MRMC Robotic Pod User manual

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Robotic Pod
Quick Start Guide
Product code: MRMC-1464-01

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Robotic Pod Quick Start Guide
Product code: MRMC-1464-01
© 2017 Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or translated
by any means — graphical, electronic, or mechanical — including
photocopying, recording, taping, or storage in an information retrieval
system, without the express written permission of Mark Roberts Motion
Control.
Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information in this
document is accurate and up to date, Mark Roberts Motion Control
continuously strives to improve their products and may make changes to
the hardware, firmware, and software described in this document. Mark
Roberts Motion Control therefore cannot be held responsible for any
error or omission in this document.
All product names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact information
Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd.
Unit 3, South East Studios
Blindley Heath
Surrey
RH7 6JP
United Kingdom
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] (sales and general enquiries)
[e-mail] (customer support)
Web: www.mrmoco.com
www.mrmocorentals.com

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Contents
Chapter 1 Quick Start..................................................................... 1
Important safety instructions ...............................................1
Power and connections................................................1
General care...................................................................1
Location .........................................................................2
Intellectual property.....................................................2
Overview .................................................................................3
Mounting positions................................................................3
Setting up the hardware ........................................................3
Connecting the cables .........................................................11
Chapter 2 Setting up the Robotic Pod System using MHC.......... 15
Home Zeroing – Pod ...........................................................16
Changing system configuration and network settings....17
Launching MHC as Admin.......................................17
Network setup ......................................................................19
Adding Pods ................................................................19
Adding the Type of Pod .............................................20
Changing a Pod’s name..............................................20
Assigning Pods to user(s) ..........................................21
Removing a Pod..........................................................21
Editing network settings on the Pod........................21
Adding users .........................................................................22
Logging in as a User ...................................................23
Testing the Head Connectivity .................................23
Triggering the camera..........................................................23
Tools tab ................................................................................24
EXPORT ROBOT SETTINGS..................................24
IMPORT ROBOT SETTINGS..................................25
Reset Robot..................................................................26
Reset Camera ..............................................................26
Remote Direct Toggle ................................................26
Reset 10-Pin ................................................................26
Change Network Quality ..........................................26
Test Network Quality ................................................27
Environment tab .................................................................27
Subsequent sessions.............................................................27

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Appendix 1 Troubleshooting........................................................... 30
Typical symptoms, causes, and actions .............................30
Appendix 2 FTP Setup in MHC ...................................................... 33
Appendix 3 Pod connectors ............................................................ 37
Connector pin-outs..............................................................37
Panel mount connector..............................................37
Panel mount connector..............................................38
Power In connector ....................................................38
Mains In connector ....................................................39
SDI Out Connector ....................................................39
Appendix 4 Specifications............................................................... 41

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Chapter 1 Quick Start
Important safety instructions
To ensure the best from the product, please read this manual carefully.
Keep it in a safe place for future reference.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover from the
unit. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
personnel.
Power and connections
This unit must be connected to a mains socket outlet with a
protective earth connection.
This unit is not disconnected from the AC power source as
long as it is connected to the wall outlet.
When not using the unit for a long period of time, ensure that
the AC power cord is disconnected from the wall outlet.
The AC wall outlet should be installed near to the unit and be
easily accessible.
Do not plug in or attempt to operate an obviously damaged
unit.
General care
Do not force switches or external connections.
When moving the unit, disconnect the mains cable and then
disconnect the long umbilical cable.
Do not attempt to clean the unit with chemical solvents or
aerosol cleaners, as this may damage the unit. Use a clean dry
cloth.
Do not use around flammable gas. All electrical equipment can
generate sparks that can ignite flammable gas.
Keep away from pets and children. The head has powerful
motors that can pinch, so take care not to get your hands
trapped in the head or cabling.

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Keep cables tidy. Use cable ties to keep them out of harm’s way.
If you have a head with slip rings then make use of them; avoid
running any cables between the base and the rotating head or
camera.
Location
Installation of this unit should be away from sources of excessive heat,
vibration, and dust.
Intellectual property
This product includes confidential and/or trade secret property.
Therefore, you may not copy, modify, adapt, translate, distribute, reverse
engineer, or decompile contents thereof.

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Overview
Thank you for using the Robotic Pod camera head from Mark Roberts
Motion Control (MRMC). The Pod head is designed for reliable day-in,
day-out use in professional studio and Outside Broadcast environments.
The versatility of the Pod head makes it suitable for live action, stills, and
time-lapse applications.
You can use the Ethernet connection on the Pod head to connect directly
to a PC running Multi-Head Controller (MHC) software.
Mounting positions
Robotic pod - Overslung Robotic pod - Underslung
The tilt axis allows 340 degrees of movement preventing the Pod to look
straight up in underslung position and straight down in overslung
position.
Setting up the hardware
1. Mount the Pan Tilt Arm (PTA) onto a heavy-duty scaffolding pole
by securing the PTA to the pole using the two scaffolding clamps.

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Ensure the nuts on the clamps are tight and the arm cannot twist on
the scaffolding plate.
Note
Ensure the mounting bar can take the weight without stress and that
the space on the bar is free to allow full movement of the pod when
panning without hitting any obstacles. The maximum weight of the
PTA system is 30kg but due to motion and, if mounted outdoors
possible high winds, the bar should be able to support at least 100kg.
The torque setting of the screws in the scaffolding clamps is
159.1Nm. Always ensure there is enough thread going through the
nyloc nut.

Nuts
PTA underslung
PTA overslung
If the head is going to be
used for target tracking,
then ensure that the PTA
is perfectly levelled to the
ground using a spirit level.
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Note
Safety cables should be wound up to keep them short:
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2. Attach the safety cable around the bar, through at least one eyelet,
and through the pan safety hole (near the connector socket).
Remove any excess slack by making extra loops around the bar.
Then join with a carabiner and screw the carabiner shut.
In the event of a fall, the falling item has less opportunity
to get speed before the cable catches it.
This prevents them catching on any moving parts.
Pan safety hole
Eyelet Wind any excess
cable around
scaffolding pole
Carabiner screwed shut

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3. Attach the roll ring to the arm by sliding the roll wedge into the side
plate and ensure the safety catch locks into place —preventing the
roll ring to be detached again. Then tighten the two captive screws
to firmly secure the roll.
Safety catch
Once the roll ring is
attached to the arm, safety
catch locks into place
Roll motor
Do not use the
roll motor as a
carrying handle.
Tighten the screws
using 4mm allen key.
The torque setting of
the screws is 11.2Nm.
Do not touch the
contacts on the roll
ring or the PTA.

The Pod is not secure
until it is screwed in.
The torque setting of
the screws is 11.2Nm.
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4. Attach the pod to the roll ring by sliding the pod front into the roll
ring from rear. Note the Pod has a wedge on its bottom that will
slide into a plate on the roll ring. As you mount the Pod, you can use
the roll ring to help support the weight of the Pod.
5. Tighten the three screws on roll ring to secure the Pod into the head.

Pod handle
Roll safety
handle
Ensure that you do
not tie the safety
cable around the roll
ring.
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6. Attach the safety cable between the Pod handle and the roll safety
hole. Ensure you do not tie it around the roll ring. Wind up any
excess cable by looping further through the holes. Screw close the
carabiner.

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7. Once the Robotic Pod is fully constructed, test the movement of the
unit by hand before connecting to power. Ensure that full movement
of all axes is possible and there are no obstructions.

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Connecting the cables
Attach the power cables ensuring each connector is fully secured into the
socket and that the cable or connector is not caught in any moving part.
Communications / POWER 24V
PC running MHC
Software
ETHERNET
SDI OUT
From Mains
100-240V 447-63Hz
1.6A Max
1
2
3
4
USB joystick, such as an XBox
joystick or MRMC Joystick
Controller
5
6
USB
Break-out box

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1. Connect the short umbilical cable to the power connectors in the
PTA and the Pod. Ensure the red markers on the socket and the plug
align.
2. Connect one end of the long umbilical cable to the
PTA-1 and the other to the power supply socket in the
break-out box. Ensure the red markers on the socket
and the plug align.
3. Connect one end of the network cable to the Ethernet connector in
the junction box and the other to the PC. If your setup contains
multiple heads connected via Ethernet, then the network cable
would connect to a network switch, which in turn would be
connected to the PC.
4. Connect the SDI Out connector to a video output device using a
standard coaxial cable.
5. Optionally, connect the USB port on the PC to a joystick, such as an
Xbox joystick or a MRMC Joystick Controller. This device gives you
a precise and real-time control of the camera direction and
functions. You can use the MHC screen to control the camera
instead if you omit a joystick.
6. Finally, connect the mains cable to the power supply.

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Notes

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Notes

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Chapter 2 Setting up the Robotic Pod
System using MHC
To control and use the Pods, you need to connect them to the network
that has the PC running the MHC server software. You can choose to
assign the Pods to specific users using MHC server. Then, each user can
use the MHC client application to control the Pod assigned to them
1. Attach the cables to the Pod and PC, as described in the previous
section.
2. There is no power switch on the Pod; it is powered on whenever the
mains supply is attached and live.
3. Similarly, to turn off the Pod you simply remove the power cable.
Robotic PodQuick Start Guide
4. Power up the PC. Both the MHC Server and Client applications are
started. The MHC Main page appears.
Observe that the connected Pod appears as white or green icons
light-grey tabs to show that it is connected over the network.
5. Clicking/tapping the Pod icon enables the Pod and changes the icon
to green showing it is selected for control from the Main page.
Observe that the disconnected Pods appear as red icons.

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Home Zeroing – Pod
Pan, Tilt and Roll axes in Pods are absolute encoders making Homing an
automatic function. Therefore these axes do not need to be Homed by the
User. However, the lens axes Zoom and Focus do need to be Homed. To
home the axes, left-click and hold the Pod head icon and select HOME
FOCUS or HOME ZOOM.