Technology

MotionNode is possible thanks to recent advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor technology. Our products use the highest quality MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers available for a robust and precise orientation reference system.

The MotionNode software package is the culmination of extensive internal research and development, implementing an accurate and drift free orientation tracking algorithm. The software requires only minutes to install and get started previewing and recording inertial data.

Our company's goal is to make 3-DOF inertial sensing technology available to a wider audience. MotionNode, the affordable, easy to use orientation tracking sensor, is the core of our product line.

Sensor data

Read real-time MotionNode orientation data in the following formats:

  • Quaternion
  • Euler angles
  • Calibrated accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer signals
  • Raw accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer signals

Export orientation data tracks to standard file formats:

  • Autodesk FBX
  • C3D Biomechanics Data Standard
  • CSV Spreadsheet (Comma Separated Values)

Import MotionNode data tracks or access real-time sensor data with included software tools and adapters:

  • MathWorks MATLAB
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • GNU Octave
  • Microsoft Excel
  • OpenOffice.org Calc
  • ANSI C
  • C++
  • C#
  • Java
  • Python

Onboard

MotionNode uses a total of nine high quality sensors to compute an accurate and stable orientation. One accelerometer, one gyroscope, and one magnetometer contribute data for each of the three axes.

Sensor Measures Range/Sensitivity Example usage
Accelerometer linear acceleration ±2 g or ±6 g Measure acceleration due to gravity plus dynamic acceleration.
  • Estimate inclination or tilt.
  • Estimate position with a dead reckoning system.
  • Gesture based input system.
Gyroscope angular velocity ±2000 °/second Measure angular rate.
  • Detect jitter. Stabilize the lens on a handheld camera.
  • Estimate local 3D orientation with a numerical integration system.
Magnetometer magnetic field strength ±100 μT (microtesla) Measure the magnetic field of the earth, or the geomagnetic field.
  • Estimate azimuth or compass direction.
  • Detect local disturbances in the geomagnetic field.
  • In conjunction with an inclination value, estimate global 3D orientation.

System Requirements

MotionNode requires a computer with a USB port.

  • Windows 10, macOS 10.12+, Linux
  • USB Standard-A port
  • Internet connection recommended for setup

Platforms

The software package includes 64-bit applications for all supported operating systems.

We provide limited support for embedded, tablet, and mobile devices running 32-bit ARM processors with the Linux, Android, or Windows operating systems. Note that these devices still require a USB port with host capability.

Please contact us to verify that your target device is supported.