Camera robots with extended operating range at IBC2015

Advertisers, directors and cameramen are increasingly making use of slow motion and time-lapse photography in commercials, action movies and sports broadcasts. High-speed recording techniques amaze and delight viewers, providing them with an insight into sequences of movement that are otherwise imperceptible to the human eye when presented conventionally. Robot-controlled cameras have become established worldwide as the first choice for complex shooting situations.

In the past, however, the reach of the robot meant that this advanced filming technique was mainly limited to tabletop shoots focusing on smaller subjects. But not anymore, as Peter Pühringer, Division Manager at Camerobot Systems, explains: “With the introduction of these linear axes to our product portfolio, we are now able to meet the demand expressed by purchasers of our high-speed camera robots for significantly enhanced operating ranges. Traverse rails are now available in virtually any desired length and allow the use of our camera systems in all kinds of productions, whether in a studio setting, in automobile commercials or in outdoor filming.” The design and construction of a suitable traverse rail was a major challenge. Hardly any other area of application places such high demands in terms of precision and traverse quality as the film industry. The robot allows ultra-fast, highly accurate camera movements and delivers perfect, vibration-free images. This quality must also be preserved in its entirety in the linear axes. In addition, the handling of the traverse rail should be as simple as possible to allow mobile use outside studios.

The design and construction of a suitable traverse rail was a major challenge. Hardly any other area of application places such high demands in terms of precision and traverse quality as the film industry. The robot allows ultra-fast, highly accurate camera movements and delivers perfect, vibration-free images. This quality must also be preserved in its entirety in the linear axes. In addition, the handling of the traverse rail should be as simple as possible to allow mobile use outside studios.

“The new linear axis meets all these requirements to perfection,” says Pühringer. “We are thus able to offer producers a complete system that sets new standards not only in the studio but also in outdoor shoots. Users are impressed by how easy the axes are to assemble, dismantle and transport. Moreover, operation is reliable and convenient, as customers have come to expect.”

Ease of use at the highest level
The linear rail has been integrated as a fully synchronized supplementary axis into the Camerobot Motion Control software which has now been extended by several new features. All functions and all possible positions of the camera can be used without any restriction for the complete system.

In practice, this means that the programmed settings are repeatable in exactly the same configuration for as many times as the operator wishes. The control of the robot in high-speed moves can be made as before by means of the optional Target Tracking software which, with its ultrafast processes, automatically enables the camera to track the subject. As with the standard system, the entire control equipment for the linear rail fits into a specially designed flight case.

The traverse rail now available turns high-speed camera robots into high-performance complete systems that offer new freedoms and opportunities in filming. There are no longer any technical limits imposed on the creativity of the producer or director.