At the recent NAB convention, UK-based Camera Corps showcased its Q-Ball robotic camera system and attracted a crowd of professionals eager to see how the unique system could help them.
With a diameter of only 115mm (smaller than an audio CD), the Q-Ball consists of a full dual-mode color camera, high-precision pan and tilt system, 10:1 zoom optics and infrared night-vision capability, all under full remote control. Camera Corps co-exhibited with Polecam.
Designed for exterior or interior use at any angle, Camera Corps' Q-Ball is fully compatible with the company’s range of pan/tilt and CCU controllers. Pan and tilt can be operated at any speed from four seconds per cycle to 20 minutes per rotation through an unlimited number of turns with no visible stepping. Built-in low-noise motors allow the camera to be repositioned smoothly during live shooting rather than merely between shots. The camera interface delivers up to four channels of audio embedded into the SDI feed.
The camera is based on Camera Corps’ HD MiniZoom, which incorporates a 1/3in 2 megapixel 16:9 CMOS sensor that delivers 1080i/720p HD or 625/525 SD, both at 50 or 59.94Hz and in the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. Signal-to-noise ratio is less than 50dB, while focus can be controlled manually or automatically. The Q-Ball is housed in a weatherproof sphere machined from solid aluminum, and weighs 1.3kg (including mounting shaft) and can be operated at any angle. The camera interface operates from 9V to 18V DC power supply.
