Mark Roberts Motion Control

Mark Roberts Motion Control designs and manufactures motion control equipment[1] (robotic camera rigs) for both the TV and Film industry. The company, based in Sussex in the UK, received an Academy Award in 1999 for its contribution to the special effects industry in feature films.[2][3][4] The company was acquired by Nikon Corporation in September 2017.[5]

The Bolt High-Speed Cinebot Robot is a 6-axis robotic arm used to capture high-speed camera movements. The rig can be combined with track (3 metres each in length) creating a 7 axis of motion.[6][7] In January 2018, the company launched "Junior", a more compact and more affordable version of its larger scale Bolt cinebot, which is marketed as "the fastest high-speed camera robot in the world."[7]

The company was established in 1966 when Australian born engineer, inventor and part-time racing driver, Mark Roberts, set up a company to service and upgrade old animation rostrum tables that were used in everything from film titles, cell animation and news clips.[8]

In 2017, Mark Roberts Motion Control was presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.[9][10]

  1. ^ The British Film and TV Production Review "Motion Control". London, 1995 pg. 84
  2. ^ British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society "Academy Awards for BKSTS Sponsor Members". London, 1999 pg. 6
  3. ^ "Lights, camera, Oscar!". Newsquest The Argus, Brighton. 25 July 2000. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  4. ^ New Electronics "Engineering Oscar". Findlay Media, 1999 pg. 5
  5. ^ "Nikon Acquires Mark Roberts Motion Control". Studio Daily. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. ^ "A Bolt from the blue". The Hindu. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b "British firm launches more compact camera robot". Broadcast Now. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Mark Roberts Motion Control wins The Queen's Award". SVG Europe. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Nikon subsidiary in the UK Mark Roberts Motion Control Limited, receives Queen's Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade". eglobaltravelmedia. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Mark Roberts Motion Control wins The Queen's Award". 4rfv. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.