The Customer
A world-leading manufacturer of remote-controlled cameras for professional broadcast, film, and entertainment. Its equipment is used by clients across the globe, particularly in wildlife, sports, live production and concerts, and reality TV shows.
Challenge
As a highly experienced specialist leader in the design of remotely operated broadcast cameras, Overview’s customer presented a demanding challenge for a motion drive capable of ultra-high precision and ultra-smooth motion to be delivered silently and with a variable payload.
Overview’s Solution
Having seen Overview’s drive technology in a PTZ security camera, the customer saw the potential for an alternative drive solution. Servotorq Integrated Servo Motors were developed with the very needs of OEM integrators like the broadcast manufacturer in mind from the outset. Overview was confident that its Servotorq technology could provide an effective direct- drive solution for its camera positioning requirements.
Combining highly efficient BLDC motors, advanced controllers, high- performance servos and precision rotary position encoders, Servotorq delivered the perfectly integrated, direct-drive solution. Not only were they uniquely compact and powerful, but they also delivered exceptional positional control, together with smooth, fast and silent operation – vital requirements in today’s broadcast sector.
Overview’s engineering team undertook a small NRE (non-recurring engineering) project to modify their Servotorq Atlas™ integrated servo motors, to meet the customer’s specific requirements.
Benefits
The resultant pan and tilt mechanism, featuring two Atlas drive systems, is “the most advanced remote head ever produced” by the customer and enabled the remote head system to execute its moves repeatedly, reliably, with zero-backlash, and in virtual silence.
Application and integration support provided by Overview engineers meant that the customer was able to bring its new remote head to market in record time. Having a local manufacturer was also key to the project and the relationship continues to grow with the customer looking to use further variants of Overview’s drive technology in other camera positioning products.
Retractable Camera – From Concept Through to Manufacture
