A robotic XY pedestal, Shotoku said SmartPed addresses the creative and commercial demands of the on-air environments with a high-performance, cost-effective system.

The three wheel smooth-steer pedestal features a new height column without any need of pneumatic balancing. It also has multi-zone collision avoidance and detection system. SmartPed offers a precision engineered electro-mechanical steer/drive system for unparalleled levels of performance and reliability, the company said.

“SmartPed is a result of our deep experience and marks the next phase in the technical and operational developments of robotic systems,” said James Eddershaw, sales director at Shotoku.

SmartPed offers instant switchover between local/remote operation, which makes the pedestal versatile and easily operated in any application. No re-reference or calibration is ever required when switching between these modes and a pan-bar mounted local joystick enables easy control from the studio floor as necessary.

Intended specifically for use in high-profile live TV productions day after day, the SmartPed design has reliability and ease of use built-in from the start. The stable height column provides enhanced on-air performance during pedestal moves even at higher camera elevations.

A local touchscreen panel enables diagnostic and local operation functions to be easily 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. It is compatible with all Shotoku studio PT heads and integrates seamlessly with the TR-XT touch control system.