From Space Battles to Music Videos: How Robotface Redefined Motion Control With The Cinebot Mini

Throughout the year, Robotface showcased their Cinebot Mini in several unique use cases both on and off set, demonstrating just how many new and exciting applications there are for our smallest and most portable Cinebot yet! Their creativity, hard work, and great energy brought each project to life in ways we could have only imagined.

To cap off an unforgettable year, we’ve compiled these projects for you to enjoy below. A massive thank you to Robotface for your contributions—we can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring!

Robotface kicked off the year by taking the Cinebot Mini on location to Lorne. The rig’s lightweight design made it a breeze to transport and set up outdoors. Leveraging PushMoco®, the team manually programmed their keyframes and tidied them up in Flair.Thanks to the 10-hour battery life, the Cinebot Mini powered through a full day of filming, proving its reliability on-location with limited power available.

Collaborating with Matt Wood and Creamsource, Robotface used the Cinebot Mini to unveil their new Vortex lights range. Mounted on 3m of track, the Cinebot Mini used its 7-axis of movement and its maximum speed to deliver smooth, dynamic slow-motion footage. Paired with a Phantom VEO 4K camera shooting at 1,000fps, the Mini helped create breathtaking shots of the Creamsource products as waves of fire and water explode behind them.

Paying homage to Star Wars’ iconic motion control techniques, Robotface recreated a miniature space battle using the Cinebot Mini. Acting as a model mover this time around, the Mini performed intricate movements in tandem with the dynamic movements of the Bolt filming the scene, simulating spaceship orbits at cinematic depth. By shooting at T8-16, they enhanced the sense of scale, demonstrating the Mini’s potential for more than just cameras.

For Missy Higgins’ single “You Should Run,” Robotface faced the challenge of navigating tight indoor spaces with limited power. The Cinebot Mini’s small size, portability and ability to run on standard house power, enabled the team to capture the precise repeat-pass shots required the in hallway, bedroom, and kitchen for the video. The result was an expertly crafted music video featuring several cloning and timelapse techniques whilst the camera remained in motion.

Robotface pushed the Cinebot Mini’s limits by installing it in the back of a moving vehicle. The robot’s stability and precision enabled it to execute flawless tracking shots of a runner along scenic roads, perfectly showcasing its potential for on-the-go commercial shoots.

Taking advantage of the Cinebot Mini’s small size and lightweight, Robotface took on the challenge of lighting the Cinebot Mini up high into a custom-built crane to capture shots from a unique aerial view. They began with motion-controlled plates to duplicate marathon runner Tristan Miller’s movements and then seamlessly transitioned to the crane for elevated perspectives. Once set up, the shot took less than 30 minutes to shoot.

Closing out the year, Robotface explored real-time motion capture using the MRMC Tracker App with the Cinebot Mini. This innovative feature allowed the team to create organic, handheld-like movements that could be stored and repeated for creating some awesome timelapse effects. The results were awe-inspiring, as the talent appeared to inhabit a sped-up world with perfect synchronisation.

Here’s to an incredible year for the Cinebot Mini and the countless projects its now been involved in.

Thanks once again, Robotface, for being one of the first to demonstrate the potential for this incredible robot. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do with the Cinebot Mini next!