ROBE has rolled out a comprehensive suite of software updates for its RoboSpot remote follow spot system, combining the recent v7.4 “New Year, New Features” release with the earlier v7.3 “Operator’s Picks” update to deliver a substantial leap forward in precision, customisation and workflow efficiency. Building on recent technical milestones including the integration of sACN and RDM Net support, the updates have been shaped directly by feedback from lighting designers and operators worldwide, reinforcing Robe’s commitment to continuous platform development and positioning RoboSpot as a long-term, endgame solution for remote follow spotting.

A key development is full sACN and RDM Net support, allowing RoboSpot and supported devices to operate entirely over Ethernet networks, removing the need for XLR-based DMX runs to the BaseStation. XLR DMX and sACN output can be combined within a shared addressing space, enabling some fixtures to run on DMX while others operate on sACN simultaneously, with device discovery handled via RDM Net for scalable, venue-agnostic deployments.

Operational finesse has also been enhanced through the introduction of Position and Channel Fade Times, enabling operators to define fade times of up to 10 seconds for position buttons to achieve smooth automatic tracking between points, with a double-press option to instantly snap to the final position. Channel Fade Control of up to one second for Dimmer, Iris, Zoom and Focus eliminates manual jitter and opens up new creative possibilities, particularly when operating RoboSpot in standalone mode without a console.

Preset management has been expanded significantly, with storage now increased to four pages of slots for both colours, offering up to 32 colour slots, and positions, offering up to 36 slots, providing greater flexibility in organising complex workflows. The colour system itself has been refined, with enhanced colour buttons that allow a long press to open a context menu for manual colour selection or direct input of precise hue and saturation values, ensuring accurate colour matching across multiple fixtures. Operators can assign colours specifically to the fixture, the pixel follower or both, while a new Edit function enables rapid adjustments during programming or live operation. For long-throw applications, RoboSpot now automatically detects compatible fixtures such as the iFORTE LTX WB, iESPRITE LTL WB and iPAINTE LTM WB and displays a dedicated Long Throw button, allowing instant mode switching without menu navigation.

System maintenance and troubleshooting have also been streamlined with the introduction of Fixture Reset, accessible via the Wrench menu, which reads all connected devices, groups them by fixture type and enables targeted feature resets or complete unit resets across an entire group of identical fixtures, such as resetting all connected iFORTE fixtures simultaneously. This functionality now extends to remotely enabling or disabling static reset for MAPS-enabled fixtures, significantly accelerating fault-finding processes. The Multi Device Control setup process has been refined with clearer wizard wording to reduce misunderstandings, removal of reference fixture highlighting to avoid confusion, and the ability to use colours during setup to visually distinguish fixtures involved in the process.

Operator ergonomics and visibility have been further improved with a Dynamic Crosshair feature that allows the crosshair to change size in real time based on Zoom or Iris input, configured via a simple setup wizard defining minimum and maximum values. A Target Cross Sensitivity option changes the crosshair colour between green, orange and red to visually indicate handle sensitivity levels. Enhanced visibility options now include adjustable GUI transparency to maximise screen space and a Value Change overlay that briefly displays which channel is changing and its value, allowing operators to stay focused on the main monitor. Addressing a long-standing request, RoboSpot now provides clear connectivity feedback, displaying a new icon to confirm signal reception from the console, while the Enhanced DMX Dimmers/Iris window offers more precise responsiveness and additional information, including Iris values and clear white, orange and red status indicators showing which parameters are active.

With the followspotting community continuing to grow and evolve, these updates underline Robe’s intent to actively listen and respond to real-world use. As Robe states, its goal with RoboSpot is to provide the best possible tools while inviting operators to help shape the system’s future. Designed to enhance safety, improve operator comfort and deliver spectacular visual results, RoboSpot continues to evolve as a highly innovative remote followspot platform, with these latest software enhancements marking a significant step forward rather than a final destination.