Nikon has partnered with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball to install a Robotic Pod camera system in the team’s stadium to record its games.
Developed by Mark Roberts Motion Control, a Nikon Group company, the weatherproof Robotic Pods house Nikon’s flagship full-frame cameras, with an AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm zoom lens attached.
The Robotic Pod system was installed in Boston’s famed Fenway Park. Five of the modular units were installed around the stadium and were remotely controlled by an operator from a custom software interface.
With the shortened baseball season this year restricting fans from the ballparks and skeleton staffing in place, the Robotic Pod system allowed the Red Sox to capture video for broadcasts, still images and social media content all at the same time.
Photographers and videographers were thus able to cover Boston’s games remotely.
“In these times, we have had to adapt at a far faster pace than ever before when it comes to the way we operate, and that includes producing content for our fans, sponsors and partners,” said Billie Weiss, Sr. Manager, Photography, Boston Red Sox. “We are extremely pleased with the image quality and capabilities from the MRMC Robotic Pods and are already discussing new opportunities to use the technology at all Fenway Park events in 2021.”