Bosch-Rexroth “Extended Reality” Product Presentation 2020, Lohr am Main

In the middle of November 2020, Bosch-Rexroth presented its new mobile hydraulic systems as well as the associated periphery to an international professional audience – for the first time using a virtual event format. For the world’s leading provider of drive and control systems in the market segments mobile applications, machinery applications, engineering and factory automation, we created the first virtual studio with extended reality (xR) elements – another first. While the experts from Bosch-Rexroth and a moderator presented the company's innovative solutions in the virtual studio, the solutions were displayed in the form of 3D objects. Other media, which had produced prior to the event, were also integrated into the action in the studio, giving the audience a comprehensive overview of the new systems. The presentations “Transforming Mobile Machines” and “Connected Hydraulics” were broadcast as a livestream entitled “Rexroth on Air” – in line with North American, European and Asian time zones.

Besides being responsible for content production and creation of the virtual studio by our Digital Media unit, we were also in charge of the technical realisation of the event. The professionally lit studio, which we set up in the Stadthalle Lohr am Main, had a LED stage measuring four metres by four metres as well as a three-metre high LED rear wall. A tracking camera mounted on a crane supplied the dynamic images while a second camera was used for the cut to close-up.

The tracking camera was used to alter the perspective of the virtual studio so that a visually correct image could be created for the camera lens and transmitted onto the LED wall surfaces. This image was extended beyond the LED wall surfaces with the virtual surroundings. Presenters and moderator then moved around in an environment which could be designed as required and in which various media could be embedded and large worlds created in small spaces. The overall image then made a much more natural impression and – in contrast to conventional green screen technologies – contained more information in the form of images. This enabled us to create virtual studios with real shadow and various light situations.