Grau enters studio automation with Furio from Fx-Motion

Until now, Grau Luminotecnia has represented Egripment in terms of manually operated cranes and Scorpio in terms of motorized and sensorized cranes. Now it is taking a step forward by incorporating studio automation into its services and they do it with the help of the Belgian FX-Motion. Under the Furio brand, FX-Motion offers both equipment for remote camera control and solutions for automated studios, virtual studios and augmented reality.

Until now, Grau Luminotecnia ha representado a Egripment en cuanto a grúas con operación manual y a Scorpio en grúas motorizadas y sensorizadas. Ahora, da un paso adelante incorporando a sus servicios la automatización de estudios y lo hacen de la mano de la belga FX-Motion. Sus sistemas están presentes en televisiones de todo el mundo como TV5 Monde (informativos), France 3 (Des Racines et Ailes), BBC (Radio 1’s Big Weekend), LaSexta (Buenafuente), ITV (Britain’s Got Talent) o CBS (America’s Got Talent). La tecnología de Fx-Motion podemos encontrarla también en películas como Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Lara Croft & the Cradle of Life, The Highbinders, Die Another Day y Taxi III, entre otras.

Since 2001, Fx-Motion has developed several products, with advanced technology that has even been nominated for technical Oscars, to serve these markets.

Under the Furio brand, FX-Motion offers both equipment for remote camera control and solutions for automated studios, virtual studios and augmented reality. The main characteristics of its technology are based on a unique computer control network, as well as careful software and robust hardware.

The system consists of a program that controls the heads, telescopic columns, dollies and cranes, in such a way that the heads, being servers (computers, in a word), only have to receive orders from a system with a touch screen to execute them. Of course, in order to execute them, they need to know exactly where they are, and that is, in the computer system, and in the position codecs of the heads, columns, dollies and cranes, where the crux of the matter is; All are sensorized with military-grade sensors and a precision of 0.01 degrees, giving real-time absolute position values, not relative ones that add cumulative errors, and synchronized with genlock, their real position. This has the advantage that the system, knowing in real time where each of the components is, can memorize the positions and movements, and repeat them. With this, the virtual rendering system knows exactly the angle and distance of the cameras, and it is very easy to render, whether for a virtual scenario or augmented reality. Positioning errors are null.

A quiet and smooth system

Fx-Motion is characterized by its silent and smooth operation, even when moving at 5 m/s, thanks to wheels specially designed so that there are no squeaks or jerks in curves (Silent wheels) or in backpan operation (the camera always points at a certain point even when moving away or taking a curve).

The Furio system is very simple to assemble and operate. Multiple cameras can be operated from a touchscreen console, or take manual control. Each of the cameras can have infinite positions and movements recorded. The absolute positions will be sent to the system in real time and synchronized with the video genlock.

Grau offers its clients all the possibilities developed by Fx-Motion, both for rental and sale, providing the necessary advice to launch even the most ambitious projects.

Main features Furio

Encoders = Standard (not added, which gives accuracy problems

Absolute encoders = No startup reference needed Tested compatibility with Virtual Studio software

Integrated Zoom/Focus and SD/HD genlock controls

Communication via standard Ethernet LAN

Cheap cables and routers

Easy installation and maintenance

Unlimited cable length

Easy integration with existing systems and infrastructure

Remote system check over the Internet

Advanced automation controls

22” touch screen

Intel Atom PC integrated into the display = No server room needed

Unlimited recorded positions and recall

Unlimited recorded movements and recovery

Smooth and repeatable live camera movements

Automatic panback compensation in curve

Dolly and column:

Extremely quiet and stable design

Controlled by VR-One head

Possibility of different configurations (Head directly on the dolly, in a fixed height bazooka on the Dolly, on a telescopic column or hanging from the dolly

Optional side wheels for safety

Possibility of working hanging from ceiling rails