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Difference between revisions of "Electromagnetic tracking"
 
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'''Electromagnetic tracking''' is 3D tracking technology that generates magnetic fields and detects them from a sensor. It is a native technology for [[6DOF tracking]].
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[[File:Polhemus Viper TX2.jpg|thumb|A Viper TX2 electromagnetic coil source]]
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'''Electromagnetic tracking''' is a kind of [[3D tracking]] that generates magnetic fields and detects them from a sensor. It is a technology for [[6DOF tracking]]. It can be implemented in an [[electromagnetic tracking system]]. Examples of electromagnetic tracking are the [[Magic Leap 1 controller]] and the [[Razer Hydra]]. The [[Magic Leap 1]] uses magnetic tracking for its handheld controller, but in a poor form.
  
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It is also called just "magnetic tracking". It was invented in about 1970 by [[Polhemus]].
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It can work with a headset if the headset is small enough.
  
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Another company that has made electromagnetic tracking devices is [[Ascension Technologies]].
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Magnetic tracking preserves high frequency transients in movement, like a flick of a finger. However, there must not be any metal objects in the tracking area; A metal object has to be at least a foot or two away from a tracking area so that it doesn't interfere with the tracking measurements. Metal objects cause jitter and drift.
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__NOTOC__
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==Companies==
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Electromagnetic tracking was invented by [[Polhemus]], which originally was researching navigation in aircraft. Another company that has made electromagnetic tracking gadgets is [[Ascension Technologies]].
  
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The [[Magic Leap 1]] uses magnetic tracking for its handheld controller, but in a poor form.
 
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Neuralink researched using magnetic tracking at up to 240hz for tracking monkeys' body movements in tests.
 
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Examples of products include the [[Polhemus FASTRAK]].
 
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[[Sixense]] was a company that developed products.
 
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==Companies==
 
 
* [[Polhemus]]<ref name="c061">{{cite web | last=Data | first=Stats N | title=Electromagnetic Tracking System Market | website=Empowering Insights | url=https://www.statsndata.org/report/Electromagnetic-Tracking-System-Market-191994 | access-date=2024-05-31}}</ref>
 
* [[Polhemus]]<ref name="c061">{{cite web | last=Data | first=Stats N | title=Electromagnetic Tracking System Market | website=Empowering Insights | url=https://www.statsndata.org/report/Electromagnetic-Tracking-System-Market-191994 | access-date=2024-05-31}}</ref>
 
* [[NDI]] (previously called Ascension)<ref name="c061"/>
 
* [[NDI]] (previously called Ascension)<ref name="c061"/>
 
* [[AmfiTrack]]<ref name="c061"/>
 
* [[AmfiTrack]]<ref name="c061"/>
 
* [[Radwave Technologies]]<ref name="c061"/>
 
* [[Radwave Technologies]]<ref name="c061"/>
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* [[Sixense]]
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'''Premo''' is a company in Spain that markets electromagnetic tracking parts, including coils.<ref name="g964">{{cite web | title=VR/AR EM Motion Tracking Components | website=Grupo Premo | url=https://www.grupopremo.com/en/611-vrar-em-motion-tracking-components | access-date=2024-05-31}}</ref> Premo's electromagnets are in some [[AmfiTrack]] products.<ref name="q562">{{cite web | title=Gen 2 EM Motion tracking System VR Demo Kit | website=Resources Center | date=2019-11-14 | url=https://www.grupopremo.com/resources-center/247-the-revolution-in-the-positioning-and-tracking-system-with-6-degrees-of-freedom/ | access-date=2024-05-31}}</ref>
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== Types ==
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* [[AC magnetic tracking]] (Polhemus)
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* pulsed DC magnetic tracking (Used by Ascension, later NDI)
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==Components==
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'''SEU''' stands for system electronics unit. It is used in the context of [[electromagnetic tracking system]]s such as the [[Polhemus Viper]] and the [[Polhemus Patriot]]. It is a box that the sources and sensors plug into.
  
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== AC magnetic tracking ==
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==Industry Standard Coil Architecture==
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AC magnetic tracking means "alternating current magnetic tracking". It uses an AC electric current to generate alternating magnetic fields, which are picked up by a tracking sensor.
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[[File:EM tracker coil.png|thumb|An ISCA coil]]
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'''Industry Standard Coil Architecture''' is the use of three colocated orthogonal quasi-dipole transmitter coils and three colocated quasi-dipole receiver coils.<ref name="f611">{{cite web | title=System and method for electromagnetic tracking operable with multiple coil architectures | website=Google Patents | date=2003-09-24 | url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8354837B2 | access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref>
  
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The fastest electromagnetic tracking system in the world is the Polhemus Viper 16, which tracks up to 960hz. This is much faster than the kalman filtered 100hz or 150hz of all existing consumer VR systems like [[SteamVR]]. Magnetic tracking feels better and more natural because it has a higher update rate and preserves high frequency transients in the movement, like a flick of a finger.
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Examples of this type of system are:
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* [[Polhemus Viper]]
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* [[Polhemus Fastrak]]
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* [[Polhemus Patriot]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  
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[[Category:3D tracking]]
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[[Category:Position and orientation tracking]]
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[[Category:Electromagnetic tracking]]

Latest revision as of 07:26, 22 February 2025

A Viper TX2 electromagnetic coil source

Electromagnetic tracking is a kind of 3D tracking that generates magnetic fields and detects them from a sensor. It is a technology for 6DOF tracking. It can be implemented in an electromagnetic tracking system. Examples of electromagnetic tracking are the Magic Leap 1 controller and the Razer Hydra. The Magic Leap 1 uses magnetic tracking for its handheld controller, but in a poor form.

It can work with a headset if the headset is small enough.

Magnetic tracking preserves high frequency transients in movement, like a flick of a finger. However, there must not be any metal objects in the tracking area; A metal object has to be at least a foot or two away from a tracking area so that it doesn't interfere with the tracking measurements. Metal objects cause jitter and drift.

CompaniesEdit

Electromagnetic tracking was invented by Polhemus, which originally was researching navigation in aircraft. Another company that has made electromagnetic tracking gadgets is Ascension Technologies.

Premo is a company in Spain that markets electromagnetic tracking parts, including coils.[2] Premo's electromagnets are in some AmfiTrack products.[3]

TypesEdit

ComponentsEdit

SEU stands for system electronics unit. It is used in the context of electromagnetic tracking systems such as the Polhemus Viper and the Polhemus Patriot. It is a box that the sources and sensors plug into.

Industry Standard Coil ArchitectureEdit

 
An ISCA coil

Industry Standard Coil Architecture is the use of three colocated orthogonal quasi-dipole transmitter coils and three colocated quasi-dipole receiver coils.[4]

Examples of this type of system are:

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Data, Stats N. "Electromagnetic Tracking System Market". https://www.statsndata.org/report/Electromagnetic-Tracking-System-Market-191994.
  2. ↑ "VR/AR EM Motion Tracking Components". https://www.grupopremo.com/en/611-vrar-em-motion-tracking-components.
  3. ↑ "Gen 2 EM Motion tracking System VR Demo Kit". 2019-11-14. https://www.grupopremo.com/resources-center/247-the-revolution-in-the-positioning-and-tracking-system-with-6-degrees-of-freedom/.
  4. ↑ "System and method for electromagnetic tracking operable with multiple coil architectures". 2003-09-24. https://patents.google.com/patent/US8354837B2.
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