Elevating Production Value: Aurora Showcases the Game-Changing Technocrane 22+ in AMS Pictures’ Studio A
Here at AMS Pictures, we are always looking for ways to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and provide our clients with the absolute best tools in the industry. Our massive Studio A has seen its fair share of incredible gear over the years, but a recent visit from the team at Aurora truly raised the bar.
We recently invited Aurora to our facility to showcase their impressive Technocrane 22+ right here in Studio A. For directors, cinematographers, and producers looking to inject sweeping, cinematic drama into their projects without the logistical nightmares traditionally associated with heavy machinery, this demo was an absolute eye-opener.
If you weren’t able to make it to the studio to see this engineering marvel in action, don’t worry. We’ve broken down exactly why the Technocrane 22+ is rewriting the playbook for modern film, commercial, and virtual production.
What is a Technocrane, and Why Does It Matter?
In the world of filmmaking, camera movement is everything. It dictates the emotion, paces the story, and elevates a standard video into a high-end cinematic experience. Traditional jibs and cranes move in an arc, meaning as the crane moves left or right, the camera naturally changes its distance from the subject.
A telescoping Technocrane, however, allows the crane arm to smoothly extend and retract while the camera is in motion. This allows for perfectly straight tracking shots, complex multi-axis movements, and the ability to navigate obstacles seamlessly.
The Technocrane 22+ represents the cutting edge of this technology. It offers a stunning 24-foot lens height in overslung mode, giving filmmakers the ability to capture breathtaking overheads, dramatic reveals, and sweeping panoramic shots. But what makes Aurora’s specific crane so revolutionary isn’t just how high it can reach, it’s where it can go, and what it can do behind the scenes.
1. Virtual Production-Ready: The Future of Tracking
Virtual production—using real-time 3D environments (like Unreal Engine) projected onto LED volumes to shoot live-action scenes—has completely transformed the industry. However, one of the biggest hurdles in virtual production has always been camera tracking.
Traditionally, tracking a camera’s movement in a virtual space requires complex, finicky setups. Productions have relied on ceiling-mounted sensors, optical markers, and infrared “pucks” attached to the camera. The problem? These systems require a strict, uninterrupted line of sight. The moment a heavy studio light, a diffusion silk, a set piece, or even the crane arm itself blocks that line of sight, the tracking breaks, the virtual background glitches, and the director shouts “Cut!”
The Technocrane 22+ completely eliminates this headache.
Built-In Precision, No Strings Attached
Instead of relying on external optical sensors, Aurora’s Technocrane features built-in position sensors embedded directly within the crane itself. These internal sensors meticulously track every single movement of the crane—pan, tilt, track, and telescope length.
Because the tracking system is entirely self-contained, it is completely immune to the physical disruptions of a busy set. You can hang as many lights, flags, and silks as you need right next to the camera without ever worrying about losing signal.
Seamless Integration with Unreal Engine
During the demo in Studio A, the true power of this internal tracking was on full display. The position data from the Technocrane 22+ can be exported live via Ethernet directly into Unreal Engine.
As the operator extends or swings the crane arm in the physical studio, the virtual camera within the 3D environment moves in perfect, lag-free synchronization. This seamless camera-to-environment sync gives directors the freedom to execute complex, sweeping camera movements in a virtual space with absolute confidence. Furthermore, if you aren’t doing live rendering, that precise tracking data can be saved for post-production use, making the visual effects (VFX) workflow faster and more cost-effective than ever before.
By eliminating tracking interference and streamlining complex setups, the Technocrane 22+ drastically increases creative flexibility while giving production efficiency a massive boost.
2. The Crane That Goes Where Others Can’t
When most people think of a crane capable of reaching 24 feet into the air, they picture a massive, lumbering piece of equipment that requires a loading dock, a flatbed truck, and a crew of six just to move it across a room. This size constraint often forces producers to compromise, opting for smaller, less dynamic camera rigs because the location simply can’t accommodate a massive crane.
The Technocrane 22+ completely shatters this limitation. It is specifically engineered to bring grand scale into tight, compact spaces.
Breaking Through the 36-Inch Barrier
One of the most mind-blowing moments of the Aurora demonstration was seeing just how portable this system actually is. The entire Technocrane 22+ system is designed to fully retract and condense down so tightly that it can fit through a standard 36-inch interior doorway.
Meaning you can roll a studio-grade, 24-foot telescoping crane down a standard office hallway, through a regular doorway, and right into a compact practical set. It is one of the only cranes in its class worldwide that successfully bridges the gap between high-reaching capability and nimble maneuverability.
Maximizing Studio Space
Even in a spacious environment like our Studio A, studio real estate is valuable. You don’t want a crane whose back-end counterweights take up half the room, limiting where you can build your sets or place your crew. Because the Technocrane’s arm retracts so cleanly, it can operate effortlessly in tight corners and smaller studios without sacrificing its dynamic range of motion.
This spatial flexibility opens up an entirely new world of creative possibilities for indie features, commercial shoots, and music videos. Productions can now achieve the sweeping epic scale of a Hollywood blockbuster without being restricted by location size or difficult physical access.
Bringing World-Class Innovation to Your Next Project
Hosting Aurora and their Technocrane 22+ in Studio A highlighted exactly where the future of production is headed: more creative freedom, fewer technical roadblocks, and unprecedented efficiency.
By combining cutting-edge virtual production data integration with an incredibly smart, compact physical design, Aurora has created a tool that solves problems before they even happen on set. It allows directors to dream bigger, cinematographers to frame more dynamically, and producers to keep their schedules and budgets tightly on track.
At AMS Pictures, our goal is to connect creators with the spaces, technologies, and partnerships that bring their visions to life. Watching the Technocrane fluidly glide through Studio A proved that when the right space meets the right technology, the creative possibilities are literally endless.
Ready to Build Your Next Project?
Whether you are planning a traditional commercial shoot, a complex VFX-heavy feature, or diving headfirst into the world of virtual production, AMS Pictures has the facilities, stages, and industry connections to make it happen.
Contact the AMS Pictures team today to tour our Studio spaces, discuss your production’s specific needs, and let’s talk about how we can bring game-changing tools like the Technocrane 22+ to your next set!
