FloSports Deploys AI-Driven Virtual Pan and Zoom To Streamline Production of Multi-Event, Single-Camera Sports

FloSports Deploys AI-Driven Virtual Pan and Zoom To Streamline Production of Multi-Event, Single-Camera Sports AI reframing transforms static shots into live action By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Thursday, August 21, 2025 - 11:20 am

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For production professionals in the live-sports space, few challenges rival the complexity of broadcasting events where multiple competitions run simultaneously. Wrestling offers a perfect example: with dozens of mats running at once, delivering broadcast-quality coverage has been operationally prohibitive. FloSports believes it has cracked that code with a proprietary AI-powered solution that mimics the work of a human camera operator - without requiring a single hand on the lens.

FloSports is using a proprietary pan and zoom camera powered by AI to cover multi-map wrestling events.

The company has introduced Virtual Pan and Zoom (VPZ), a machine-learning-based camera system designed to transform single-camera workflows. Software on a fixed-position camera detects athletes on the mat and dynamically reframes shots. The camera pans, zooms, and follows the action virtually, producing a feed that feels intentional and operator-driven.

The goal is to create natural and engaging viewing experiences that virtualize camera movements without the need for a human to operate the camera itself, says FloSports Principal Product Manager Stephen Collins, who leads the project. This helps us deliver a higher-quality stream while removing operational overhead onsite.

Solving the Multi-Mat Problem At major wrestling tournaments, upwards of 30 mats can be in use concurrently; and these days, fans either want to see it all - or the match that matters to them. Traditionally, capturing each mat would mean staffing dozens of camera operators or settling for static, wide shots that do little to engage the audience. VPZ takes a different approach: the plug-and-play system can scale across an entire venue without requiring additional crew.

Collins sees this as about workflow as much as about viewer experience. Entity-informed detection of wrestlers is very challenging, he notes. We have to differentiate between referees, wrestlers, and coaches while also filtering out people walking in the background. It's a fluid environment with no hard boundaries, and that made development complex.

By solving those technical challenges, VPZ reduces the operational burden at grassroots events - where cameras are often set up by volunteers or site staff with little broadcast experience. Cloud-based updates and automated calibration ensure that the system remains consistent even if a table is bumped or framing drifts during a long day of matches.

Inside the Pipeline: From 1080p to 4K The engineering team - which includes ML Engineers Connor Quinn and Val Tocitu, ML Engineering Manager Aditya Padhye, and Chief Product Officer Mike Ryan - has spent the past year refining the product. Beta testing began in March, and the system was put on public display at the USA Wrestling Junior & 16U National Championships in Fargo, ND, in July.

There, FloSports deployed a mix of cameras running at 1080p/30 fps and a pair of new 4K VPZ systems. We developed the ability to capture 4K and downscale to 1080p, which gives you a much higher-resolution image, Collins explains. At Fargo, two mats used 4K VPZ systems, while the rest were 1080p.

This offers production teams the flexibility to set quality benchmarks at different tiers: for example, premium mats at 4K workflows, standard coverage at 1080p, and lighter setups at 720p if necessary. The VPZ architecture is designed to accommodate all three without complicating onsite operations.

From Static USB to Dynamic Broadcasts Many grassroots wrestling events have traditionally relied on inexpensive USB cameras, producing a feed that amounts to little more than surveillance footage. VPZ changes that by reinterpreting what a single camera can deliver.

Before this, says Collins, these tournaments either had no live coverage or relied on impersonal setups that failed to capture the energy. With VPZ, we're delivering immersive, mat-side coverage that makes these moments matter.

This shift isn't just for fans at home. For operations managers, VPZ allows one production crew to cover exponentially more mats without additional staff. It's an automation layer that multiplies output while keeping workflows familiar and manageable.

Full-Scale Rollout Is Planned for Fall

With Fargo in the books, FloSports is preparing for a wider rollout beginning this fall wrestling season. Early deployments will continue in September and October, leading into a full-scale launch in November. Combat sports like jiu-jitsu are natural next steps, but FloSports also sees opportunities in other single-camera environments where automated reframing could elevate otherwise static streams.

There's real appetite to take this wide and large, Collins says. Our priority is guaranteeing quality, so, in most cases, we'll provide the equipment ourselves. But we're also building pathways to let schools and partners deploy VPZ kits directly. That flexibility will be key to scaling.

Complement, Not Replacement For production veterans wondering whether VPZ might creep into larger-scale sports, Collins is clear: this technology is not designed to replace multicamera workflows for football, basketball, or hockey. Instead, it's a complement to existing production models, targeting scenarios where only one camera has traditionally been feasible.

This is a high-impact category ready for transformation, he says. We're redefining what grassroots coverage can be.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/08/21/flosports-deploys-ai-driven-vir...
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