Vertex compact motion capture camera sees Vicon target smaller environment applications

Vicon has launched its new compact, lightweight and easily mounted motion capture camera, Vertex, making it ideal for Virtual Reality (VR) tracking in small and complex environments.

Typically it can be difficult to position standard-size cameras in VR rooms with floor-to-ceiling projected imagery, often known as a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE), however, as a smaller, more easily mountable design, Vertex allows customers to effectively position the cameras in corners without casting shadows onto the projections.

With VR becoming ever-present and space at a premium, Vertex allows customers to install capture volumes in small spaces of up to 3m x 3m, and by utilising the camera’s wide field of view, can track from wall-to-wall while the cameras are still within the capture space.

Fitted with a 1.3 megapixel camera, petite design and two-metre flexible cable, Vertex can also perform inconspicuously, as its unobtrusive design and infra-red strobes mean that subjects are often not aware of the camera and continue to behave naturally, which is of huge benefit to those studying biomechanics and organisations analysing the ergonomics of driver and passenger vehicle safety.

Additionally the new design allows for bespoke and robust mounting solutions, which when combined with the lightweight build, the amount of vibration felt by the cameras is reduced which means they require less calibration – resulting in faster set-up times.

“The gap between the virtual and physical worlds are continuously merging and Vertex was designed to help experiences feel seamless and environmentally agnostic,” said Warren Lester, engineering product manager at Vicon.

“Our system enables a wide range of engineers and technicians to easily create virtual environments from the small spaces they have available. This results in an increased ability to innovate within the virtual reality industry and gain new insights into human movement.”