Vicon Motus Video
Vicon Motus provides a proven, flexible solution for both video-based and optical tracking. You can work with both technology approaches through a single software application, so you don't have to waste time learning multiple tools.
This section gives you a brief introduction to the principal types of tracking you can achieve with Vicon Motus - from 2D video, through 3D video to 3D optical.
2D Video
This system allows you to set up, collect, process and display linear and angular displacements, velocities, and accelerations of two-dimensional motion with minimal equipment. This system is easy to learn, easy to implement and easy to maintain.
It's as simple as plugging a DV camcorder into a PC via a firewire connector and then using the Vicon Motus software to acquire, tracking, analyze and report on the video data.
EXAMPLE APPLICATION
A professor in a biology department would like to quantify how fish react to a stimulus such as food being introduced into a shallow tank. Because the tank is shallow, it is assumed that the fish are moving in a single plane; therefore a 2D system is appropriate. With proper lighting the bodies of fish appear as dark contrasting points against the white background of the tank. Therefore, a 2D video system with automatic tracking can be used to identify their points. Optical Capture is not an option because the contrast is low and retro-reflective markers cannot placed on the fish.
3D Video
This is a practical system to acquire 3D coordinate data with digital camcorders. The video can be collected in the field and analyzed in the lab. There is no reason to take computers into the field, just camcorders, a small synchronization unit and a portable calibration frame and the Remote Video Synchronization Unit (RVSU), which enables you to synchronize multiple DV camcorders together.
EXAMPLE APPLICATION
A sports science researcher is planning to study the kinematics of the hammer throw. They do not have a laboratory large enough to throw a hammer, so they must collect the data outdoors. Because retro-reflective markers do not work well outdoors, they will need to use a video digitizing system. Since the hammer throw involves significant rotation and is three dimensional in nature, a 3D Video Digitizing system is appropriate. Some points may be identified with contrasting markers but due to the complexity of this movement, others may have to be manually digitized. If the budget allows, Automatic Tracking Module would be helpful in reducing the processing time.
Four digital camcorders and the Peak Remote Video Synchronization Unit (RVSU) will allow all collection equipment to be battery powered and very portable for this collection in the field.
3D Optical
For more information on how Vicon can provide a 3D Optical solution, please visit Vicon Nexus.