Mark Stepanian is president & CXO at CAVU Designwerks, the media-based attractions specialist. In this role he looks after projects across the theme park sector, ranging from $5m projects to $32m dark rides and coasters. Thanks to his background in engineering, Stepanian is at the cutting-edge of innovation and technology for the company, helping to drive new products and tech forward, working on large-scale coaster projects for one of the largest operators in the industry. He joined CAVU in 2018 and previously worked at Premier Rides.
In addition to this, he also gives back time to the sector by speaking at industry events and through his work on the IAAPA Young Professionals Committee, where he has helped to spearhead initiatives like the mentor/mentee programme for the association.
In 2022, CAVU Designwerks announced its partnership with KUKA Robotics to create next-generation ride systems. One innovation borne of this partnership is the Self Driving Vehicle (SDV), an entertainment application safe for passenger usage, built on a dependable industrial platform from KUKA. Other cutting-edge technology, such as artificial intelligence, real-time gaming, and projection mapping, can interact with this vehicle.
Operators can design a truly memorable experience for their target demographic by using the dynamic motion profile of the vehicle, which can range from a thrilling, immersive ride to a fun family outing. The SDV is the ideal tool for immersive storytelling since it leverages a proven platform and can adjust in real time to evolving surroundings.
“With this vehicle, we wanted to reimagine what it means to interact with an experience, by allowing guests to actively participate in the story,” says Stepanian. “We are known as innovators in the industry, and by combining our talented teams, we can create a better experience for park-goers worldwide. We are utilising KUKA’s proven technology and combining it with new and exciting experience concepts.”