PanTilt

Pantilt, short for pan-tilt, is a two-axis orientation mechanism used to adjust the direction of a mounted device by rotating around a vertical axis (pan) and a horizontal axis (tilt). This arrangement enables independent or combined aiming of cameras, sensors, or other equipment.

A pantilt unit can be manual or motorized. In manual configurations, the user physically turns a knob or lever to reposition the device. Motorized pantilt heads use electric motors to drive the pan and tilt motions, typically with gear trains and encoders for position feedback. The assembly usually includes a base, two joints connected by the pan and tilt axes, drive mechanisms, and safety features such as limit switches or software limits to prevent over-travel. Control interfaces range from local handheld controls or joysticks to networked controllers, scripting interfaces, or DMX for stage lighting applications.

Applications for pantilt devices span several fields. They are widely used in surveillance cameras (CCTV and IP cameras) for remote or automated aiming, on broadcast cameras mounted on tripods or pedestals, and in robotics and automation systems that require flexible sensor orientation. In entertainment venues and studios, pantilt heads support dynamic camera or lighting effects, and many devices are marketed as pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) when they also provide optical zoom control.

Performance characteristics of pantilt units include motion speed, angular range, payload capacity, and positioning precision. They may employ DC servo motors, stepper motors, or brushless motors, often with high-resolution feedback to enable accurate and repeatable positioning. Some designs offer continuous pan with a limited tilt range, while others provide full 360-degree pan and wider tilt arcs, depending on the model and application.