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Animation & Motion Capture
Ascension’s magetic and optical trackers are extensively used world-wide in animating characters for television, film and computer games. They quickly, easily and elegantly capture the motions of performers for instant animation of computerized characters. The process saves animators time and money maximizing creativity and profit margins. Their success has produced a long and growing roll of credits.
Medical & Medical Simulation Through advanced simulation technologies, students and doctors practice delicate procedures without the need of cadavers. Ultrasound has also entered a new dimension with 3D or 4D images. Microsensors allow catheters to be tracked without fluoroscopy.
More and more, minimally invasive procedures are becoming commonplace. And advanced imaging modalities now let clinicians see inside the human body with amazing clarity. Rapid advancements are also being made in instrument guidance. Locating medical instruments in 3D space is a key requirement for many emerging procedures, especially image-guided. To meet this need, Ascension Technology has developed a new generation of pulsed DC magnetic tracking technologies and proprietary techniques for medical applications. These DC magnetic devices are built upon Ascension’s two decades of expertise in developing advanced magnetic tracking technologies for virtual reality, simulation and computer animation. When our 3D measurements are combined with imaging modalities, clinicians can instantly and precisely locate and guide medical instruments to an exact target - whether inside or outside the human body. Applications include:
Virtual Reality & Visualization Used extensively in the automobile, aircraft, and Oil/Gas Recovery industries, interactive 3D visualization saves time and money on virtual prototypes and gets products to market faster. Ascension's products allow you to interact with objects and environments.
Integrated Systems - Virtual Design and Prototyping:
VR Games:
Simulation & Training
To lower costs and improve interactive training, a number of simulator companies now include head-tracking in their flight and vehicle simulators. In this application, computer-generated imagery is synchronized with a student’s line-of-sight angles, derived by tracking his head position with an Ascension motion tracker. Integrated Systems :
Research Programs
Biomechanics/Human Factors
Following years of innovative research at universities and institutions, magnetic motion tracking is now being used increasingly to quantify human motions for feedback, rehabilitation, and performance assessment purposes. Ascension trackers are now available in a number of biomechanical and human factors systems that take advantage of its instant motion measurement without the occlusion and non-real-time restrictions of optical tracking systems. Integrated Systems:
Military - Helmet Tracking
Ascension’s second-generation DC magnetic and next-generation optical head trackers optimize the effectiveness of helmet-mounted display systems in combat vehicles – air and ground. By accurately measuring a pilot’s line-of-sight (LOS) angles, they permit precision guidance of weapons, enable intra-cockpit cueing, and maximize situational awareness. In short, pilots can aim weapons, acquire mission-critical information and receive self-protection prompts simply by looking at a target through their visor. Magnetic Helmet-Mounted Sights Flight worthy models of Ascension’s DC magnetic tracker are available from Ascension’s licensee for DC technology, BAE Systems Avionics, Rochester, UK. BAE is the largest avionics company in Europe and the UK’s foremost supplier of electronic systems for military and civilian air platforms. In the last decade, BAE has developed a family of helmet-mounted displays for fast jet and rotary aircraft applications. DC magnetic tracking, which greatly simplifies installation mapping compared to earlier AC magnetic trackers, is used for target acquisition and cueing in head-mounted displays system. Current programs include the German UH-Tiger helicopter and the AH-1Z helicopter upgrade for the US Marine Corps. For more information about DC tracking in tactical aircraft, visit BAE (www.baesystems.com) or reach Ascension for direct contact points. Next generation Optical Tracking In response to DOD requirements for advanced tracker technology integrated with new helmet-display concepts, Ascension has developed phasorBIRD™ -- a breakthrough innovation in optical head tracking. phasorBIRD is a six degrees-of-freedom tracker designed to meet next generation accuracy and measurement rates ( 0.1°/+300Hz ) while being compatible with night-vision systems. Upon program completion, it will also be immune to ambient light as well as cockpit and helmet scatterers of magnetic/electric field energy. phasorBIRD technology overcomes performance, mounting, and human-factors limitations inherent in lens-based cameras employing bulky, obstructive emitters. It also eliminates the requirement for elaborate alignment and mapping hardware with its accompanying high logistical costs. A Phase I phasorBIRD model is presently operational. Two additional developmental phases are anticipated prior to product release. Prototype development, suitable for airborne testing, is presently in progress under the direction of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. For more information about how phasorBIRD can solve your future cockpit tracking requirements, contact ascension@ascension-tech.com.
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By utilizing motion capture tools, animators save time and money bringing their 3D characters to life. Even inorganic objects can spring to life when animated via motion capture. Ever seen a dancing car?
Medicine is changing. Procedures performed just 5 years ago are already antiquated.
Once associated primarily with games, virtual reality techniques are now commonly used in real-world applications, especially in the design, visualization and simulation of complex vehicles in the automotive, aerospace and oil/gas industries. They are also used in augmented reality systems in which head tracking is used to overlay pictorial data on actual parts, components and assemblies. 
Ascension provides several different technologies to track head, hands and instruments in most difficult environments. Both military and commercial customers use these trackers for the most realistic training missions.
Doctors and therapists acquire qualitative human motion assessment for physical therapy or rehabilitation. The patient's entire body movements, or just an arm, can be tracked for accurate analyses.
Helmet tracking lets combat officers aim weapons and receive situational cues by simply looking at targets. Military-qualified helmet-mounted sights/displays are available from Ascension's licensee, BAE Systems. Next-generation optical tracking technology is available directly from Ascension.