Motion Tracking for 3D/Live Action

[Johnny]

For those interested in filmmaking, I'm looking at FreeIMU or SpacePoint Scout as a relative location and orientation tracking kit. Links below.

http://www.pnicorp.com/products/spacepoint-scout
https://viacopter.eu/multirotor-shop/sensors/freeimu-0-4-3-multicopter-store

The idea behind it, I think, would be to attach the kit to the camera within a greenscreen room, then to move around in that room and record the data along side the film.
That data would then be shifted into a 3d program to render out the background within say, a star ship bridge, and match the two together.

Wondering if people have ever come across or used this kit in the past, or have any opinions on what I'd like to try?

It doesn't seem to pricy either. Which is good!

Cheers,
J.

 

[Maurice]

Cheap for a component, maybe. But these aren't off-the-shelf solutions. They're components that need to be integrated into other hardware, and then someone would have to write software to do what you suggest.

 

[Johnny]

Cheap for a component, maybe. But these aren't off-the-shelf solutions. They're components that need to be integrated into other hardware, and then someone would have to write software to do what you suggest.

Oh yeah, I'm not expecting it to work off the shelf!

As far as I'm aware the IMU needs an Arduino UNO board, but need the Amtel Studio for the programming side of it.
So I'll have to learn another kind of programming!

The only other option comes out at £800, and that would work off the shelf, but a little pricy.
http://www.lp-research.com/9-axis-imu-with-bluetooth-wireless-connectivity/

 

[lennier1]

I'd probably first look into what Lightwave's features and the hardware for those have to offer:
http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/all-world-s-virtual-stage-disney-s-new-camera-capture-system
https://www.lightwave3d.com/news/article/nevronmotion-transforms-mocap-in-lightwave-116/
https://www.lightwave3d.com/news/article/creating-a-superheros-challenging-past/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLbl7hl2PRc
Not exactly cheap, but good software rarely is.

 

[Johnny]

I'd probably first look into what Lightwave's features and the hardware for those have to offer:
http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/all-world-s-virtual-stage-disney-s-new-camera-capture-system
https://www.lightwave3d.com/news/article/nevronmotion-transforms-mocap-in-lightwave-116/
https://www.lightwave3d.com/news/article/creating-a-superheros-challenging-past/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLbl7hl2PRc
Not exactly cheap, but good software rarely is.

I have a copy of Lightwave 11.5... I won't say how.
I've managed to pull together an MOT file, which is a global motion file, essentially a csv, based on the data from the calculated figures from a mobile phones sensors, which works (ish), but isn't as precise as needed.

I've got a friend who commercially works with 3DS Max so I'm draining his mind for details on what he would need for getting a motion path into that.

I've got a conversation with a company called Willow Technologies tomorrow, who should be able to give me more details on some of their tech.

 

[Johnny]

Right, there are a couple of options that Williow Technologies have discussed, but the one that is most likely would be something called a SENtral M&M Module. However, whatever genius came up with these products decided it was a good idea to get the hardware to output in something called a Quaternion Matrix.

It is a table of vector based values which can be converted to relative position and rotational value. However he mentioned that it is some extremely complicated maths... great.

Saying that, the kit is only around £100 so it may be worth sticking with.

I'm going to research it, but if anyone knows anything about converting a Quaternion Matrix, give me a shout!

J.

Edit: Found this site which my help the process of back calculating the figures:
http://www.mclellansys.com/article_2.htm

 

[Johnny]

Ok, resurrection time.

I found a UK company (http://www.x-io.co.uk/) that produces an IMU. Looks good, hopefully going to have a conversation with them at some point soon.
There's a nice little video of it working here too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ijArKE8vKU