Sheffield-based universal robotics software company BOW and XPLOR, the world’s first live events research, development and innovation centre at Wakefield’s Production Park, have announced a new partnership to integrate cutting-edge robotics into film, television, and live events.
The partnership aims to advance robotics research and development in the creative sectors to address new robotics use-cases, enhance efficiency, and reduce the cost of robotics on production sets. BOW’s robot-agnostic software development kit (SDK) bridges the gap between diverse robotic systems, enabling seamless integration and operation across multiple platforms.
The UK is Europe’s largest film and TV production centre, and in 2022 the creative industries contributed around £125bn to the UK economy and supported over 2m jobs. The potential for using robotics in film and TV production is huge, but largely untapped due to the complexity and cost of programming robots.
Initial research projects will include programming robotic arms in XPLOR’s virtual production studio, using BOW to deploy robotic arms for inhospitable live-action shooting environments, fully automated tracking solutions and live performance integration at Production Park.
Current robotics applications in live events and entertainment production are limited by the inability of robots to be multi-functional and multi-purpose. BOW addresses these challenges by converting various robot specifications into a unified driver, allowing for real-time simulation and the reuse of control algorithms across different robotics platforms. The platform simplifies complex processes such as inverse kinematics and motion planning, allowing developers to focus on unlocking new use cases in film, TV, production, and Live Events.
Nick Thompson, CEO of BOW said: “BOW’s partnership with XPLOR will push the boundaries of what is possible in the creative industries through robotics. BOW will serve as a technical backbone, empowering XPLOR to integrate robotics seamlessly into live events and scripted productions, from the biggest film and television productions to star-studded live event performances. Our technology will not only enable the development of innovative new applications, it will also streamline operations – enhancing efficiency and reducing the cost of deploying robotics on set.”
Phil Adlam, CTO of Production Park, and Head of XPLOR added: “Our partnership with BOW is a transformative step in the evolution of live event and content production. By integrating BOW’s state-of-the-art robotics platform into our operations, we are empowering our team and creative partners to explore newfound possibilities, redefining what can be achieved both on stage and on screen. This collaboration positions us at the forefront of innovation, and as we embark on new R&D projects together, we are excited to share groundbreaking use cases for robotics that will shape the future of the creative industries.”
