In Broadcast - January 2021 - 42

42

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 11 - Issue 1 | January 2021

InStudio

Robotic Camera Systems Update cont'd...

Trackmen VioTrack
F coded floor and
applications

BACKDROP - virtual background tool
Ncam Mk2 Camera Bar

latency) to the $5,999 Primex
41 (2024 x 2048 pixels, 180 Hz, 5.5
milliseconds). The Primex 41 has an
integral 20-element 850 nm LED ring
and can detect passive markers at
up to 30 metres distance or active
markers at up to 45 metres. All Prime
models come with a GigE data port,
Ether-net camera sync input and PoE
power input.
Shotoku is a manufacturer of
robotic camera support systems.
It's TG-18i is based on the
company's TG-18 pan and tilt head.
It allows customers to choose to
have the CMC motion control system
and PDU power unit fully integrated
within the body of the TG-18 itself,
then typically needing only AC power
and network connections. One of the
benefits of a separate CMC is ease of
service but this is still a simple task.
Stype
describes
its
recently
introduced 'Follower' as an object and
people tracking system giving TV show
hosts a new level of freedom as they
can physically interact with graphics,

Shotoku's
TG-18i

" moving them around, throw them
or whatever comes to their mind " .
It comprises four or more infrared
cameras positioned around the studio,
and up to 1,000 LED points that can
be followed. The system tracks the
position and orientation of these
followed objects and allows graphics
to be placed in their positions.
Each beacon is uniquely identified.
Follower can be combine with Stype's
RedSpy and Stype Kit systems and
is compatible with many third-party
rendering programs.

Stype Follower

Established in 2004, Cologne-based
Trackmen produces 3D camera
tracking systems and supporting
services for broadcast applications,
virtual studios and augmented reality
applications. TrackMen products use
an open interface for compatibility
with virtual graphics software:
* VioTrack F employs a miniature
sensor camera which attaches rigidly
to the broadcast camera. The sensor
camera determines the position and
orientation of the broadcast camera
from any angle from individually
coded floor markers.
* Viotrack S1 uses markers painted
with a green or blue tone which differs
slightly from the background colour in
a virtual studio to allow easy chroma
keying.
* VioTrack R is a markerless
camera tracking system which
uses natural features in the
environment. The scene is
analysed in real-time to generate
3D reference points without using
dedicated markers. VioTrack R works
in visible light. The new VioTrack R+

variant also processes infrared light.
An optical sensor mounted on the
camera is used to calculate position
and orientation.
* A through-the-lens version of
VioTrack R, Trackmen's VioTrack R
TTL sources local or remote camera
tracking data directly from a live
video stream. No additional sensors,
dedicated markers or LEDS are
required. The tracking workstation
runs on a Linux operating system and
sends data to the graphics renderers
through a standard Ethernet.
* TorqTrack uses a virtual model
based on sensor data from any single
axis of a camera support system
together with zoom and focus
data from the lens. It calculates all
parameters in real-time and works
with any sensor-equipped crane,
dolly, tripod or other camera support.
* VMatte compositing software
uses chrominance and luminance
information combined with automatic
picture analysis to perform soft matting. Internal processing is in 4:4:4:4
R:G:B:luma.
* TrackMen's Previz tools allow
computer generated scenes and
elements to be previewed using
a standard render processor. An
operator records the camera tracking
data from any TrackMen system and
can then judge the CG scenes based on
the actual shoot or can render selected
scenes in higher quality.
VANTeC is a systems integrator and

product supplier with several years of
experience in robotic camera systems
for TV studios. Among these are
remote-control pan/tilt/zoom heads,
elevator columns, ground-level and
ceiling-suspended horizontal tracks,
and vertical tracks which simulate
crane movements (including what is
claimed to be the largest ever installed
in Europe, at France Info in Paris).
Systems provided have included infrared camera tracking, body-tracking
and object-tracking motion-capture
combinations for applications such as
television and cine production.
Vitec's Vinten Vantage pan/tilt
head leaves customers free to choose
the camera and lens that meet their
requirements. Intended for use with
cine, teleconference, or ENG manual
lenses, an optional external lens
drive can drive up to three axes of
any manual lens, giving users the
ability to drive zoom, focus, and iris.
Encoded motors enable the use of
stored shots within Vinten's μVRC and
HD-VRC control software, and allow
users to adapt lower-cost camera
setups lacking encoded digital lenses
for use on virtual sets and in other VR
applications. The external lens drive
assembly kit comprises everything
required to mount the lens drive to
the camera setup, including a single
motor to drive one axis, two sizes of
drive gear, and a flexible gear ring.
Additional motors are available as
required to drive up to three axes.
Telemetrics robotic camera installed
by VANTeC for Eleven Sports
virtual set at wTVision
http://www.inbroadcast.com https://www.trackmen.de/produkte/viotrack-f-coded-floor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQ-CtcL7T4 https://www.ncam-tech.com/ncam-upgrades-and-releases-latest-mk2-product-suite/ https://stype.tv/ https://stype.tv/ https://www.shotoku.co.uk/products/tg-18i-2/ http://www.vantec.pt/?fn_page=3&language=en
In Broadcast - January 2021

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