MVN (Inertial Motion Capture)

MVN (formerly Moven) is a flexible, camera-less full-body motion capture solution that can be used indoors and outdoors. MVN is a cost efficient MoCap system based on miniature inertial motion sensors, biomechanical models and sensor fusion algorithms.

Quicklinks:
>> Overview of MVN customers
>> View the MVN showreel
>> MVN Studio Demo

 
Overview
   
   
   

Leaflet

 
Download the MVN leaflet:
   

Inertial Motion Capture - MVN (Moven)MVN - wireless inertial motion capture

The MVN (formerly Moven) motion capture suit is an easy to use, cost efficient system for full-body human motion capture. MVN is based on unique, state-of-the-art miniature inertial sensors, biomechanical models and sensor fusion algorithms.  

6DOF inertial mocap suit 

  • Flexible and short turnaround times 
  • Short setup time and great ease of use (10 min.)
  • On-set and/or outside motion capture
  • Can be worn under clothing
  • Compatible with popular motion editors
  • Minimal fine-tuning, filtering or post processing needed
  • Real-time visualisation
  • Occlusion-free motion capture solution

MVN mocap suit

  • Full body 6DOF tracking
  • 17 MTx inertial trackers
  • Wireless operation
  • Comfortable lycra suit with embedded cabling
  • Extra prop / backup sensor

MVN Studio 

  • Record motion capture data with ease
  • Advanced human body model provides output of 23 body segments
  • Export to popular motion capture file formats, such as .BVH and .FBX
  • Real-time visualization, playback and editing
  • Intuitive editing interface
  • Plug-in for seamless real-time integration with Autodesk MotionBuilder® (optional)

Fidelity and Immunity

  • Highly sensitive MEMS inertial sensors capture every twitch and deliver incredibly smooth data
  • Use under any lighting condition
  • Low sensitivity to EM-fields

Applications

  • 3D character animation (in game, film, TV, advertising)
  • Training and simulation, live events
  • Sports science, After Action Review
  • Rehabilitation, biomechanics research, human factors

>> Contact Xsens

Specs

MVN MoCap Suit

Number of trackers

  

Full body configuration
Lower body configuration
Upper body configuration
Extra prop / backup sensor

17 MTx inertial trackers
7 MTx inertial trackers
11 MTx inertial trackers
1 MTx inertial tracker

   

Full body suit

  

Lightweight, revolutionary stretch fabric with cable guides and 2 fabric sensor pockets and 10 TPE Dryflex sensor holders.

Sizes:
S, M, L (standard), XL, XXL

 
   

Accessories (included)

  

2 gloves with tracker pocket
1 head band with tracker pocket
2 foot mounts

 
   

On body cabling

  

For data communication and power
Only 1 cable needed on each arm/leg, trackers daisy-chained

   

Power supply

  

Power/data control unit

2 Xbus Masters (XM)

Power (each XM)

 

- Battery (incl.)

8 AA NiMH rechargeables
(of which 4 spare)

- Power adapter (incl.)

EU/US/UK Power adapter
110-240VAC/12VDC 1A

- Input voltage range

4 - 14V

Operating time (typical)

3 hours

Battery charger (incl.)

For 8 AA NiMH batteries

   

Communication

  

Interface

Wireless or high-speed RS-232/USB

Wireless range radius (typical)

 

- Outdoor

150 meters (492 ft.)

- Indoor open space

150 meters (492 ft.)

- Indoor office

50 meters (164 ft.)

   

Wireless receiver units

  

All configurations

2 Wireless Receivers (incl.)

RF technology

Bluetooth 2.0
(optimized, class 1)

Interface

USB 1.1 or 2.0

 		  

Physical

Dimensions

  

MTx inertial tracker

38 x 53 x 21 mm (1.5” x 2.1” x 0.8”)
Xbus Master

100 x 150 x 40 mm (3.9” x 5.9” x 1.6”)

Moven suitcase

559 x 351 x 229 mm (22” x 13” x 9”)

   

Suitcase


Suitcase with wheels & extendable handle
Strong, durable & waterproof
Suitable as hand-luggage
MVN suitcase

Weight

  

MTx inertial tracker

30 g (1 oz.)

Xbus Master

200 g (0.4 lbs)

Moven Suit (excl. trackers)

360 g (0.80 lbs)

Total on-body system
(with batteries and cables)

1930 g (4.2 lbs)

Shipping weight (incl. suitcase)

11 kg (24 lbs)

   

Operation environment

 

20... +55 deg Celcius, non-wet

 

(ask for options for water-proof system)

 
   

Setup time

 

Less than 10 minutes

 

Performance

MTx inertial trackers (to MTx page)

  

3D orientation accuracy

<0.5 deg1

Resolution

0.05 deg

Accelerometer range

± 50 m/s2 (5 g)

Gyroscope range

1200 deg/s

   

MVN human model

  
  • MVN uses a 23 segment biomechanical model with 22 joints
  • Each joint is specified by statistical parameters for 6DOF joint laxity. An advanced spine and shoulder model is used that computes the kinematics of the spine and shoulder blades

System calibration

  

Flexible calibration scheme with instant feedback regarding the expected accuracy. Calibration can be done without assistance from a second person.

   

Basic calibration

  • 10 seconds
  • Basic calibration needs only subject length and foot length

Advanced calibration

  • 10-30 seconds per additional step
  • Advanced subject specific calibration determines tracker alignment and/or subject specific dimensions
  • Calibration procedures for subjects with limited range of motion are possible
   
1 Static accuracy in homogenous magnetic field

MVN Fusion Engine

Output

Full kinematics of each segment (position, velocity, acceleration, orientation, angular velocity and angular acceleration)

 

Update rate
  • Internal update rates 120, 100, 60 Hz
  • Export frame rates 120, 100, 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 Hz

3D translation capture
  • Double integration of body segment accelerations allows for jumping/running (permanent floor contact is not needed)
  • ~2% error in traveled distance (without external aiding)
  • Advanced external contact model detects body world contacts to enable crawling, sitting, cartwheels etc.
  • Full control over external contact points
  • Seamless fusion with aiding technologies possible1

Props

Support for one to three props

 

Magnetic environment
  • Full immunity to temporary magnetic disturbances (~30 seconds)
  • Visual warning of disturbed environment

Local, permanent disturbances

High degree of immunity, performance will depend on motion and environment

 

Soft tissue artifacts

Minimized to ~2 degrees RMS using redundancy in measurement and biomechanical constraints

 

Multiple person capture

Up to four person capturing on one PC

 
1 Some features are only available in SDK, ask for possibilities

MVN Studio

MVN Studio is included with your Xsens MVN order.

The MVN Software Development Kit (SDK) is optional.

MVN (Moven) Studio

MVN Studio Software

MVN Studio is a software application for motion capturing with the Moven suit. At the download section you will find a link for a demo of MVN Studio.

Functionality

  • Easy and quick calibration
  • Real-time preview of motion capture
  • Simultaneous recording/viewing
  • Replaying previously recorded motion data

Supported export formats

  • .BVH (Biovision Hierarchical data)
  • .FBX
  • .MVNX - MVN open XML format
    Output 3D position, 3D orientation, (optionally: 3D acceleration, 3D velocity, 3D angular rate, 3D angular acceleration)
  • .MPG and .AVI movie export

Optional streaming motion data

  • Streaming motion data on local area netwerk (UDP)
  • MotionBuilder compatible client plug-in available
  • Client network monitor support in Moven Studio

MVN StudioData Rate

  • 37 Mb/min @ 60 Hz
  • 62 Mb/min @ 100 Hz
  • 74 Mb/min @ 120 Hz

Recommended computer system

  • Operating system:
    Windows XP (SP2) or Windows Vista
  • Processor:
    Dual core e.g. Core2 or AMD X2 (min. Pentium 4 - 2.6 GHz)
  • Graphic card:
    Any graphic card with DirectX 9 hardware acceleration
Movies

 

  Movies

 

Examples with MVN Studio
ProductReel2009

MVN ProductReel 2009
> WMV
> FLV 
> MP4

Moven_demonstration

Short demonstration
including quick calibration
 > WMV, 30 MB 
 

Moven product

Product movie
what's in the suitcase
> WMV, 34 MB
> WMV, 14 MB (low res)
 

Range

Range, running outdoors
up to 150 meter 
> WMV, 5,3 MB

Full_calibration

Full calibration
T-pose and Hand touch
> WMV, 11,5 MB
> MOV, 6,5 MB

 
WALKING

Walking sequence
normal mode
> WMV, 2.5 MB
> MPG, 5.0 MB


follow mode
> WMV, 2.7 MB
> MPG, 4.4 MB

PUCHINGBOX

Pushing a box
normal mode
> WMV, 1.6 MB

 
other angle
> WMV, 0.7 MB

THOMAS Thomas Flare
normal mode
> WMV, 0.6 MB
> MPG, 2.2 MB		  
JUMPBOX

Jumping over a box
normal mode 
> WMV, 1.6 MB
> MPG, 2.1 MB

 
CAR

Ingress/egress of a car
normal mode
> WMV, 5.2 MB
> MPG, 9.7 MB  


opposite side 
> WMV, 5.3 MB
> MPG, 9.9 MB
HORSE

Ascend onto horseback
follow mode
> WMV, 2.8 MB
> MPG, 5.2 MB

 

KARATE

Karate kicks
normal mode
> WMV, 2.9 MB
> MPG, 5.3 MB

 
KNEESPIN Breakdance - kneespin
normal mode
> WMV, 2.9 MB
> MPG, 5.2 MB		  
HEADSPIN

Breakdance - headspin
normal mode
> WMV, 1.1 MB
> MPG, 1.9 MB


horizontal  view 
> WMV, 1.0 MB
> MPG, 1.9 MB

 

 


 

Learn more

 

Leaflet 

  
Download the MVN leaflet:
   
   
Introduction about the beginning of motion capture technology  
   

White papers

 

 

Xsens MVN: Full 6DOF Human Motion Tracking Using Miniature Inertial Sensors

XSENS TECHNOLOGIES B.V., 2009
Daniel Roetenberg, Henk Luinge and Per Slycke		  
   

Fusion motion capture: a prototype system using inertial measurement units and GPS for the biomechanical analysis of ski racing

SPORTS TECHNOLOGY 2008, NO. 1, PAGES 17–28
Matthew Brodie, Alan Walmsley and Wyatt Page		  
   

I3VR technology, intuitive interactive immersive virtual reality

FACTORS & PARIS DESCARTES UNIVERSITY, UPRES ERGONOMICS, 2006
N.J. Delleman, E. den Dekker, T.K. Tan, PRESENTED AT IEA 2006, TNO HUMAN

 

 

Related Software

   
   

Quicklinks:

>> MVN MotionBuilder plug-in
>> MVN Software Development Kit (SDK)
>> MVN Studio Demo

MotionBuilder

Xsens MVN Motionbuilder pluginMVN Studio has a plug-in for easy and real-time integration with MotionBuilder. The plug-in is optional to purchase.

The 'net streamer' feature inside MVN Studio allows you to stream motion data via several protocols to different applications, e.g. Motionbuilder. Real-time pre-visualization will be available in a simple point-and-click environment. The plug-in also enables skeletal data to be transferred from multiple characters and layered in real-time via a live remote control interface to essentially use MotionBuilder as an animation-recording tool.

Autodesk MotionBuilder is a software program optimized for 3D animation and motion capture, which will allow true cinematic workflows.  It supports the widest number of devices for input, including MVN. The logical ease of use and power of MotionBuilder is legendary, making nearly any adjustments to live capture or 3D animation possible. Since 3D animation and motion capture is all MotionBuilder does, it offers real-time mesh deformation with textures, lighting and effects from your motion capture data or live input.

The MotionBuilder native Autodesk FBX® file format allows you to easily transfer assets to and from Autodesk® 3ds Max® and Autodesk® Maya® software products, and any other content creation package that supports FBX—making it a complementary package that can enhance any new or existing production pipeline.

Xsens MVN Motionbuilder plugin

Autodesk® MotionBuilder™ software is the foremost 3D character animation productivity suite for game, film, broadcast, and multimedia production. This award-winning software combines a unique real-time architecture, animation layering and Story Timeline non-linear editing environment with an intuitive workflow and tools that streamline the character animation pipeline. With a strong focus on workflow efficiency, Autodesk MotionBuilder enables traditional animators and technical directors alike to take on the most demanding, high-volume animation projects. The software, available for Windows® and Mac® operating systems, natively supports the platform-independent FBX 3D authoring and interchange format that allows MotionBuilder to integrate with any application in a production pipeline that supports FBX. 

 

MVN SDK

The MVN Software Development Kit is optional. It gives the user advanced software functionalities.

Functionality
• Easy integration with custom application software
• Provides real-time orientation and position data of body segments using dynamic link library (C interface)
• Provides interfaces to calibration routines and character definition routines
• Handles pre-recorded MVN files for post-processing

Direct, real-time interface with one or more MVN systems:

MVN SDK