Arcam Robotics system

01 the short story

XD Motion offers news channels a complete camera control solution (robotics - hardware - software) with its Arcam robotic system. The solution, already acclaimed by European and international TV channels for its innovation and great flexibility of use, is comprised of a universal robots UR10 arm, a specific controller, user-friendly software, and a broadcast camera.

02 the challenge

Every day television directors need to execute thousands of camera movements for the programs they direct with ever fewer personnel available. This puts them in a very difficult situation: having to control different cameras simultaneously with the possibility of repeat movements. It is therefore essential to have an easily programmable multi-axis robot capable of working alongside humans in complete safety. This enables creation of a system that can control all cameras on any unit and hereby simplify control room work, centralize camera control for operators and allow directors to achieve a distinctive style in each program.

03 the solution

“What makes our solution special is that we created intuitive user-friendly software that optimizes use of this robot's intrinsic qualities, namely its repeatability and its precision,” explain Pascal Gautier, co-creator of the ARCAM Robotic System.

XD Motion develops user-friendly tools for motion control of cameras mounted on industrial robots. After various tests, they chose Universal Robots’ UR10 6-axis robot arm, which they consider the best in the market. Lightweight, easy to program and capable of adapting to the needs of the TV industry, the XD Motion solution comes with a specially designed joystick application so that users can define different way points to create loops.

According to Benoit Dentan, CEO of XD Motion, “this technology simplifies the control room operator’s workstation, makes it easy to execute previously complex movements and lets you program original, infinitely repeatable paths and store them entirely autonomously for each program.”

04 ARCAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM

After 3 years in development, the ARCAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM is currently deployed in the TV studios of major groups at international level: USA (Riot Games), China (CTV), in Europe (Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland, etc.), in France (LCI, Equidia, Les Echos-Le Parisien, etc.) and has been deployed from the outset at Cnews, InfosSport+ and Canal+. The TV studios chose the XD Motion solution largely due to its simplicity of use, in particular thanks to the UR robot  arms integrated in the system, themselves very easy to program.

Canal+ Group’s Operations Manager Laurent d'Auria explains: “Thanks to this tool, we can now benefit from artistic added value. In other words; a camera capable of perpetual, varied movements with infinite repeatability. We can re-record or amend during our live broadcasts without any additional manual labor cost.” XD Motion worked on the user-friendliness of its control software with Canal+ operators, ensuring that the solution can program regular movements and operate without requiring input from operators already occupied with camera views, lighting, etc.

The robot is compatible with the latest augmented reality technologies thanks to an AR SYNC interface box, and can also be remotely controlled via VPN or 4G HF for remote production broadcasts. “We use single-operator models on these channels, so the operator can’t always be directly controlling the robot. Being able to launch movements that can be repeated indefinitely is unquestionably an advantage,” adds Laurent d'Auria.