Life sciences

MOTION CAPTURE SYSTEMS
FOR ANIMAL SCIENCE

Designed for all animal sciences

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We work with the leading Biomechanists, Veterinarians and Universities to ensure Vicon systems deliver the highest accuracy, flexibility and performance.

For all types of animals

Vicon’s motion capture systems offer unparalleled flexibility, designed to accommodate any skeleton type and analyze the movement of various species, from horses to sheep and even bees. Whether your goal is to understand animal biomechanics, record movement, or analyze behavior, Vicon provides the optimal solution. Widely used in veterinary science, our technology supports accurate diagnoses of animal injuries by combining data collection with observational expertise. With a focus on optimizing marker tracking and minimizing post-processing time, we work closely with customers to tailor our systems to their specific needs.

Renowned for their accuracy and reliability, Vicon’s systems deliver valuable insights into animal movement, enhancing research and veterinary practices. In animal science, motion capture records detailed movement metrics such as joint angles and stride lengths, enabling researchers to study the biomechanics of various species, from large animals to insects. This technology supports behavioral studies and is an invaluable educational tool in veterinary schools, helping students understand complex movement mechanics. Additionally, it aids in research by providing data for studies on locomotion and animal welfare.

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Sheep gait research with Texas A&M

In a 2021 project co-led by Aaron Henry, PhD researcher at Texas A&M University and Jordan Ankerson, a Clinical Research Engineer and recent PhD graduate at Texas A&M, supervised by Dr. Andrew Robbins and Dr. Michael Moreno, studied the gait of 20 sheep in 100-degree Texas heat to advance understanding of hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare metabolic bone disease. This research, driven by the personal stakes of Dr. Gaddy and Dr. Suva – whose granddaughter has HPP – aims to develop a model for studying quadrupeds and improving HPP research. Sheep were chosen over smaller animals due to their musculoskeletal similarities to humans. Despite the challenging conditions, the study provided valuable insights into the disease’s impact on gait.

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Movement analysis for animal science

Vicon’s motion capture systems are pivotal in the field of animal science, particularly in equine research. Our technology is used to analyze the motion of horses, helping in the diagnosis and treatment of equine lameness. By providing detailed motion data, Vicon’s systems enable veterinarians to identify issues early and develop effective treatment plans. 

For equine lameness, motion capture offers an objective approach to diagnosing and treating gait abnormalities. By analysing detailed gait patterns, veterinarians can identify subtle asymmetries indicating lameness, allowing for early detection and precise treatment. The technology also helps monitor recovery by comparing pre-and post-treatment data, ensuring effective intervention.

Motion capture uses marker-based and markerless systems to track animal movements, with advanced software generating comprehensive reports. In equine research, universities and clinics use this technology to study biomechanics and monitor treatment outcomes. In sports, it helps optimize performance and prevent injuries.

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Vicon Motion Capture in Action

See how we help customers capture and use motion data to improve performance, reduce injury, assist in rehabilitation, and more.

Watch our video showreel or get in touch to discuss how motion capture can be used for your specific application.

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“I don’t think I would have attempted what we’re trying to attempt with any other mocap company.”

Philip Rowe, Professor of Rehabilitation Science, Biomedical Engineering department, University of Strathclyde

“Without [Vicon]… we would have never seen these results. This is about really small hand movements, maybe even just a tiny tremble. It’s something you would never be able to capture on a regular camera.”

Lisanne Schroer, Phd Researcher, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College

“I think one of the great things about Vicon is its versatility – not only being able to do what it’s meant to do to capture the positions of the markers, but also being able to bring in a lot of different sensing streams, from all sorts of sensors.”

Professor Ken Loh, ARMOR Lab Director, UC San Diego

RESOURCES

Everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Nexus, our life sciences software, has many powerful native skeleton templates for your use

Nexus also enables you to build your own robust custom skeleton templates for reliable labelling

Vicon started in life sciences and developed its offering in partnership with these customers

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THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT VICON IN LIFE SCIENCES

VICON'S LIFE SCIENCES ECOSYSTEM

VICON LIFE SCIENCES SHOWREEL

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Software
Tools
Cameras
Inertial

Software

NEXUS

Our renowned software developed specifically for the life sciences community. With Vicon you don’t get a one-size-fits-all approach, we tailor our products to your unique needs.

With it you can:

  • Trust your system to capture clinically-validated data
  • Carry out powerful analysis and modelling of data
  • Save time with highly customisable yet simple processing pipelines

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NEXUS INSIGHT

Our newest reporting tool built based on dialogue with our community. Nexus Insight simplifies reporting, saves time, and gives you control of your data, all within Vicon’s best-in-class motion capture ecosystem.

Whether you choose to use our automated reporting tools or create your own custom templates, Nexus Insight will bring clarity to your reporting, making it easier to visualize, interpret, share and compare your data.

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Tools

DOWNLOADS

Vicon provides a range of useful tools, utilities and information for our customers that are all fully integrated with our Nexus software. Visit our downloads page to see what’s available:

  • Models and scripts – e.g. Oxford Foot Model
  • Reporting software – Polygon
  • System setup app – Vicon Control
  • Third party plugins
  • Sample data sets
  • Utilities
  • SDKs

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Cameras

VALKYRIE

Valkyrie is the most powerful motion capture camera ever brought to market, offered with four different specs with four different focuses: resolution, speed, value, and strobeless.

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Inertial

BLUE TRIDENT

The next generation of our market-leading IMU, Blue Trident is a lightweight, easy to use, flexible and reliable inertial sensor. From elite to grassroots sports, the improved, form-fitting device can capture the highest load activities and provide immediate real-time analysis in the field.

Capture up to 200g with this dual-sensor inertial device and you immediately have access to data encompassing the peaks of the body’s performance, to measure activity, analyse improvements and chart recovery.

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GET IN TOUCH

Vicon motion capture is the industry leader in camera tracking and virtual production solutions. Our team is happy to provide more information, answer questions and help you find the virtual production solution you need.