Software Tools

The MotionNode system is augmented with some freely available software tools. These are intended to simplify development of third-party applications and ease integration with existing content pipelines.

Software Development Kit

The MotionNode SDK is a collection of classes that provides real-time access to the output of the MotionNode system. This includes orientation output as well as the raw and calibrated sensor signals. The SDK is open source and available in the C++, Java, and Python programming languages.

Download or browse the Software Development Kit files.

C Application Programming Interface (API)

The MotionNode C API is a set of plain C functions that provides real-time access to the output of the MotionNode system. The C API is available as a standalone dynamic library suitable for use in applications such as LabVIEW and Matlab.

Download the C API libraries.

LabVIEW Real-time Data Access

We provide example files for real-time sensor data access from LabVIEW. Use the Sub-VI modules in your project to simplify access to MotionNode data.

Browse the LabVIEW VI files.

Note: We recommend the C API library instead of these VI modules for better performance.

VR Juggler Gadgeteer Device

VR JugglerExternal link is an open source platform for virtual reality (VR) application development. We provide support for MotionNode as an input device for VR Juggler through the Gadgeteer system.

Download the driver and source files for VR Juggler 2.2.0. To compile the driver, you will also need the MotionNode SDK.

Trackd Device

TrackdExternal link is a "daemon" application that provides a generic interface to virtual reality (VR) input devices. We provide support for MotionNode as an input device to Trackd. All VR applications that use Trackd can now effortlessly support MotionNode as a real-time orientation tracker.

Download the driver for Windows.

VRPN Device

Virtual Reality Peripheral Network (VRPN)External link is a set of classes that are designed to implement a network-transparent interface between application programs and the set of physical devices (tracker, etc.) used in a virtual reality (VR) system. We provide support for MotionNode as a VRPN tracker.

Download the source files. To compile the driver, you will also need the MotionNode SDK and the Boost.ThreadExternal link library.

We also have binary Windows VRPN Server (7.15) and static and shared libraries available.

COLLADA to BVH

XSL transformation to convert a COLLADAExternal link file to a BVHExternal link file. COLLADA and BVH are both standard animation file formats supported by the MotionNode system. BVH is an older format used for motion capture data. COLLADA is a general 3D asset file format, a subset of which can be used for motion capture data.

This transformation is not intended to handle all animations and poses possible in a COLLADA file. The COLLADA format is much more flexible than the BVH format. See the source file for a description of the limitations.

Download the collada_to_bvh.xsl file.

Binary to Text (CSV)

Utility to convert MotionNode binary stream files to CSV text files. Provides export of sensor data to external applications such as Microsoft Excel.

Download the command line application. The source code is available as an example application in the MotionNode SDK.