Configure Vicon hardware in Nexus

The first time you use your Vicon Nexus system, you must configure the Vicon cameras, connectivity units, and any supported third-party devices such as digital video cameras, force plates, or EMG devices. After this, you only need to change the system setup in Nexus if you change your hardware configuration or if you need different system settings, for example, a different camera frequency.

You can save your system settings in a configuration file so that you can re-use or modify them later. You can create any number of system configuration files. You can then load the appropriate file for a particular type of motion capture application. For more information, see Manage configurations in Vicon Nexus.

When you start Nexus, it automatically detects all the hardware currently connected to your Vicon system, and groups them into several different categories. You configure the Vicon system hardware and system-wide parameter and data processing settings on the System tab in the Resources pane (referred to as the System Resources pane).

Basic setup information for each type of hardware that is likely to be present in a Vicon Nexus system is included in the following topics:

• Connect devices running the Vicon Control app
• Configure system settings
• Configure Vicon optical cameras for data capture
• Configure video cameras for digital video capture
• Configure Vicon connectivity units
• Configure supported devices

If your system contains more than one Vicon Lock+ or MX Giganet, or if you want to change the automatically assigned synchronization master, also see Change the synchronization master.

If you are not sure whether your firmware is up-to-date or if you have received an email from Vicon Support about updating your firmware, see the instructions on how to Update firmware.

Change the synchronization master

The node for the device designated as the Vicon system synchronization master, which is responsible for providing the master synchronization signal to the system, is highlighted in bold in the System Resources tree. Depending on the age of your Vicon system and the connectivity devices it includes, Vicon Nexus automatically designates the synchronization master:

• If a Vicon Lock+ or an MX Giganet is included in the system, it is automatically designated as the synchronization master.
• If the system does not contain a Lock+ or an MX Giganet, then a Vicon camera is automatically designated as the synchronization master.
• If the system contains more than one Lock+ or MX Giganet, you must ensure that the connectivity unit that is connected to the PC (known as the primary unit) is the synchronization master. However, because Vicon software cannot detect which connectivity unit is connected to the PC, you may need to change the automatically selected master.

To change the synchronization master:

1. At the top of the System tab, click Local Vicon System to select it.
2. At the top of the Properties pane, click Show Advanced.
3. In the System section of the Properties pane, click the Preferred Master list and then choose the required synchronization master from the list.

Update firmware

Each Vicon camera and connectivity unit is programmed with firmware to control its operation. Periodically, Vicon supplies firmware updates to correct or improve device functionality. You apply these firmware updates to your Vicon devices via the Vicon Ethernet network using the Vicon Firmware Update Utility, as described below.

For versions of Nexus 2.8 and later, you are automatically notified when any component of your Vicon system is running out-of-date firmware, and given the opportunity to update to the latest version. (For information about updating firmware for earlier versions of Nexus, see the earlier Nexus documentation.)

To monitor and/or upgrade system firmware:

1. When you start Nexus or connect any Vicon devices into your system, Nexus checks to see whether the firmware for all your devices is up-to-date.
   If your devices aren’t using the latest firmware, Nexus displays an icon in the toolbar to let you know that a more up-to-date version of the firmware is available:

   

2. Click on the icon to display more information.
   Nexus displays a prompt that enables you to open the Vicon Firmware Update Utility (reprogramming tool).

   

3. Click Yes to open the Vicon Firmware Update Utility. Note that you can also open the Vicon Firmware Update Utility from the Start menu (select Vicon > Vicon Firmware Update Utility).
   Nexus closes and the Vicon Firmware Update Utility is displayed, showing all the connected devices and their current firmware version.
   By default, all devices are selected.

   

4. If you don’t want to update any of the devices, clear the relevant check box(es).
   Note that if required, you can select devices to be updated that are already using the latest version.
5. At the bottom of the Vicon Firmware Update Utility window, in the Choose Firmware version list, select or browse to the required firmware version.

6. Click Reprogram to update the firmware for the selected device(s).

   

   When updating is complete, the Firmware Version column displays the updated firmware version and the System Status line and the Reprogramming Status column display Complete on a green background.

   

To downgrade to an earlier firmware version

To downgrade to a firmware version that was previously downloaded, open the Vicon Firmware Update Utility (from the Start menu click Vicon > Vicon Firmware Update Utility) and select the required firmware version.