Robovision, a specialist in racing coverage, has purchased 10 Ikegami HDL-40C hi-def POV cameras to get close up HD coverage of NASCAR racing events.

Robovision plans to use the HDL-40C for NASCAR's upcoming season, a portion of which will be broadcast in HDTV. Robovision execs say they picked the HDL-40C for their lightweight, yet rugged build that can withstand dangerous environments, such as trackside at NASCAR races.

"We will bring these cameras through a lot of abuse," says Jim Warden, Robovision president. "They'll go through wind tunnels, heavy vibration, sandstorms, high G forces, and withstand a car traveling at 200 mph when it's six inches away. If one of these cameras gets hit by a car, it's very cost-effective, so it won't be an overbearing expense to replace it.

The HDL-40 POV camera weighs less than four pounds and features three 2.1 million pixel CMOS sensors, Ikegami's new multi-format sensor which works in native 720p or 1080i formats.