Ross Video Acquires FX-Motion Robotic Camera Systems

Will demonstrate applications with virtual sets and augmented realities for news and TV production at NAB

By George Winslow -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/7/2012 12:08:35 PM

Ross Video has acquired FX-Motion, a robotic camera systems company based in Brussels, Belgium, and is planning to use the company's technology to offer systems that could significantly improve the production quality of newscasts and live TV productions.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. FX-Motion has been renamed Ross Robotics and it will continue to operate as a division of Ross Video out of their office in Belgium with its current staff. Stijn Vanorbeek, CEO of FX-Motion, will continue as president of Ross Robotics.

In a lengthy interview on the acquisition, Ross Video CEO David Ross noted that FX-Motion's technology will allow them to offer significant improvements in the way newscasts are produced and that they expect to be demonstrating a system showing virtual sets and augmented realities using their OverDrive automated production control system, production switchers, XPression Graphics systems and robotic cameras at NAB.

The FX-Motion technology, which was developed by Vanorbeek, uses a rail-based system for their robotic cameras rather than the pedestal systems almost universally used, Ross notes.

That allows them to offer much more complex shots, producing a more cinematic look, because the camera can pan, tilt and zoom while moving, something that is difficult or impossible with pedestal cameras, he explains.

The rail system also makes the positioning of the cameras extremely accurate, which means these images can be tightly integrated with virtual sets and augmented reality systems.

The FX-Motion technology has been used on Eurovision Song Contest, So You Think You Can Dance and in augmented reality productions like the VGA awards.

The Eurovision Song Contest, for example, included virtual graphics that were laid over a variety of those.

These were extremely expensive productions, but Ross Video executives believe the technology can be adapted to the much lower-cost news and live TV production environments. "The Furio camera systems cost about the same as other camera systems if not less," Ross notes. "You can imagine the possibilities of taking news and taking them to a whole new level" with more sophisticated shots, graphics and and virtual sets.

Such technologies could be particularly appealing during this year's election cycle, he believes.

The system is available in 2 variants - Furio Robo (Full Robotics System) and Furio RC (Remote Control System)-and is designed for live television production studio use with a single operator controling multiple cameras.

The system consists of a Pan-Tilt-Zoom Head (PTZ), Rail Based Dolly System with Elevator and a IP based control system. It can be configured as a simple PTZ head on a fixed tripod or expanded to a full multi-camera rail system.

"I and the rest of the FX-Motion team are very happy to be joining Ross Video and adding Robotics to a combined live production product portfolio," added Vanorbeek in a statement. "Together we are able to create compelling, integrated production solutions and Furio will benefit greatly from Ross' global market reach and excellent customer support organization."