Ardh Alsama’s new studio in Iraq, built with Mawja Tech and MRMC Broadcast, brings together precision robotics and immersive AR/VR workflows to elevate local broadcast production standards. BroadcastPro ME brings you the details
In Iraq’s rapidly evolving broadcast landscape, few ventures capture the ambition of Ardh Alsama, known in English as SkyEarth, quite like its new state-of-the-art television studio. Conceived to merge traditional broadcast with cutting-edge virtual production, the facility showcases the company’s goal of pushing creative and technical boundaries through the seamless integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) workflows.
To bring this vision to life, Ardh Alsama joined forces with systems integrator Mawja Tech and MRMC Broadcast, a global player in robotic camera systems. The project’s central objective was to design a studio environment that could deliver the precise and repeatable camera movements essential for AR and VR productions. The challenge was not only to achieve flawless camera tracking, but to do so across a multi-set studio that demanded flexibility, real-time data precision and the ability to effortlessly merge digital and physical worlds.
Engineering the solution
At the heart of the studio’s design is MRMC Broadcast’s Track Robotic Head (TRH), installed on a curved broadcast rail built into the floor and extending more than 23m. The studio itself was purpose-built to accommodate advanced broadcast technologies, ensuring the infrastructure could support such a complex installation.
Paired with the TRH system is MRMC’s PTA-2 broadcast camera platform, equipped with a Panasonic AK-HC3900 camera, Fujinon UA14x4.5BERD lens, teleprompter and talent monitor. Together they form a dynamic camera unit that operates in concert with the Brainstorm Infinity Set, a powerful virtual graphics engine enabling the creation of rich, immersive environments that blend seamlessly with live footage.
Creating VR shots on a curved track presents a unique technical challenge. Synchronising camera motion with the rendering of a virtual scene requires meticulous precision. To overcome this, the TRH is configured to output accurate Free Dimensional (FreeD) data even while navigating the curve, ensuring perfect alignment between the camera’s physical movement and its virtual counterpart. The result is smooth, repeatable motion that anchors every virtual shot in realism.
One of the standout components in this setup is MRMC’s RoboKam software, which gives operators the ability to effortlessly switch between multiple camera presets, boosting workflow efficiency. RoboKam integrates tightly with the TRH system, enabling highly advanced, automated camera movements that can be previsualised, stored and recalled. The system’s support for real-time tracking protocols like FreeD makes it ideal for virtual studio applications. It also allows the recording and playback of complex movements – patterns impossible to replicate manually or with joystick control alone.
Strategic collaboration
The project was Ardh Alsama’s first foray into robotic rail camera systems within a broadcast environment. It chose MRMC Broadcast for the brand’s global reputation for engineering, precision and reliability. Serving as systems integrator, Mawja Tech played a pivotal role in the project’s execution, offering both technical implementation and strategic oversight from start to finish.
“The MRMC system has significantly enhanced the studio’s production capabilities,” says Zaid Khafaji, CEO, Mawja Tech. “The Track Robotic Head system seamlessly provides precise, repeatable camera movements, which was critical in choosing the right solution for synchronising with the advanced AR/VR elements. The complex setup and shape of the track meant we required a system with the ability to track and move cameras at specific times. This solution has streamlined the workflow, reduced manual intervention and increased production efficiency.”
The future of broadcast in Iraq
Ardh Alsama’s investment in robotic and virtual production technology is a major leap forward for Iraq’s broadcast industry. By pairing MRMC’s precision robotics with Mawja Tech’s integration expertise, the company has established a future-ready facility capable of delivering cinematic-quality AR and VR experiences to its audience.
