind-blowing CGI animations to reveal the extraordinary engineering at the heart of the world’s most extreme machines. From the world’s biggest mega truck to the world’s fastest train to a revolutionary heavy lift ship, ground breaking CGI animation explodes the machines apart to reveal the ingenious inventions hidden under their skin that enables the teams who drive, fly and sail them to be at the top of their game. This series takes us inside these machines in close up detail and explores what helps these elite ships, trucks, trains and aircrafts rise above all others.