Studio automation offers many advantages: Productions can be made more complex with less effort through automated processes and also offer the possibility to programme camera movements in advance, shifting much of the work before the actual production.
The camera operators are relieved by planned processes so that they can concentrate on a clean picture and the ideal creative realisation during the production instead of on the technology.
To further develop the automation of the broadcast workflow, KST has developed its own modular product CamBot®.system developed.
Access to the entire workflow
Automation should not be limited to individual aspects of the workflow, as this would restrict synergies. With KST, the entire workflow can be centralised in one system and controlled, linked and planned jointly. Communication from the software at network level enables control via external devices. This allows commands to be created that can then be executed by an image mixer (e.g. KAIROS). This promotes the automation process and takes it to the next level. With the right preparation, the production process is reduced to a great extent. In the following video, you can see how KAIROS accesses CamBot®.system.
Modularity
CamBot®.system has a modular design and can therefore be individually configured according to customer requirements and intended use. For example, customers can initially implement only camera control with CamBot® and then gradually expand the system to other areas.
Development
The core of the CamBot®.system software has been developed and used productively by our Munich-based partner company for 20 years. The user interface has been optimally adapted to studio operations and user requirements, making CamBot® the ideal interface.
The further development of CamBot®.system is dynamic and project-based. KST therefore focuses its development on individual and project-specific requirements.
Dynamic automation
CamBot® enables dynamic automation. Thus, the system ensures manual interventions in the pre-programmed matrices at any time, so that users can react spontaneously to unexpected situations. For example, camera movements can be extended or shortened live during the show, depending on how long the presenter stays in one position, without having to change or overwrite the programming.
Userfriendly Interface
The CamBot®.remote PRO control software offers extensive features and can also be linked to third-party technology such as talent tracking. This allows users to utilise the full range of control and programming options in an intuitive and transparent manner. Even new or inexperienced operators can quickly learn to use the software thanks to its high level of user-friendliness, regardless of the complexity of the system being controlled.
New views
In addition to automation, repeatability and cleanliness of movement, the use of a robotic camera system also offers opportunities in terms of dynamics within production, because, depending on the system used, the cameras can be moved freely around the room.
Planability
Any number of moves and presets can be stored in CamBot® for precise and repeatable playback as often as required. Depending on the production, it is possible to completely dispense with camera operators with the help of detailed planning. Thanks to the possibilities of the software, it is still possible to intervene creatively – control remains with the operator.
Safety
A moving, robotic camera system, especially in a spatially limited studio environment, normally brings with it a non-negligible risk in the form of possible collisions.
Only collaborative robots, also called cobots, are used for the studios planned by KST. Collaborative robots are designed to work together with humans, for example on assembly lines, so they meet special safety criteria. This includes what is probably the most important function, pausing the movement when pressure of > 2.5 kg is applied against the robot arm. Therefore, they can work directly with humans without safety zones, allowing professional studio productions to be automated even in small spaces.
Furthermore, there is a precise, graphical live simulation of the controlled systems and the environment on the software side. The software automatically avoids collisions with the environment and the robots used, both during manual operation and when calculating journeys.
Remote-Capability
CamBot®.system offers a freely scalable and stackable server system at its core, which controls the individual peripheral devices and manages the system. Both the servers themselves and the clients, which form the operator-side interface with the control software and hardware, are connected via IP. This can be either a local connection or a remote connection via the Internet. The system can therefore also be operated decentrally from several locations.
CamBot®.control
CamBot®.control is the freely scalable and stackable server system that forms the core of CamBot®.system. In addition to all performance-heavy processes, such as the calculation of kinematics and collision avoidance, the server architecture also manages the interfaces to the individual internal and external systems. CamBot®.control offers exemplary redundancy capabilities that ensure 24/7 operation without a minute of downtime. The server system can be freely deployed, and the communication between the servers is exclusively IP-based.
CamBot®.robot
The CamBot®.robot module includes the robotics integrated into the system. CamBot® offers integration interfaces to almost every well-known manufacturer, so that all paths are open to the customer. (Stäubli, Kuka, Yaskawa, Doosan, Universal Robots, Electric Friends, Black Cam, Egripment und Panasonic)
Support for all popular professional camera systems, such as:
- Pan & tilt
- PTZ
- Robot
- Cranes
- Drones
- Spidercams
Here, the software not only serves as a “remote control” for the respective controller, but also calculates and controls the entire kinematics. This allows maximum influence on the type of movement and cleanliness of the system.
Depending on the accuracy of the system, CamBot® also offers the possibility to generate tracking data for use in AR and VR systems.
CamBot®.light
With CamBot®.light, complex lighting systems and sceneries can be integrated into the system and controlled centrally. Depending on the light settings or even the movements of individual effects and spots can be naturally co-controlled by the operator and fully linked to the rest of the overall system.
CamBot®.remote
CamBot®.remote consists of the user software CamBot®.remote Production (Pro for short) and the hardware panels RP1 and RP2, but depending on the customer’s requirements, various third-party systems are also available. For example, the Panasonic AW-RP150 or the Kairos operator panel can be used for operation. The operator station connects to the central CamBot®.control server system as a client, with no limit on the number of server or camera systems or the number of clients.
Accordingly, it is possible to treat even large multi-studio and multi-control room installations as a fully integrated overall system. CamBot® offers flexible user management and pooling functions to efficiently manage the overall system and give each operator access only to the elements assigned to them.
Speziell für den Einsatz von PTZ-Kameras wurde eine gesonderte Software-Variante CamBot®.remote PTZ entwickelt.
CamBot®.matching
CamBot®.matching allows you to control all camera-side functions. The software takes over the functions of a conventional RCP, which can be saved as presets and controlled automatically. For example, during a camera movement from indoor to outdoor areas, it is possible to seamlessly adjust the aperture, white balance or other camera settings as a controlled, programmable axis.
CamBot®.graphics
With CamBot®.graphics, a feature-rich interface to on-air and VR graphics systems, such as Reality by Zero Density, has been created. Thereby it becomes possible to automate and control all aspects and settings of the graphics from CamBot®. This can be prepared animations of AR objects, the manual control of AR objects themselves or the content on background screens. It is also possible to use pure virtual cameras like real cameras with manual control and programming.
Contact
