At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas, Xsens Technologies B.V. yesterday demonstrated a motion capture suit that eliminates the need for multiple cameras and optical markers.
Known as the Moven motion capture system, the new suit incorporates three Analog Devices gyroscopic sensors, three accelerometers, three magnetometers and an Analog DevicesBlackfin digital signal processor (DSP). All of the sensors reside in a small module that measures approximately 2 inches x 1 inch and fits under a motion suit. One suit incorporates 16 of the sensors modules. Using the company’s software, motions are captured and displayed on a PC screen.
“We’re adding software algorithms to handle data from the sensors and apply it to a biomechanical model of a human being,” says Gerben Groothuis, director of marketing and sales for Xsens.
The technology is expected to be used by the gaming and movie industries, as well as in biomechanical motion studies at universities.
Groothuis said the new motion capture suit is less expensive than the existing systems because it doesn’t require users to purchase as many as eight or more high-speed optical cameras.
“With this system, we can cut costs and significantly save time over existing methods,” Groothuis says.
Groothuis says the technology is currently being used by an Olympic rowing team to study motion.
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