Rise of the Machines

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.

Stunning CGI animation explodes open the world's biggest haul truck–the Liebherr T284–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on to complete an epic multi-million dollar mission in America's highest production gold mine.The Mega Truck is taller than a two-story house, weighs 260 tons and has the pulling power of a freight train. On it's back it carries 400 tons of rock–the same weight as a loaded jumbo jet. We'll join this incredible machine and its crew high on a scorched mountainside in Nevada, where they must take on a series of colossal challenges to deliver 180,000 tons of precious gold ore. How does a defense system mimicking tornadoes help the Mega Truck survive sudden dust storms? Which century-old breakthrough in aircraft engineering means Alice can haul over 400 tons in a single load? What is the ancient Egyptian discovery that enables her to power up the steepest mountain roads?

In Singapore, the oil rig construction capital of the world, a $220 million oil rig has just come off the production line, and oilman Manuel Olea needs it delivered to the Gulf of Mexico pronto. We'll join Captain Viktor Shevlyakov and his crew on-board the MV Treasure as they attempt to transport this 160 meter-high, 13,000-ton oilrig close to 16,000 miles in only 43 days. At critical moments on their journey, spectacular CGI animation will explode open the 50,000-ton supership and plunge us deep inside its DNA. Exploring the engineering breakthroughs within this ocean giant will reveal surprising secrets of how the technology evolved, inspired by extraordinary lessons from nature and history.

Stunning CGI animation explodes open one of the world's fastest trains–the Italo AGV–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on to race 300 miles in less than four hours. Driver Gabriele Cicalini pulls out of Venice's historic train station at precisely 9.55am. His Italo AGV is the Ferrari of high-speed trains, cutting through the Italian countryside at 180 miles per hour. But even with the horsepower of 16 Formula One cars behind Gabriele, arriving on time in Rome will push man and machine to the brink. En route, Gabriele must handle sharp turns, a crowded national rail network and 11-mile long tunnels. Can he keep Italo's reputation intact and deliver hundreds of passengers to Rome safely and on time? Exploring the engineering breakthroughs within this 200-meter-long metal bullet will reveal surprising secrets of how the technology evolved, inspired by extraordinary lessons from nature and history.

Stunning CGI animation explodes open one of the world's largest diggers–the Komatsu PC8000–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on to shovel 27,000 tons of copper ore in less than four days. The pressure is on at Copper Mountain Mine, British Columbia. Every month the mine must produce $18 million of powdered copper to fill a shipment bound for Japan. The miners must continually blast the rock to undercover pockets of copper ore and scoop it up to feed the mine's mill. At the heart of this operation is the Komatsu PC8000. Its mission: scoop rock 24/7, 365 days a year using a giant bucket that could hold a Hummer. At the PC8000's controls is mining veteran, Pete Hartinger. Over his four-day shift, Pete must contend with potentially lethal boulders smashing into his Mega Digger, collisions with giant haul trucks, and lengthy delays caused by maintenance.

This episode explodes open the world's only purpose built flying crane–the Erickson Air Crane–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on to construct 120 giant steel transmission towers in only eight days. Chief Pilot Travis Harrold and his crew take to the skies to build a vital link in a new $1.6 billion power line across the remote Albertan prairies. Grappling the controls of this 10,000 horsepower hauling machine, the team must lift eight-ton steel towers high into the air and set them with absolute precision. At critical moments, immersive CGI will peel back the Air Crane's aluminum skin to plunge us deep inside her DNA. Exploring engineering breakthroughs within this aerial acrobat will reveal surprising secrets of how the technology evolved, inspired by extraordinary lessons from nature and history.

Stunning CGI animation to explodes open the fastest accelerating vehicle on the planet–the Top Fuel Dragster–to reveal the extraordinary technology it uses to propel it to speeds over 500km/hr. In Pomona, California, the world's fastest dragsters are battling it out in the final of the NHRA World Championships. Leading them all is the astonishing Al-Anabi Top Fuel dragster. But can its driver, Shawn Langdon, hold onto his advantage and win the championship? At critical moments, spectacular we will uncover the engineering breakthroughs and reveal the extraordinary lessons from history and nature that helped this lightning-fast vehicle evolve: What connects an ancient Chinese war machine with the dragster's extraordinary acceleration? How did a 20 million year-old flying squirrel inspire a high performance brake? And how does the structure of bamboo keep Shawn safe in a crash?

Stunning CGI animation explodes open the world's biggest aircraft carrier–the USS Ronald Reagan– to reveal the extraordinary technology it uses to command the oceans and defend the United States. In the Pacific Ocean, the USS Ronald Reagan is setting out on deployment. In the next 12 hours, her captain must launch and land 40 pilots so they can qualify for carrier operations. Exploring the engineering breakthroughs within this 100,000-ton colossus will reveal surprising secrets of how the technology evolved, inspired by extraordinary lessons from nature and history: What connects a spider's web with a landing aircraft? How did a Leonardo da Vinci sketch inspire the carrier's launch system? And how does a 19th century French lighthouse save pilot's lives? As day turns to night, the landing operation becomes fraught with danger. The smallest mistake from pilot or crew could kill someone. Can Captain Bolt get all his aircraft safely back on board?

This episode explodes open the world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, to reveal the incredible technology that pushes 600 tons of aircraft nearly 6,000 miles in just ten hours. The A380 is packed with technology to allow it to carry more passengers, in more comfort and with greater fuel efficiency than any jet in its class. How do the A380's shape-shifting wings mimic a bald eagle's flexible feathers? How have the fan-blades inside the A380's super-powered jet engines evolved from the slashing Samurai sword? How did a 3,000-year-old warrior's tunic develop into the ultra-tough yet millimeter-thin skin of this massive aircraft? With 300,000 pounds of thrust and the world's most advanced airplane wings at his disposal, every minute counts as Captain Godel streams through the skies at a speed of 600 miles an hour. Can the Super Jumbo's hidden innovations make up a two-hour delay and allow 300 passengers to catch their connecting flights?

Stunning CGI animation explodes open one of the world's toughest piste bashers–the Pisten Bully 600W Polar–to reveal the extraordinary technology that it depends on to shift thousands of ton of snow across perilous mountain terrain. At the wheel of the Ice Crawler, driver Steve Dewar is on a high stakes mission at Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort, British Columbia. Together, Steve and his 500-horsepower Ice Crawler have just five days to clear 8000 acres of ski runs of hazardous ice, rocks and avalanche-prone snow drifts in time for the resort's big opening weekend in January. Exploring its engineering breakthroughs will reveal surprising secrets behind how the technology evolved.