Linux® and LabVIEW Now Available for Polhemus Tracking Systems
Posted: February 14, 2004
COLCHESTER, VT, (February 12, 2004)----Polhemus, the industry leader in 6 Degree-of-Freedom (6DOF) motion capture, motion tracking and digitizing technologies is proud to announce a Linux Universal Serial Bus (USB) solution and the National Instruments LabVIEW drivers for Polhemus LIBERTY and PATRIOT motion tracking systems. Linux is a freely distributed operating system, used for home and office with a variety of application formats. LabVIEW is a graphical programming language with built-in functionality for data acquisition instrument control, measurement analysis, and data presentation.
Polhemus now provides Linux users with the ability to operate Polhemus LIBERTY and PATRIOT systems with full compatibility using a USB connection. Developed by a third party and released as open source, the USB connection utilizes a firmware loader and the Linux USB kernel module that communicates with the Liberty. By utilizing programs that come with the standard Linux distribution and modifying a few files, a user will have full USB communications with the Liberty. The ease-of-use, ability to connect high performance peripherals, and the bandwidth that USB offers in combination with Linux make LIBERTY and PATRIOT the most universal motion tracking systems available.
Polhemus has recognized the high demand for LabVIEW compatibility, and therefore has provided an instrument driver for its LIBERTY and PATRIOT motion tracking systems. Polhemus' instrumentation solution is an extensive set of LabVIEW VIs (Virtual Instruments) which parallel the most-commonly-used functions and all standard LIBERTY and PATRIOT commands and syntax. This will allow users to now control extensive data collection, analysis and presentations through LabVIEW.
The LabVIEW driver will be available for download at www.ni.com and both the LabVIEW and Linux files can be found at www.polhemus.com. These additional attributes make LIBERTY and PATRIOT the most preferred motion tracking systems in the industry.
LIBERTY, our finest tracking system, tracks at an unprecedented speed of 240 Hz per sensor, incorporates distortion sensing, is scalable for multiple sensors, while PATRIOT tracks at 60 Hz per sensor yet measures in at only 6.75 inches L x 6.25 inches W x 1.75 inches H. Both systems have an easy to use, intuitive GUI, and improved signal-to-noise ratios which increase stability and resolution while providing consistent high-quality data.
Polhemus provides the absolute best in time proven 6DOF systems, eye tracking, and handheld three-dimensional scanners. These products are in wide use in such areas as medical applications, university research, military training and simulation, and computer-aided design. Please sales@polhemus.com for additional information.