Electromagnetic tracking

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Electromagnetic tracking is a kind of 3D tracking that generates magnetic fields and detects them from a sensor. It is a technology for 6DOF tracking. It can be implemented in an electromagnetic tracking system. Examples of electromagnetic tracking are the Magic Leap 1 controller and the Razer Hydra. The Magic Leap 1 uses magnetic tracking for its handheld controller, but in a poor form.

It can work with a headset if the headset is small enough.

Magnetic tracking preserves high frequency transients in movement, like a flick of a finger.

A metallic object has to be at least a foot or two away from a tracking area so the metallic object doesn't interfere with the tracking measurements. Metallic objects cause jitter and drift.

Companies[edit]

Electromagnetic tracking was invented by Polhemus, which originally was researching navigation in aircraft. Another company that has made electromagnetic tracking gadgets is Ascension Technologies.

Premo is a company in Spain that markets electromagnetic tracking parts, including coils.[2] Premo's electromagnets are in some AmfiTrack products.[3]

Types[edit]

Components[edit]

SEU stands for system electronics unit. It is used in the context of electromagnetic tracking systems such as the Polhemus Viper and the Polhemus Patriot. It is a box that the sources and sensors plug into.

Industry Standard Coil Architecture[edit]

An ISCA coil

Industry Standard Coil Architecture is the use of three colocated orthogonal quasi-dipole transmitter coils and three colocated quasi-dipole receiver coils.[4]

Examples of this type of system are:

References[edit]