Vicon Nexus 2.15 is a point release that provides features and enhancements in addition to those that were included in earlier releases of Nexus 2. For more information, see Nexus 2.15 new features and changes.

This release also benefits from ongoing maintenance and includes a number of Addressed issues.

For workarounds for remaining issues, see Known issues.

Nexus is 64-bit only

Nexus is 64-bit only. In most cases, you should upgrade to the latest version of Nexus to benefit from the latest functionality. Before you upgrade, note the following points:

VDDs (Vicon digital device files)

• 64-bit VDDs When you install the plug-in for your device, ensure that the 64-bit version of the VDD is correctly installed to the folder:
  C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vicon\Nexus2.x\DigitalDevices64\
• 32-bit VDDs If you use a VDD (Vicon digital device file) that does not have a 64-bit version, continue to use Nexus 2.12.# until the vendor of your VDD releases a 64-bit version of the VDD. For information about the availability of the 64-bit version of the VDD, please contact the vendor.

OpenGL solution for non-NVIDIA graphics processors

The OpenGL solution for non-NVIDIA graphics processors is supported for Nexus 2.13 and later (see Graphics processors for Nexus).

Note that a different version of the DLL is required for Nexus 2.13 and later than for earlier releases of Nexus.

Update to ProEclipse

Nexus 2.14 and later provided an updated version of ProEclipse so that the path to Vicon Polygon now uses the Program Files (x86) folder when called from a 64-bit application.

Change to app for firmware management

You now manage firmware using the Vicon Firmware Manager. For information, see the Vicon Firmware Manager Quick Start Guide.

Note that in versions of Nexus earlier than Nexus 2.15, the Vicon Firmware Update Utility performs the same function as Vicon Firmware Manager and is used in the same way.

Nexus 2.15 new features and changes

Nexus 2.15 provides the new features described in the following sections.

Compatibility with Vicon Valkyrie cameras

The latest version of Nexus is compatible with Vicon Valkyrie cameras, enabling you to benefit from their speed, resolution and power.

Nexus 2.15 is compatible with the following Valkyrie camera models:

• VK26, with a resolution of up to 26.2 megapixels (5120 x 5120) and full frame capture speed of 150 fps
• VK16, with a resolution of up to 16.1 megapixels (5120 x 3152) and full frame capture speed of 240 fps

The Valkyrie range features:

• New Vicon-proprietary varifocal lens for highest quality data, with wide and narrow Fields of View
• IP65 rating, for challenging environments
• Unparalleled resolution (26 MP), offered by the VK26

In addition, all models offer:

• Status lights and display A front-facing TFT LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) as well as side-mounted status lights, which give clearly visible camera ID information and system feedback. For more information, see Valkyrie status LEDs and TFT LCD display.
• Accelerometer This enables you to select a camera in the volume by tapping it, and monitors the camera position to let you know if the camera is accidentally knocked or moved from its intended position. For more information, see Valkyrie Tap to Select feature and Valkyrie bump detection and display.
• Automatic temperature monitoring Thermal sensors monitor camera temperature levels, so that you are warned of any changes in temperature that could affect the system status. For more information, see Valkyrie temperature display.

With a new Vicon-provided power switch (UPoE), you can connect up to 8 Vicon Valkyrie cameras to the host PC. The system can be expanded with additional switches to up to 160 Valkyrie cameras.

To connect Valkyrie cameras to the host PC, Vicon offers a range of options, depending on the number of cameras you want to use and whether you are adding them to an existing Vicon system. To determine the most appropriate topology for your system, see the Valkyrie system diagrams and contact your local Vicon Sales representative.

For synchronization to third-party devices and timecode, together with connections for analog devices, you can add a Vicon Lock Lab to your Valkyrie system.

In addition to working with the latest version of Vicon Nexus, Vicon Valkyrie cameras can also be used with the Vicon Control app.

For more information on setting up Vicon Valkyrie systems, see the Vicon Valkyrie documentation.

The following topics provide more information on using Valkyrie cameras with Nexus.

Valkyrie status LEDs and TFT LCD display

To help you monitor the status of Vicon Valkyrie cameras, the cameras include status LEDs and a TFT LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display):

• Three LEDS provide feedback on camera operation, one pair on either side of the camera, and one below the display.
• The display on the front of the Vicon Valkyrie camera, combined with the status LEDs' color, gives information about the current camera status.

Under normal conditions (unless a connected application changes the display, and unless the display has been disabled in Nexus), the display changes to reflect the camera status.

To change the display of Vicon Valkyrie camera status information:

1. In the System Resources list, select a camera (or all cameras).
2. In the Settings section of the Properties pane, select or clear Enable LEDs and/or Enable Display.

   
   
   

   With Enable LEDs and Enable Display selected, while the camera is booting, the display shows the Valkyrie logo and the status LED color changes from gold to blue when it connects to Nexus.

The display changes to reflect the camera's status, giving information about camera status, for example when the camera has finished booting, whether it is currently active, and its calibration status.

When Enable Display is cleared, the display is blank.

When Enable Accelerometry is selected (see Valkyrie bump detection and display), the image on the display rotates based on the orientation of the camera.

After the camera has booted, you can check the cameras' status by observing the status LEDs and the display on each camera. You can also monitor the camera status in Nexus.

Valkyrie Tap to Select feature

Vicon Valkyrie cameras provide a Tap to Select feature, which enables you to lightly tap the camera in the volume to select it (and deselect the other cameras). Enable Tap to Select is turned on by default.

To turn Tap to Select off or on:

1. In the System Resources list, select the required camera.
2. In the Properties pane, go to the Settings section and clear or select Enable Tap to Select.

   

Note that when Enable Accelerometry is selected, if you tap a calibrated camera too hard, the camera may be reported as 'bumped' (that is, its Bumped status may be selected in the Status section and it may be displayed with a 'caution' icon in the System Resources list)

You can remove the camera's bumped status in Nexus. If this is a frequent occurrence, you can change its sensitivity to being tapped by reducing the Bump Detection Sensitivity.

For information on removing a camera's bumped status and changing Bump Detection Sensitivity, see Valkyrie bump detection and display.

Valkyrie bump detection and display

In addition to the Tap to Select feature (see above), Vicon Valkyrie cameras also provide bump detection.

When Enable Accelerometry is selected, (its default state) bump detection works on calibrated cameras to alert you when they have moved from their calibrated positions. (This setting also turns on or off the auto-rotation of the display on Valkyrie cameras.)

To turn bump detection off or on:

1. In the System Resources pane, select a camera (or all cameras).
2. In the Properties pane, expand the Settings section and clear or select Enable Accelerometry.

   

3. When Enable Accelerometry is selected, if a calibrated camera is accidentally knocked, its icon changes in the System Resources list.

   

   In addition, the camera's Bumped check box (in its Status properties) displays a check mark.

To change the sensitivity of the accelerometer:

1. In the System Resources list, select the required camera.
2. In the Properties pane, go to the Status section and select a different option in the Bump Detection Sensitivity menu.

   

To clear a camera's Bumped status:

For a single camera:

1. In the System Resources list, select the bumped camera.
2. In the Status section of the Properties pane, clear the Bumped check box.

For all cameras:

Press Ctrl+Shift+B

Note the following limitations of bump detection:

• Bump detection is active only on calibrated cameras.
• Bump detection cannot detect movement that does not change the local gravity vector, for example. slow translation with no rotation; rotation about the G-vector.
• Bump detection cannot detect movements that occur when the camera is not connected to a live system.
• The camera is detected as bumped when the reading from the accelerometer is sufficiently different from the last reading that was sent. Therefore gradual changes (for example, a slipping camera mount) may not be detected until they are large enough to trigger a new notification.

Valkyrie temperature sensor display

Significant changes in camera temperature can have small effects on the camera's lens. Camera calibrations take into account lens intrinsics. Changes in these intrinsic properties can have small impacts on overall data quality. However, note that large temperature changes generally result in only very small data effects. Temperature monitoring is made available to optimize calibration-to-collection consistency.

Vicon Valkyrie cameras have on-board temperature sensors. These onboard temperature sensors enable you to determine when cameras have reached a stable temperature from a cold start and to observe any change in camera temperature (possibly associated with environmental changes).

The data for the onboard sensors is displayed in the Hardware section. A numeric indicator (in degrees Celsius) and a colored temperature indicator is displayed for each of the sensors. The color of the indicator changes to reflect a change in temperature: yellow (warming up to the temperature specified by the lower bounds), green (between the specified upper and lower bounds) or red (overheated above the upper bounds).

Because Vicon motion capture cameras are used in a wide variety of environments, a stable camera temperature will be different for different users. The Camera Temperature Range option enables you to set values that are representative of your laboratory environment.

You can change the upper and lower bounds of the temperature range in the Options dialog box (F7).

Improvements to video transcoding

Improvements to transcoding with the H.264 codec have increased the speed of processing so that it is much closer to that achieved when using FFDShow.

To benefit from these improvements, be sure to transcode your video files using the File Transfer panel in the Communications pane.

If you run the Transcode Video for Trial pipeline operation, the speed of transcoding with the H.264 is the same as in previous versions of Nexus.

For more information on how to transcode video files in Nexus, see Transfer and transcode digital video files in the Vicon Nexus User Guide.