Technology integration in Filmmaking

Mocobot is a robotic device technology used in the field of cinematography. It is a device by a company called Kuka robotics and the device is named Mocobot. To initiate with basics, it is a device on which the camera is mounted basically becoming the robotic arm for the camera that can move at a certain angle and speed. This moves the camera in a highspeed motion in a fraction of second. This makes it possible to carry out any shoot with high-speed precision with maximal quality and accuracy. Difficult to shoot sequences can be easily shot with Mocobot considering its high speed to capture any scene faster, enhancing the quality of film-making.Content without backward-compatible data.

This device has been used advantageously by major Hollywood studios and various directors to capture impossible images and scenes. To be precise with the design of this highly adaptable device, the design basically consists of robotic arms which can be remotely controlled to capture the images. They can move quickly as mentioned before and become highly adaptable for capturing shots in tight spaces and in difficult or dangerous environment giving out the best results. A reason why this device becomes a choice of device to shoot certain sequences is its ability to shoot perfectly without putting a lot of manpower and danger over the shooting personnel. 

The device is known to be flexible with equipping wide range of cameras, permitting the filmmakers to capture breath-taking shots and images which would otherwise we impossible with traditional camera setting and system. Talking about where this device can be put to use would include controlled and closed environments as seen in Advertisement commercials and in generating  product videos.

Talking about the features of this device, the operating envelope with respect to the base is –

• Maximum height – 3.5m 
• Maximum reach – 3.1m
• Base – 0.8m

  As for the Rig performance, the range of travel may range from -120° to about +\- 350°. The maximum speed ranges anywhere between 160°\sec to about 630°\sec. coming to the practical shooting speed, this device can move at a speed of 1 second for a range of 2m both horizontally and vertically. The payload capacity of Mocobot is around 20 kg. Power requirement is a three-phase power 400V, consuming approximately 13.5KW. Outdoor shooting will require a generator with an earthing provided. 

  Mocobot studio is located near Manyatha tech park (jakkur) Bengaluru. It is managed by three partners – Mr. Bharat Parashuram, Mr. Kartik Reddy and Mr. Muneedara Reddy. Mocobot studios came into origin in south India about a year ago and has been a part of film-making industry ever since then. The device was brought into the south Indian film industry as no one had it earlier and every time it was required, it had to be hired from Bombay. Hence the introduction of this device in south Indian film industry has made film-making an easier task. 

  It was first used in the Ad industry and in shooting product videos. The first Ad they shot with the robotic device was for US Polo and have later shot for companies like kingfisher, AMD and for Charcoal.This robotic device is used for liquid shoots and for hyper-lapse\timelapse videos whose shooting is otherwise not possible manually.  This device can be programmed to N number of points that the robot can reach over a set period of time which in turn can be programmed using a computer.

  In a recent interview conducted by Mr. Vishnu, Founder/Producer of the Straight arrow studios with one of the Operator\owner of Mocobot Mr. Bharat Parashuram the following things were discussed. When asked on how the shots are being planned and prepared before the sequence is shot, he answered that it is dependent on the Director of photography and the stunt masters. He went on saying how they come up with the requirements and ideologies required for the scene which is then followed by the team that handle the device Mocobot, setting up the program in the computer which in turn runs through the robot. 

  When asked about the advantages of this device, he explained how the device made it flexible for the DOP’s to achieve their shots with time consistency making 11 – 16 shots possible to be shot in a single day achieving a milestone in film making as originally only 4-6 shots would be possible to shoot.

  When asked about the best experience from movies shot by Mocobot, he explained how it made the shots flexible and easier. “Beast” is one of the very recent movies in which the device Mocobot was used. Starring Thalapathy Vijay and Pooja Hedge, the movie was directed by Nelson Dilipkumar involving few amazing fight sequences which were shot by Mocobot. The goal of achieving high-speed precision and the accurate angles were all a work of Mocobot.

  Another movie that used this device was “Vikram” starring the Legend (Ulaganayagan) Kamal hassan which was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. This movie shows another instance where Mocobot has shown its amazing job enabling the filming of all fight scenes as a continuous sequence, excluding the requirement of multi-cam setup and the need for multiple shots. 

  After seeing the successful results from the robot in the movie “Beast” and “Vikram”, he claimed that another robot is soon to be launched in another two months with linear track system of about 30 feet reach and with a good speed in the track system as well.