Vicon Valkyrie system components
- Gisela Roberts
- Andy Roberts (Deactivated)
The major components of a Vicon Valkyrie motion capture system are:
- Vicon Valkyrie motion capture cameras
- Vicon Valkyrie switches, which provide the power source and connectivity
- Vicon software to control the cameras, analyze and present the data
- Host PC to run the software
A Valkyrie system also includes Valkyrie system cables to connect the hardware devices, a Vicon calibration device (such as a Vicon Active Wand), and Vicon accessories (markers, tape, etc).
You may also choose to include compatible FLIR cameras and/or other third-party devices such as force plates and accelerometers, which require a current Vicon Lock unit.
In each Valkyrie system, one synchronization source provides synchronization to the rest of the system.
Note
Except where noted, references to Vicon Lock, Lock units, and Lock apply to all current models of the Vicon Lock unit (at the time of publication, this includes Vicon Lock Studio and Vicon Lock Lab).
You can expand and upgrade your Vicon Valkyrie system as required. In addition to being compatible with current Vicon camera ranges such as Vero and Viper, the Valkyrie system is also compatible with Vantage cameras, so if you have an older system, you can build on your existing investment. (However, if you add Valkyrie cameras to a system comprising MX T-Series cameras, the T-Series cameras will not work.)
The following table identifies commonly used components of Vicon Valkyrie systems.
| Component | Description | Further information |
|---|---|---|
| Vicon Valkyrie camera | Vicon Valkyrie motion capture cameras |
| Vicon Vero camera | Vicon Vero Quick Start Guide (PDF) |
| Vicon Viper camera | Vicon Viper Quick Start Guide (PDF) |
| Vantage camera | Vicon Vantage Quick Start Guide and the Vicon Vantage Reference Guide (also available as a PDF) |
| Supported FLIR cameras | Add supported FLIR cameras to a Vicon Valkyrie system and the documentation that accompanied the latest release of your Vicon application software. Vicon system setup information on the Vicon documentation website. |
| Vicon-supplied PoE++ and PoE+ switches | |
| Vicon Lock unit |
|
| Vicon-supplied SFP+ switch | Often used in addition to other PoE++ switches for systems larger than eight Valkyrie cameras (see Extend a basic Valkyrie system) |
| Vicon Valkyrie host PC (with Vicon application software). | For the latest full spec, visit the PC specifications page on the Vicon website. |
Vicon-supplied cables | The types of cable may include:
| SFP+ transceivers may also be included |
| Vicon software download | Vicon Valkyrie software |
| Vicon calibration device (Active Wand) | Vicon calibration device in the Vicon Systems Setup Guide |
| Motion capture accessories (such as markers) | Vicon Valkyrie accessories and Accessories page on the Vicon website |
| Third-party devices (optional) | Third-party devices, such as accelerometers and force plates | Vicon Lock (optional) for third-party devices |
If your particular application requires a more complex configuration, contact Vicon Support.
Vicon Valkyrie motion capture cameras
Vicon offers a wide choice of motion capture cameras which feature multiple high-speed processors that perform real-time image processing.
You can include the following cameras in your Valkyrie system:
- Valkyrie VK26, with a resolution of up to 26.2 megapixels (5120 x 5120) and capture speed of 150 fps
- Valkyrie VK16, with a resolution of up to 16.1 megapixels (5120 x 3168, or 5120 H x 3152 with firmware earlier than 808) and capture speed of 240 fps
- Valkyrie VK8, with a resolution of 8.0 megapixels (3712 x 2176) and capture speed of 500 fps
- Currently supported FLIR cameras (for details, see the latest documentation for your Vicon application software)
- Current Vicon optical camera ranges (Vero, Viper and Vantage) cameras
For further details of Valkyrie cameras, see Vicon Valkyrie cameras and Vicon Valkyrie technical specifications.
Vicon Valkyrie switches
To benefit from the power and range of Vicon Valkyrie cameras, connect each Valkyrie camera to a PoE++ port of a PoE++ switch.
Important
If your system must meet EN 60601 standards for medical compliance, PoE switches used in Vicon Valkyrie systems must be IEC 60950-1 or 62368-1 certified.
Supported FLIR cameras can also be connected to a switch via a Vicon Lock. Note also that:
- Each Valkyrie camera must connect to a port enabling it to draw 25.5 W when connected to PoE+ port (IEEE 802.3at-2009) or 35 W when connected to PoE++ port (IEEE 802.3bt-2018). To benefit from the Valkyrie's power and range, ensure all the Valkyrie cameras are connected to higher spec (PoE++) ports.
- Lock units can either connect to the same type of PoE++ or PoE+ port as the Valkyrie cameras or to a port of lesser standard conforming to IEEE 802.3 af (12.95W PoE). This connectivity through Vicon-supplied cables carries both Gigabit communications and power.
- A PoE++ or SFP+ switch (known as the primary switch), which may be obtained from Vicon, connects to the host PC running the Valkyrie software that enables you to capture and analyze your data. Note that no power is required on this particular port of the switch.
For information on connecting older system components, see Set up a mixed Valkyrie system with Vantage or Vero cameras.)
Important
Although Valkyrie cameras are IP65-rated, the other components of your Valkyrie system (switches, Locks, other cameras, etc) may not be, so ensure that these components are not exposed to unsuitable environmental conditions.
The number and type of switches required depends on the number of cameras to be supported. For a description of the types of switch that may be included in a Valkyrie system, see Switches in Valkyrie systems.
For examples of how to connect Vicon switches, see Example Vicon Valkyrie systems.
Important
If your system must meet EN 60601 standards for medical compliance, ensure that you have received from Vicon the appropriate isolation transformers for your system, to limit earth leakage current. The isolation transformer(s) must be connected between the mains supply and the Ethernet switch(es). As it is important that the transformer meets the power requirements of the system, you must contact Vicon for advice and to obtain the appropriate transformers. Use of transformers that are not supplied by Vicon may invalidate your system's EN 60601 medical compliance.
Vicon Valkyrie host PC
The Vicon Valkyrie host PC runs the Vicon motion capture software that analyzes and presents the data captured by the Valkyrie cameras.
Current Vicon computers contain dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports to enable the Valkyrie system to communicate with the installed Vicon application software. Depending on your system and your PC configuration, you can either route optical data (eg, from Valkyrie cameras) through one port and video data (eg, from Vicon video cameras) through the other; or video data and optical data can be delivered through a single port. The latter approach requires a Gigabit Ethernet PoE+ with a 10 GbE uplink. For more information, see the Vicon Systems Setup Guide.
Any Vicon motion capture and analysis software to be used with a Vicon Valkyrie system is installed on this Vicon Valkyrie host PC. For further details of this computer, visit the PC specifications page on the Vicon website or see the Vicon Systems Setup Guide.
Remote PCs may be used for other Vicon software or supported third-party applications.
Vicon Valkyrie software
The use of Vicon Valkyrie is supported in the following versions (and later) of Vicon motion capture software:
- Evoke 1.6
- Nexus 2.15
- Shogun 1.9
-
Tracker 3.10 and Tracker 4.0
The motion capture software is installed on the host PC. For further details on the software, see the Help menu in your Vicon application software and the documentation.
Vicon also provides a range of data visualization, analysis, and manipulation software (for details, see the Software page on the Vicon website).
Vicon Valkyrie cables
A combination of proprietary Vicon and commercially available cables is used to connect hardware devices in a Vicon Valkyrie system.
For further information, see Vicon Valkyrie system cables.
Vicon calibration device
A Vicon proprietary calibration device is used to calibrate Vicon Valkyrie systems.
For further information, see the documentation for your Vicon Active Wand on the Vicon documentation website.
Vicon Valkyrie accessories
Motion capture accessories for both traditional motion capture (such as retroreflective markers, Micropore tape, etc) and LBVR systems are available.
For further information, see the Accessories page on the Vicon website.
Vicon Lock unit (optional) for third-party devices
With the addition of a Vicon Lock unit to your Vicon Valkyrie system, you can include the following third-party devices:
- Supported FLIR cameras
- Analog peripheral devices, such as force plates, electromyography (EMG) equipment, and accelerometers
- Devices that require synchronization at a frequency that is related to the motion capture frame rate and/or a device that needs to know when a capture occurs
- Devices that need to start and stop the capture event, (Remote Start and Stop)
- Analog Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD) and (with Vicon Lock Studio) 3G SDI broadcast digital video devices to which the Vicon Valkyrie system must synchronize
- Analog broadcast timecode devices for triggering capture and time-stamping captured data in accordance with LTC and VITC standards
- VESA Stereo devices to which the Vicon Valkyrie system must synchronize
Important
Although Valkyrie cameras are IP65-rated, the other components of your Valkyrie system (switches, Locks, other cameras, etc) may not be, so ensure that these components are not exposed to unsuitable environmental conditions.
For more information on the role of Vicon Lock units in a Valkyrie system, see the relevant Lock quick start guide and the Vicon Systems Setup Guide.
For more information on connecting third-party devices to a Valkyrie system, see Add a Vicon Lock to a basic Valkyrie system.
For a list of currently tested and supported third-party devices, contact Vicon Support or your nearest agent or distributor.
Vicon Valkyrie synchronization source
As shown in the following table, each Valkyrie system has one sync source device that provides synchronization to the system. The sync source is established automatically during system booting.
| If the system includes | The sync source is |
|---|---|
| Vicon Lock (or Vicon Beacon) | Vicon Lock (or Vicon Beacon) |
| No Lock or Beacon | A camera |
| Two Lock units | Lock unit with genlock source attached. If no genlock source is attached to either Lock, one is automatically designated the sync source. |
For more information on the role of a Vicon Lock unit in a Valkyrie system, see Add a Vicon Lock to a basic Valkyrie system, Vicon Lock connectivity units in the Vicon Systems Setup Guide, or the relevant Vicon Lock guide.
