Tracker 3.7 new features and functions

Improved calibration volume reproducibility

To achieve maximum positional reproducibility of the Vicon coordinate system, you can create a large custom L-Frame object from markers permanently placed around the edge of the capture volume. You can then use this L-Frame object for subsequent setting of the system origin.

This provides a high degree of precision of the coordinate system across the camera calibration.

To help with this, select the new Auto Scale option when you set the origin, as described below.

This improves the consistency of the volume size, further improving the positional reproducibility.

To perform a calibration with rescale:

1. Calibrate the system as usual (see Calibrate Vicon cameras).

2. Create an L-Frame object from at least four reconstructed markers (see Creating an object), which spans the whole volume, and set the translation to (0,0,0).

   Note that the L-frame must be constructed from a permanent arrangement of markers that are spread as far apart as possible, without being poorly reconstructed by being too far out of the volume.

3. Pause the system.

4. Select the L-Frame object you just created.

5. In the Properties pane, select Show Advanced.

6. Set both Global Position and Global Rotation to (0,0,0).

7. Ensure you have saved the object, then in the Resources pane, right-click it and select Export to L_Frame list.

   

8. Calibrate the system and during the Set Volume Origin step, in the Set Origin section, select the L Frame object from the list.

9. Ensure Show Advanced is selected and then select Auto Scale.

   This ensures that the marker distances in the L Frame are used for volume scaling.

10. Click Start.

    The system scale is adjusted to provide improved positional reproducibility.

Automatic notification of firmware updates

You are now automatically notified when any component of your Vicon system is running out-of-date firmware, and given the opportunity to update to the latest version.

To monitor and/or upgrade system firmware:

1. When you start Tracker or connect any Vicon devices into your system, Tracker checks to see whether the firmware for all your devices is up-to-date.

   If your devices aren’t using the latest firmware, Tracker 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.

   Tracker 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).

   Tracker 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.