The 16 top football teams in Europe recently competed in the UEFA European Football Championship in Austria and Switzerland. Ultimately won by Spain, the event was broadcast to 180 countries worldwide with the SpiderCam camera robots, mounted above the field, providing spectacular television images. The state-of-the-art camera systems, all controlled by Beckhoff PC-based control technology, were installed in four of the European Championship stadia.
Highly dynamic television pictures from the helicopter perspective are transmitted by the SpiderCam, a camera robot (developed by the company of the same name) that moves the camera freely in all directions in space like a remote controlled flying object. A cable winch system, fixed to four masts on the roofs of the stands or other fixed points in the stadium, keeps the camera in the desired position. Cable winches that shorten and lengthen the cables and coordinated controls drive the system making it fast and agile – speeds of up to 32 km/h are possible.
Different cameras can be fitted to the camera head, or dolly, according to need
In order to control this complex process, SpiderCam uses a CX1000 Embedded PC running Windows CE as an operating system for the central controller. Each winch station incorporates a CX9000 Embedded PC that communicates, using TwinCAT, through network variables with the CX1000 in the central control unit. Integrated TwinSAFE terminals ensure maximum safety, particularly at critical times such as the commissioning or when under manual control.
In spite of the complex technology, it is relatively easy to use the SpiderCam. Only two people are needed to operate the camera system. While one flies the device through space with the aid of a joystick, the second operates the camera itself. A control monitor with online display provides accurate information about the exact position of the camera at all times.
The image signals are transmitted to the director’s booth or the transmitter van along the glass fibre that is embedded in the plastic cables, from where they are processed and broadcast.
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