Adoption of Robotics in the TV & Film Industry: The IoT-enabled Robotic Camera Dolly

The adoption of Robotics in TV & Film is not on par with other industries. In this work, we investigate the possible causes. If we think of TV robots (robotic cameras, dollys) as social robots, their level of adoption in the industry would depend on how Social they are, which we can improve through positive perception and an effective Human-Robot Interaction framework. To validate this, we interviewed a crew of camera operators about TV robots. 60% reported negative feelings; fears of loss of jobs and relevance, but 60% wanted to learn more. Based on that, we developed an Internet of Things (IoT)- enabled Robotic Camera Dolly (IRCD) for the operators, with a companion interview/guidance protocol; the Pre and Post Interview Protocol, to monitor their reactions. Next, we deployed the IRCD at their TV station, where they completed a set of filming tasks using the IRCD. There was a jump in perception, with 60% positive feelings, 95% wanting to learn more, and 95% successfully completing their robot-powered filming tasks. Also, the IRCD registered a 0.15s response time and 5s video delay time, well within industry limits. These results show that positive perception and effective HRI could stimulate the adoption of Robotics in the TV & Film industry. An additional unplanned result; the IRCD, with its remote operations, enabled creators to continue making content while observing social distancing, thus reducing the financial impact of Covid-19 Lockdowns on TV & Film Production.