Polhemus Viper
Polhemus Viper is a series of electromagnetic tracking systems from Polhemus. The Viper line includes the Viper 4, Viper 8, and Viper 16. The Viper 4 and Viper 8 are both in the same physical enclosure. The Viper 16 is twice as tall as the Viper 4 or 8.
The Viper series has the highest precision and accuracy of all of Polhemus' electromagnetic trackers.
Final assembly is done in the United States.
Viper sensors attach to the SEU using a connector that is the same physical shape as USB-C, but it has different electrical connections.
It is compatible with the Micro Sensor from Polhemus.
Viper units can be configured to use Fly True Technology (FTT).
Specifications[edit]
- Update rate: Viper 4 is 240hz per sensor. Viper 8 and 16 are 960 hz per sensor.
- Interface: USB or RS-422
- Latency: About 1 millisecond at 960hz, about 2 milliseconds at 480hz, and about 3 milliseconds at 240hz.[1]
- The accuracy within a 30 inch radius from TX2 source, when staying perfectly still: 0.015 inches root mean square (RMS) for position, 0.10 degrees RMS orientation.[1]
Software[edit]
The Viper SEUs can interface with software based on the Viper Native Command Protocol (VNCP).[2]
Construction[edit]
Viper SEUs use a power supply with part number TR9CA8000LCPIM(R6B) from GlobTek, which was made in China. It is a 5 volt, 8 amp power supply.
Viper SEUs use cooling fans from Sunon that were made in China. Their part number is MC25100V2-000U-A99. Their voltage is 5 volts. They are loud and small.
Patents[edit]
The Viper series is partly described by one or more of the following patents:
- U.S. Patent 5,307,072 (Expired)
- U.S. Patent 6,013,595 (Expired) - related to ethylene
- U.S. Patent 6,369,594 (Expired)
- U.S. Patent 6,400,139 (Expired)
- U.S. Patent 6,624,626 (Expired)
- U.S. Patent 6,762,600 (Expired)
- U.S. Patent 7,292,948 (Expires in the year 2025) - Applies to the Fly True Technology
- U.S. Patent 7,710,395 (Expires in the year 2028) - Not applicable - only for head mounted pointing and control gadget for 2D display screens
- U.S. Patent 7,873,491 (Expires in the year 2026) - Not applicable, only for wireless systems, which the Viper is not