Unreal Engine is not usually the software that is used for rigging and animation, but Technical Artist Joe Chu proves that it can be with his experiments with Modular Control Rigs for simple environment animations.
In his latest showcase, he used a mechanical prop, something like an engine, and applied a Modular Rig to make it move.
He noted that it’s possible to move beyond single-joint motion “as long as the prop parts are spitted with animation in mind,” building a skeleton and painting skin weights directly in UE works well for moderate complexity props, and mechanical modules like Hinge and Piston are already well supported in the engine.