Studio Robotic Control Systems

SmartShell Control System

All Ross robotic solutions can be controlled from a flexible, intuitive user interface that can be scaled to suit both large and small installations. SmartShell Control System combines a touchscreen interface with an ergonomic joystick control panel.

*Ross PTZ-12G/NDI and select models of Sony, Panasonic and Canon PTZs

Whether you have Furio+ dollies, SkyDollies, free-roaming CamBot pedestals, PT heads, BlackBird pedestals or even PTZ* cameras, all your Ross robotic systems can be controlled by a common control system using a centralized Ethernet-based architecture.

Unlimited Shots

SmartShell offers the flexibility to store and recall an almost unlimited number of camera presets, from any number of cameras, eliminating the need for constantly uploading or synchronizing show files, while providing a simple and easy to use interface for organizing and accessing shots

Scalable

Simplified and straightforward solution scales easily from a simple two head studio to more complex studio automation and multi-camera control environments.

Complete Control

Combine with other Ross applications, such as Vision[Ai]ry (Facial and Body Tracking), DashBoard (PTZ and camera control), OverDrive (Automated Production Control) and Lucid Studio (Virtual Studio/Augmented Reality) to create a complete robotic camera control station for manual and automated workflows.

Features

IP-Based Control

Each SmartShell control station communicates with the robots using native IP-based protocols over an Ethernet infrastructure, simplifying integration into new or existing facilities. Our modern network architecture enables remote and automated production by consistently delivering the same visual results, whether controlled locally, remotely over a high-speed network, or via automated control software.

Shot Manager

Organize Presets and Moves by show, scene, or operator for easier shot management. Lock shots or groups to prevent changes, and use Matrix view for direct access across all cameras. Save, share, and recall matrices, with unique setups for each show or segment.

Ergonomic Control Panel

The CX-3R Joystick Panel combines elegant design with smarter control, delivering precise roller encoders, adaptive LCD buttons, and expanded hardware functions for faster operation. As part of the CX family for Ross OverDrive, it streamlines workflows with instant access to SmartShell and Vision[Ai]ry features while remaining compatible with legacy systems.

Drag & Drop

Creating key-framed Moves, managing the Matrix View and moving presets/moves into categories is as easy as dragging and dropping them into the right spot, using either Mouse or Touchscreen.

User Settings

Joystick view provides a complete view of all joystick axes at once, allowing the user to customize settings for each robot independently. Settings can then be saved to a file, so that each operator can have their own personal configuration, without worrying about what previous users may have changed.

PTZ Control

Control PTZ cameras, such as our own PTZ-12G/NDI models, as well as popular models from the leading PTZ vendors in the industry, just like they are Ross Robotic systems, with presets, categories, thumbnails and smooth, responsive joystick control.
New in v8.0a

SmartShell Configurator – a secure, web-based control center that makes setup and system management much simpler.

  • Centralized configuration – All system settings now live in one place, eliminating duplicate text files and making deployments faster.
  • Role-based access control – Secure login with permissions so operators, engineers, and admins each get the right level of control.
  • Studio & show grouping – Create logical camera groups by studio or show for smoother operation in multi-robot setups.
  • One-click installation – New installer packages make upgrades and dependencies easy to manage.
  • Cleaner integration – Thumbnails, camera groups, and routing now handled by the Configurator, so no more IIS setup headaches.

Components

SmartShell Station

Each SmartShell station consists of a Windows PC running the SmartShell application, coupled with a Unified Control Panel. Standard configuration is an All-in-One Touchscreen PC, that minimizes control station footprint. Also available is an Integrated Server version that is based on a compact desktop PC with a separate touchscreen display. This version also includes all Robotics Server functionality, eliminating the need for a central server, making it suitable for smaller installations where only a single control station is required, and control station redundancy is not a priority.

CX-3R Control Panel

The CX-3R Joystick Panel delivers ergonomic, operator-focused control with precise rollers, customizable camera buttons, and hardware functions for Stop, Operate, and Vision[Ai]ry. Integrated with DashBoard, it offers responsive, low-latency operation and adaptable settings to streamline workflows and boost creative efficiency.

SmartShell UI

SmartShell graphical user interface (GUI) provides a simple, easy-to-use interface for creating, managing, and recalling shots on all your Ross Robotic cameras, helping deliver consistent, high quality productions without sacrificing creativity.

Robotics Server

Robotics Server provides centralized storage and management for thumbnails, communications with robotic systems*, Tally (TSL over IP), PTZ plugins and router control. With the ability to simultaneously support every control station within your facility, this central server architecture simplifies control station redundancy, and easily pools and shares all robot resources between SmartShell control stations.

*PT series Heads, C-series BlackBird and Legacy CamBots only

Downloads

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