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Digitronics owner Patrick Le pilots his mini 'copter
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With the vast majority of companies exhibiting in the South Upper Hall serving the digital post-production and content delivery sectors, an innovative few take on the challenge of capturing real-world images and performance and transitioning them into the virtual realm.
One of these is Xsens Technologies, which offers a real-time motion-capture solution driven by inertia-based sensors rather than optical targets pasted on the subject and photographed by a camera array. The mo-cap data is then transmitted wirelessly for immediate use.
"We made the sensors ourselves six years ago and found a strong market in the sports medicine and biomechanics fields, where they study human motion," explains Xsens product manager Patrick Runyon. The company soon saw a potential application of its product in the entertainment industry, digitizing performances for gaming and animation projects. Because the Xsens system does not rely on optical sensors, "it's less expensive because you don't need all the cameras or a dedicated mo-cap studio. That makes it more talent-friendly as well."
Down the Hall, MK-V Managing Director Howard J. Smith, celebrating his ninth year of exhibiting at the NAB Show, is demonstrating five new camera support products, including the V2 Lite Genesis Base, MV-K Classic Arm and Pro Arm upgrade. And the U.K.-based company is coming off a hot sales run.
Success is all about opportunity met by preparation, Smith explains, noting that client Clint Eastwood is currently employing one of his systems in South Africa on the production of his upcoming feature "The Human Factor," about the life of Nelson Mandela.
"It's a combination of work and fun," attests Patrick Le of Digitronics, demonstrating his company's remote-control helicopter that features a mini camera and transmitter system that can wirelessly deliver 720x480 video from a distance of 1,000 feet. Noting that his customers range from security companies and police departments to creative real-estate agents seeking new ways to showcase properties, Le says, "The price of this complete unit is less than one hour of flight time in a full-size helicopter, which opens up the market to people who would never imagine using aerial photography."
"Innovation is really what success is all about," confirms Smith, who uses his work as a camera operator on projects including the 3D horror hit "My Bloody Valentine" as a test bed for his support systems. "It's that experience that drives my creativity, which I use to design new products that help drive the creativity of my customers."