Shotoku Broadcast Systems will be introducing the SmartPed to the US market at this year’s NAB Show.
A new, fully robotic XY pedestal, SmartPed addresses the creative and commercial demands of on-air environments with a cost-efficient and high-performance solution, according to the company.
It will be demonstrated alongside the company’s full range of pedestals, tripods, pan/tilt heads and control systems throughout the show.
The three wheel smooth-steer pedestal features a new height column without any need of pneumatic balancing, multi-zone collision avoidance and detection systems and engineered electro-mechanical steer/drive system.
“Shotoku has been supplying leading broadcasters around the world with high-performance remote camera systems for many years,” said James Eddershaw, sales director, Shotoku.
“SmartPed is a result of that deep experience and marks the next phase in the technical and operational developments of robotic systems.”
SmartPed offers instant switchover between local/remote operation.No re-reference or calibration is required when switching between these modes and a pan-bar mounted local joystick enables control from the studio floor as necessary.
The product is intended specifically for use in high-profile live TV productions day after day, and the stable height column provides on-air performance during pedestal moves even at higher camera elevations. A local touchscreen panel enables diagnostic and local operation functions to be accessed from the studio floor.
Floor-level adjustable LED lighting subtly indicates the current status (moving, referenced, on-air, E-stop, etc) of the pedestal adding both practical and aesthetic appeal to the system. Like all Shotoku robotics systems, SmartPed also offers a VR tracking option under both local or remote control.
SmartPed is the latest addition to Shotoku’s widely deployed and well-regarded robotic camera systems, ranging from lightweight PT heads through floor- or ceiling-mounted track systems to fully robotic servo/manual pedestals.
“As with all Shotoku systems, SmartPed was designed from the outset to provide precise, reliable operation day-in, day-out,” added Eddershaw.
SmartPed is compatible with all Shotoku studio PT heads and integrates seamlessly with the well-established TR-XT touch control system.
