<p>Some tens of millions of passenger journeys take place on Europe’s railways every day. Nearly all of these journeys pass off with no incident. For most people, most of the time, rail travel is and feels safe.</p><p>Yet it is not perfectly safe: according to an official study, the European Union Railway Safety Report, between 300 and 700 rail accidents occur in Europe every year - a statistic which has held true for many years, despite the strict safety regulations applied to passenger transport in the EU.</p><p>Shocked by the regular frequency of rail accidents, in 2005 engineer Thomas Strang decided to dedicate his professional life to the development of technology which could dramatically reduce the number of accidents.</p><p>The company which he leads, <a href="https://www.intelligence-on-wheels.de/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Intelligence on Wheels</a>, is the result of his commitment to rail safety. Its technology, the world’s first autonomous, train-based safety monitoring and warning system, depends on a geolocation system based on an Xsens <a href="https://www.xsens.com/inertial-sensor-modules" rel="noopener" target="_blank">inertial sensor module</a>.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe class="fr-draggable" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rPRqhJpBJIY?&amp;feature=emb_logo&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 790px; height: 402px;"></iframe></span><br></p><p><strong>If planes do not collide, why should trains?</strong></p><p>Today train routing is performed by a control center via the system of tracks and switches. The interlocking system of points is intended to be inherently safe, isolating a train on one section of track from trains on neighboring sections.</p><p>So from the control center’s point of view, safety is maintained by controlling sections of track, not by controlling individual trains. In fact, a railway control center does not continuously monitor the exact location or speed of travel of the trains it controls: rather, it knows whether a section of track is occupied or not.</p><p><img width="1200" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Three Bridges ROC" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjEwNzE3NTA4MjE4LTE2MTA3MTc1MDgyMTcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ=="></p><p><em><strong>The Three Bridges rail operating center, which controls commuter trains into London. (Image credit: Network Rail)</strong><br><br></em></p><p>Thomas Strang, who holds a private pilot’s license and works as a senior engineer in Germany’s aerospace research agency, realized that it was possible to apply to trains the safety principle already adopted by the airline industry. An aircraft includes on-board systems which scan the air for other craft nearby, and which alert the pilot when a plane is on course to hit or to fly too close to any other.</p><p>Likewise, if drivers could know when their train is at risk of colliding with another, they could slow and stop it, completely independently of the control center. Such a system would bypass the features of the current system which allow as many as 700 rolling stock collisions to occur annually in Europe.</p><p>&nbsp;<strong>How to precisely geolocate a train</strong></p><p>Intelligence on Wheels’ on-board system operates by tracking continuously the exact position, speed of travel and direction of travel of the train. To be protected by the new system, every train sharing a track on the network has to be equipped with the same system. Trains are connected via a direct radio link, and share in real-time their motion and position information, including the current braking distance, with every other train in the vicinity.</p><p>Each Intelligence on Wheels unit includes a computer which processes the speed and position information coming in from nearby trains and continuously calculates the risk of a collision. As soon as the risk exceeds a minimum threshold, the system displays an alert to the driver of each at-risk train, enabling them to take evasive action – normally, to immediately slow down or stop.</p><p><img width="4608" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Train cab_view of track" sizes="(max-width: 4608px) 100vw, 4608px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjEwNzE3NTA4NDU4LTE2MTA3MTc1MDg0NTguanBlZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0="></p><h4><em>The view from the cab – drivers usually cannot see as far down the track as the braking distance when travelling at speed. (Image in the public domain)<br><br></em></h4><p>In a rail network which deploys Intelligence on Wheels’ technology, for the first time every train can pinpoint its position relative to other trains nearby – a huge breakthrough which makes the entire system’s safety controls more resilient, and which provides a safety back-up in case the primary track-based safety system fails or is inadvertently disabled.</p><p>But of course, it depends on access to continuous, real-time information about the speed and position of a train, information which the existing infrastructure does not provide or use. So Intelligence on Wheels had to develop this capability from scratch.</p><p>Its ingenious solution to the problem was mapping: before deployment in a train network, Intelligence on Wheels maps every centimeter of track, recording precisely its inclination and heading, track features such as points, and other track-related landmarks such as stations and speed limits.</p><p>The Intelligence on Wheels equipment mounted on board each train includes an <a href="https://www.xsens.com/mti-products" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens inertial measurement unit (IMU)</a>, a sophisticated motion tracking module which measures 3D acceleration and 3D rate-of-turn, and provides a magnetic field vector.</p><p>By comparing the inputs from the IMU with the map, the Intelligence on Wheels unit can exactly locate the position, velocity and direction of travel of the train. This information is cross-checked against a GNSS satellite positioning signal to provide additional confidence in the geolocation information from the IMU.</p><p>Crucially, on a section with two or more tracks, the system is accurate enough to know which track the train is on, so that trains on parallel tracks can be allowed to pass normally, but trains approaching each other on the same track can be warned to stop and avoid a collision.</p><p>In building the IMU-based geolocation system, Intelligence on Wheels had to balance performance and cost. Because its system is safety-critical, it must be ultra-reliable in the demanding operating environment of the driver’s cabin. Accurate measurement of high-speed motion is also essential – for instance, the system can even derive valuable information about the train’s position from the vibrations it measures when the train is in motion. As the Intelligence on Wheels concept requires a discrete unit to be mounted in every train on the network which is to be protected by the new system, the bill-of-materials cost of the company’s equipment directly affects the train operator’s investment decision.</p><p>Thomas Strang says: ‘The accuracy and reliability of the tilt, acceleration, rate-of-turn and magnetic data from the IMU are of critical importance to us, but to gain acceptance of our system in the rail industry, we have to offer it a price point that operators will consider affordable. We are delighted with our decision to use an Xsens IMU, because it exceeds the performance specifications we set for our geolocation system, but it is a mainstream, commercial product available at an affordable price - the perfect solution for use in our novel train safety system.’</p><p>The Intelligence on Wheels safety equipment is today in use on trains operating in Germany, and is currently undergoing field trials in various railway networks elsewhere in Europe.</p><p>For more information or to contact Intelligence on Wheels, go to <a href="http://www.intelligence-on-wheels.de/" target="_blank">www.intelligence-on-wheels.de</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Choosing your product</strong></p><p>Want to know the right inertial measurement unit for your application? Try our recommendation tool and find out what MTi you need by answering just 3 questions.</p><p><a href="https://www.xsens.com/mti-recommendation-tool" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Try the recommendation tool here.</strong></a></p>

with Xsens MTi

Intelligence On Wheels: An Innovative Concept For Train Safety

<p>Motion capture and the field of motion measurement are widely used in both sports and creative visual media. But in this recent short film, ‘<a href="https://vimeo.com/453613568" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Protesys</em></a>’ by acclaimed Brazilian director, Afonso Poyart, the worlds of sport science and Hollywood collide, and <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mvn-animate" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens MVN Animate</a> is at the center of production.&nbsp;</p><p>Afonso’s filmmaking career has earned him a highly regarded place in the global film industry, directing films such as <em>Two Rabbits&nbsp;</em>(2012), <em>Solace</em> (2015), and <em>Mais Forte que o Mundo: A História de José Aldo</em> (2016), to name a few. In Protesys, conventional wisdom surrounding sports is challenged head-on, tackling the increasing role technology plays in professional sports. In particular, the film – shot convincingly as a fictional documentary – focuses on the potential for high-powered, bionic prosthetics that take a step beyond assistance for para-athletes, elevating users to superhuman levels of performance. Afonso partnered with VFX studio, <a href="https://www.picmapost.com.br/" target="_blank">Picma Post</a>, to design the short film’s photorealistic visuals, creating a convincing and realistic technology concept, all despite being set in an entirely fictional context.&nbsp;</p><p>We spoke with Afonso Poyart and Rodrigo Elias, founding partner and production supervisor at Picma Post, about the film’s inception, production, and the studio’s future projects.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b6vjCVq4UQo?&amp;feature=emb_logo&amp;wmode=opaque" style="width: 784px; height: 503px;"></iframe></span><br></p><p><strong>Perceiving Protesys&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Afonso was inspired by the incredible feats achieved by today’s para-athletes on the world stage, taking a keen interest in the role of advancements in prosthetic limbs. As prosthetic technology continues to improve, para-athletes are beginning to edge closer to the level of able-bodied sports stars, which begs the question: could robotic technology turn the tables?&nbsp;</p><p>“We’ve started to see current-day parathletes, with the help of modern prosthetics, beginning to enter into higher and higher levels of sporting achievement, this inspired the basis of the film idea,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“What would happen if they equalled, and then bettered able-bodied athletes?” continued Afonso.&nbsp;With this concept in mind, Afonso opted to sculpt a world containing a new bionic prosthetic that while beyond today’s capabilities, feels like an entirely possible adaptation. You’d be forgiven for taking the premise of the film as fact, especially as it’s presented in a documentary form that demonstrates the technology as market-ready. It even stars an active, Brazilian para-athlete, Flavio Reitz:&nbsp;“Flavio is a real para-athlete from the Olympics – it’s like real life meets fiction. In the story, this futuristic tech company hires Flavio to test the new equipment,” explained Afonso.</p><p>The bionic technology developed by the company goes far beyond normal expectations. Rather than just replacing the limb with something inactive, the new bionic prosthetic enhances the user’s physical ability to superhuman levels and is controlled like a regular limb using a computer chip implanted in the brain. Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology played some part in the inspiration for the brain implant idea.&nbsp;“Neuralink definitely provided some inspiration for the chip that connects the motor cortex in the brain with the robotic limbs. However, I didn’t want to fool people too much or give false hope – we wanted to create something that plays with the audience but becomes clearer as the film plays out. It’s too high-tech for today,” said Afonso.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;<img alt="20191020_153232-1" class="fr-fic fr-dii" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NjU5NDc5NTUwLTE2MDQ2NTk0Nzk1NTAucG5nIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="600"></p><p><strong>Production Process</strong></p><p>Through its high production standard, the short film manages to blur the line between fiction and reality, particularly in the CG animated sections that show off the prosthetic technology. To achieve this, the VFX studio utilized motion capture to generate realistic movements of athletes performing a range of sports.&nbsp;“When we first started discussing the idea and concept for the short film, we realized we needed an accurate mocap suit to record athletic movements. Here in Brazil, we don’t have lots of mocap studios or specialists, but our research led us to <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens</a> as the best solution. We talked a lot with the Xsens team when setting up to get the highest quality data,” explained Rodrigo.&nbsp;With a short time frame to learn how to use Xsens, the team found the technology’s ease-of-use and adaptability invaluable to the production process.&nbsp;</p><p>“It was a really straightforward process for us. Picma had never operated a full mocap system and it was a learning process from scratch. Despite this, we were able to pick it up quickly,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“We were able to complete a lot of mocap directly on an athletics track. Nobody has capabilities like Xsens to complete sessions such as this,” continued Afonso.&nbsp;</p><p>With the ability to record athletes live on the track, the <a href="https://www.picmapost.com.br/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Picma Post</a> team could record the full-body motion of boxers, dancers, and high jumpers with ease, generating the realistic, CG animation seen throughout the film. Picma used several stunt doubles for Flavio's routines, harmoniously merging the shots together.&nbsp;“Flavio is unable to use a real prosthetic leg and can’t walk. So every shot where he is walking is a double. We also hired a High Jumper for some of the shots too,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“We actually had three stuntmen for Flavio, one for jumping, running, and the body! added Rodrigo. “But of course, we only recorded the initial steps of Flavio’s jump with <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens</a>. We also had some wired cables that raised him during the recording session. As soon as he took off and went upwards, we’d cut, so the rest of the jump was all CG.”&nbsp;</p><p><img alt="IMG_0906.CR2" class="fr-fic fr-dii" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NjU5NDc5MTE2LTE2MDQ2NTk0NzkxMTYucG5nIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="1200"></p><p>“For the CG parts, we used a combination of Maya and Arnold. And every compositing shot is completed in Nuke. For now, we’re using HumanIK inside Maya to apply the mocap data and a custom rig using HumanIK as our base for the robot. We’re looking to develop custom rigs in the future,” said Rodrigo. Even high-impact movements resulted in no loss of data for the team, with the durability of the Xsens sensors proving very reliable. “We recorded a high jumper with Xsens to jump at a lower height to acquire all of the movement data as an athlete crosses over the bar. The data came out very clean, all despite the athletes hitting the mattresses with maximum force – the sensors worked fine,” explained Afonso.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://play.vidyard.com/7RvtWS9otmd6jKYHf2Gx81?disable_popouts=1&amp;type=inline&amp;hidden_controls=0&amp;muted=0&amp;loop=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;new_player_ui=1&amp;gdpr_enabled=1&amp;play_button_color=2A2A2A&amp;playlist_color=FFFFFF&amp;color=FFFFFF&amp;hide_playlist=1&amp;embed_button=0&amp;viral_sharing=0&amp;v=4.2.23&amp;vydata%5Butk%5D=e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599&amp;vydata%5Bportal_id%5D=3446270&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_type%5D=blog-post&amp;vydata%5Bcanonical_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fdesigning-a-bionic-future-for-prosthetics-with-xsens&amp;vydata%5Bpage_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_page_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Blegacy_page_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_folder_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_group_id%5D=9880291723&amp;vydata%5Bab_test_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Blanguage_code%5D=null" title="Video" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><strong>Feature Film</strong></p><p>The short is a stand-alone film in its own right, but it actually exists within a much larger universe designed by Afonso to encompass a feature-length, parallel story.&nbsp;</p><p>“The short film is a case study for a feature film in production. We have a script and are just entering the production stages – the short film takes place in the same universe as the feature and acts as a precursor,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“The movie portrays a world where prosthetics are incredibly advanced. We’ve focused on different athletic sports where para-athletes use bionic limbs to become super athletes. The sporting audience and sponsors flip their interest into the bionic sports, able-bodied athletes become less significant as they’re unable to compete with para-athletes,” continued Afonso.&nbsp;“There will be two sisters, both athletes, one disabled and one able-bodied. When this technological revolution happens, the sister with the disability becomes the star, replacing the prospects of the able-bodied sister. It’s really about rivalry and what people are prepared to do to achieve success.”</p><p>The feature film will take a more conventional cinematic approach, rather than the fictional documentary style of the short. But the questions touched upon in <a href="https://vimeo.com/453613568" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><em>Protesys</em></a> will be expanded into realistic scenarios that are bound to cause contention. As Afonso states:&nbsp;“We always associate sports with physicality, but it seems to me that it’s much more about mental and emotional dexterity. If the robotics extends our physical ability to a higher level and really lowers difficulty constraints, what will differentiate the best athletes? Everyone might want a bionic limb, whether they need one or not.”<br><br></p><p>You can check out the full short film <a href="https://www.solidlimbs.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, and keep your eyes peeled for further developments of the full feature film.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Xsens MVN Animate</h3><p>Are you actively looking for a motion capture system? <span data-hs-drop="true">Feel free to visit our&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mvn-animate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><span data-hs-drop="true">product page</span></strong></a><span data-hs-drop="true">.<a href="https://www.xsens.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=62b0c95c-a32e-49a7-b027-2d1850d6c247&amp;signature=AAH58kHW8MGtxYkdRDy65TvwW8WxSoQlgA&amp;pageId=35219307837&amp;placement_guid=4d5a34f5-b6e3-4815-bb7c-67fec396482b&amp;click=d23fe1e1-9172-412a-af80-683795572401&amp;hsutk=e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599&amp;canon=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fdesigning-a-bionic-future-for-prosthetics-with-xsens&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fexplore%3Ffilter%3Dcases&amp;portal_id=3446270&amp;redirect_url=APefjpGczQu9wTNyNGmpb35KO0ZULXNHCqF9PkcH0Ho_6IWdyVwW2gu7s3VrxVumJdj3ZRgAd-220-M-7t0z5K_7GUyeMXeatlgMTlmpeIGz2ZoeriA-BJaRg2VrfHuyZEc8af2uCoVe4z_uyouYcGJWjoCuaaJ09pUhGzenbaRrw0IdC_wGbSbd4yyuUJ3xAopxB3HeKGgBp1JutLsNSkMy98evDLdzARZUnyn6TyX5GjiVzaODc8xdJtRc3xVBgNdq7JJUUPhXoG5xPx_AvClAVrZAzelHPw&amp;__hstc=81749512.e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599.1598950583555.1604655289703.1604659070195.177&amp;__hssc=81749512.5.1604659070195&amp;__hsfp=141168424&amp;contentType=blog-post" target="_blank" title="Download MVN Data Files"></a></span></p>

With Xsens

Designing A Bionic Future For Prosthetics

<p>The development and validation of new road vehicles and equipment calls for the precise testing of dynamic behavior including velocity, acceleration, deceleration and attitude. Tests of the safety and performance of new models are generally carried out on dedicated outdoor test tracks. Here, parameters such as acceleration, cornering speed and braking distances can be measured accurately under varied driving conditions.</p><p>Nearly all the world’s top manufacturers of cars, and of components such as tires, include data acquisition systems supplied by UK technology pioneer <a href="http://www.racelogic.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Racelogic</a> in their array of vehicle testing equipment. <a href="https://www.vboxautomotive.co.uk/index.php/en/" target="_blank">Racelogic’s VBOX</a> is the automotive industry’s preferred data acquisition system for vehicle testing because of its outstanding performance: it logs at a frequency of 100 times a second the exact position of a test vehicle on the road to an accuracy of ±2cm. It achieves this remarkable accuracy by combining signals from multiple GNSS constellations, such as GPS and GLONASS, with inertial measurements and wheel speed data from the vehicle itself.</p><p>The inertial data – measurements in three dimensions of acceleration and of rate-of-turn – are obtained from the high-accuracy Xsens IMU (<a href="https://www.xsens.com/inertial-sensor-modules" rel="noopener" target="_blank">inertial measurement unit</a>). Racelogic, a long-time customer of Xsens, relies on the <a href="https://www.xsens.com/inertial-sensors" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MTi series</a> of IMUs because they offer the very high accuracy that Racelogic requires, while being small, light, and easy to integrate into the sensor/receiver unit mounted on the roof of the vehicle under test.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-service="vimeo" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/280552663?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0&amp;color=8dc7dc" width="640"></iframe></p><p>Using sophisticated algorithms developed by Racelogic, the VBOX Data Logger base unit performs post-processing on the measurements recorded during a test run. The outputs from a VBOX IMU enable the VBOX data logger to apply error correction to the raw satellite positioning signals: it is the Racelogic software backed by the MTi series IMU’s measurements which allow the system to achieve ±2cm position accuracy and help it to maintain the accuracy in GPS denied environments.</p><p>When a car manufacturer announces that a new model goes from 0mph to 60mph more quickly than its closest competitor, it relies on measurements from the VBOX to validate its claim. In the same way, when it tests the limits of a car’s high-speed cornering, and the speed at which its tires lose grip, it is the VBOX which detects the first few centimeters of deviation as the rear wheels begin to slide. This is why the VBOX system’s accuracy is so highly prized by the automotive industry.<br><br></p><p><strong>Positioning with no satellite signal</strong></p><p>The primary use case for the VBOX system is to support vehicle testing on outdoor test tracks. But some tests that car manufacturers want to perform are either difficult or impossible on an open, outdoor test track. Examples include:</p><ul><li>Testing dynamic behavior when driving through a tunnel, or in other zones which have limited reception of satellite signals, such as urban canyons and in dense forest.</li><li>Testing the operation of park assist and other driver assistance systems in a multi-story car park or indoor test chamber</li><li>Tire testing on an ice rink</li></ul><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lOpXPO4qK6c?&amp;feature=emb_title&amp;wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe></span><br>To meet this demand, Racelogic has developed a new indoor positioning system which enables the testing and validation of ADAS sensors, autonomous vehicles and vehicle dynamics indoors. Called the VBOX Indoor Positioning System (VIPS), the equipment achieves the same positional accuracy – ±2cm – as the standard VBOX system, without any satellite signal input. This accuracy is unprecedented in the high-precision world of automotive testing: even the best competing indoor positioning products on the market are only able to achieve accuracy of ±5cm.</p><p>As well as supporting any indoor test use case, the VIPS product also enables Racelogic to provide an integrated indoor/outdoor system for VBOX users. It is the world’s first indoor positioning system to provide a seamless transition between GPS-based and indoor position measurement systems with no loss of accuracy.<br><br></p><p><strong>IMU data ensure high accuracy</strong></p><p>The technology which enables Racelogic to achieve such high positional accuracy when out of range of satellite positioning signals is similar in its operation to the outdoor system. But the VIPS system relies on an array of six or more Ultra-Wideband (UWB) static radio beacons mounted at intervals of around 50m to provide the raw position information. A ‘Rover’ sensor unit mounted on the roof of the vehicle under test receives the UWB signals from multiple beacons simultaneously. The Rover unit also contains an <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-100-series" target="_blank">MTi-100 series IMU module</a> from Xsens: this provides extremely accurate, synchronized acceleration and rate-of-turn measurements at an output data rate of up to 2kHz.</p><p>And as with satellite positioning signals, the VBOX Indoor Positioning System software uses the MTi 100-series module’s acceleration and rate-of-turn data to perform error correction on the UWB signals. The combination of UWB data, IMU data and Racelogic’s unique software produces the VIPS product’s ±2cm accuracy on which automotive manufacturers rely.</p><p><img alt="VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic" class="fr-fic fr-dii" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNTk5MjA0ODEwMTIzLVZJUFMtVHVubmVsLUdyYXBoaWMgKHdlYikuanBnIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" srcset="https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=1024&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 1024w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=2048&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 2048w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=3072&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 3072w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=4096&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 4096w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=5120&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 5120w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg?width=6144&amp;name=VIPS-Tunnel-Graphic.jpg 6144w" width="2048"></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Flexible and scalable system</strong></p><p>The UWB beacons used in the VIPS product may be battery-powered to allow for positioning on any surface. An installation can include up to 250 beacons, making the system scalable for coverage of a wide surface area. This scalability is particularly useful in applications such as underground mines or construction sites.</p><p>The VIPS equipment can measure vehicle velocity up to 270km/h. The accuracy of velocity measurements is ±0.1km/h.</p><p>Julian Thomas, Founder and Managing Director of Racelogic, said: ‘The top priority for Racelogic in developing the VIPS solution was to achieve the industry’s best guaranteed accuracy indoors, in any terrain and any driving conditions – customers have relied on Racelogic for superior accuracy ever since the launch of the VBOX data acquisition system in 2001.</p><p>‘That’s why we chose the MTi 100-series IMU from Xsens. Our evaluation showed it provided the most accurate inertial sensor data of any module in its class, enabling our VIPS solution to maintain guaranteed accuracy across the entire measured area.’</p><p><em>For more information about the Racelogic VIPS system, go to the&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.vbox.co.uk/vips" target="_blank"><em>VBOX Indoor Positioning</em></a><em>&nbsp;website.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Find out more about <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-100-series" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xsens MTi 100-series here</a>.</p><p><br></p>

MTi 100-series IMU helps Racelogic tracking cars’ motion accurately with no satellite signals.

Breakthrough With New VIPS System

<p>In the late 1950s, New Zealand marine technology company <a href="https://www.hamiltonjet.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">HamiltonJet</a> pioneered the application of waterjet propulsion for small and medium-sized craft. Waterjet propulsion was the ideal alternative to a conventional propeller drive for boats operating in shallow water, and quickly found favor among skippers of boats plying New Zealand's many shallow, rocky rivers.</p><p>Since then, HamiltonJet has grown to become the world's biggest supplier of waterjet propulsion and control systems, with over 40% market share worldwide – some 97% of its sales are to export markets. Its sophisticated AVX platform provides the basis for a growing range of skipper assistance and auto-pilot functions, all of which depend on accurate and robust technology for tracking a vessel's position and its movement in the water.</p><p>A crucial role in this platform is played by an MTi-2 motion tracker from <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xsens</a>, providing real-time measurements of roll and pitch to enable the HamiltonJet system to fix the position of a vessel on the water. This is the story of the HamiltonJet technology, and the MTi motion tracker's role in it.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-LjpsVKTNrs?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 537px;"></iframe></span></p><p><strong>Innovative propulsion system enables accurate station keeping</strong></p><p>Today, waterjets propel a wide range of service boats which require very high maneuverability, benefit from high efficiency at high speed, or operate in shallow waters. Typical users of HamiltonJet propulsion systems include police patrol boats, service vessels supporting wind farms, rescue and fire service boats, recreational and tourist boats, and military vessels.</p><p>One of the most apparent differences between a waterjet propulsion system and propeller systems is the quick and easy control of the direction and power of the thrust. A HamiltonJet propulsion system can completely reverse the direction of thrust in less than two seconds.</p><p>This property of waterjet propulsion enabled HamiltonJet to develop a sophisticated system for automatically performing 'station keeping' – the mariner's term for staying motionless on the surface of the water while maintaining a constant heading.</p><p>Its JETanchor product for station keeping, or providing a 'virtual anchor', is an optional feature of the AVX propulsion control system. Playing a vital role in the JETanchor's position sensing system is an <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-1-series" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">MTi-2 Vertical Reference Unit (VRU)</a> from Xsens.</p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1592382231911-Photo+1.jpg" style="width: 610px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p><strong>Compensation for satellite positioning signal error</strong></p><p>The JETanchor product enables the skipper to hold the vessel steady at the push of a button. The system has to know the absolute position of the vessel. Of course, technology for monitoring the position of an object is readily available: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning signals are capable of high accuracy and precision.</p><p>The JETanchor system uses dual satellite receivers. Each is mounted on a mast to maintain a clear line of sight to the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation. The satellite receivers provide position data accurate to a few tens of centimeters, as well as reliable measurements of heading and, when the vessel is in motion, velocity.</p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1592382347040-Photo+2.jpg" style="width: 610px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>As accurate as the dual GPS signals are, however, they are not sufficient for the JETanchor system to meet the high performance standards that HamiltonJet sets for its propulsion control products, chiefly because of the nature of operation on water. At sea, boats are rocked almost constantly by the motion of the wind and waves. An unmoored boat is never completely still.</p><p>The effect of roll and pitch is amplified by the GPS receivers' mounted position high up on masts. In heavy seas, the action of roll and pitch can cause receivers mounted on tall masts to detect movement of several meters from one side of the mast's arc of motion to the other, while the dead center of the hull remains motionless.</p><p>In other words, this swinging of the mast introduces error into the GPS signal. The role of the MTi-2 VRU is to measure the hull's roll and pitch. Once the mounting positions of the GPS receivers and of the VRU are programmed into the AVX control system, sophisticated JETanchor algorithms apply calculations in real time to cancel out the error in the GPS signals induced by movement of the water, resulting in a clean position signal. This then enables the waterjet propulsion system to minutely adjust the position of the hull on the water at a rate of ten times per second.</p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1592382411764-photo+4.jpg" style="width: 610px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>According to CJ Johansson, Senior Systems Engineer at HamiltonJet, a crucial feature of the Xsens VRU is its measurement stability even when subject to vibration – an ever-present phenomenon affecting the operation of motion trackers mounted on a vessel. He says, ‘Xsens implements very effective Kalman filtering technology in its sensor modules which automatically cancels out the effect of random vibrations induced by phenomena such as the impact of waves on the hull, or the operation of the boat's engine. This vibration filtering means that we can use the roll and pitch signal outputs from the MTi-2 motion tracker with great confidence. It also leaves the main AVX control system free to implement its principal control functions, without having to perform error compensation of the roll/pitch signal.’</p><p>The accuracy and stability of the MTi-2 VRU play a crucial role in enabling the JETanchor product to achieve high performance. It can typically maintain a vessel's position to within 1m at sea. System tests have demonstrated the system's ability to maintain a cargo vessel's station 1m from a wharf while a 1 tonne load of bricks was lifted by crane to shore.</p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1592382447914-photo+3.jpg" style="width: 610px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>Ben Reed, CEO of HamiltonJet, says: ‘Our goal in developing the JETanchor product was to bring station keeping to mainstream vessels. In large commercial vessels and ferries, station keeping is a feature which can cost as much as $0.5m to install. JETanchor is typically priced at less than 10% of this, yet its performance in a waterjet propulsion system rivals that of much more expensive systems. JETanchor's outstanding performance is a tribute to the skill and ingenuity of our engineering team, and to the quality of the technology inside it – including the affordable yet high-performance MTi motion tracker supplied by Xsens.’&nbsp;</p><p>To find out more about HamiltonJet and its JETanchor station keeping product, go to <a href="http://www.hamiltonjet.com/global/jetanchor" target="_blank">www.hamiltonjet.com/global/jetanchor</a>. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>MTi-2 VRU</strong></p><p>Learn more about the Xsens MTi-2 VRU and <span data-hs-drop="true"><a href="https://www.xsens.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=82326a14-937a-4ae2-b0ed-5e9218e038af&placement_guid=7b7bf30f-9345-4b11-811b-37c05a6fd348&portal_id=3446270&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fkeeping-a-boat-still-on-moving-water-advanced-hamiltonjet-propulsion-control-system-uses-mti-sensor-for-roll-and-pitch-compensation&redirect_url=APefjpGBss3ScaRm8zqyqTYtSgyEbIWlrKs9qJQlOiyMaAdQSc41Vp1V2kr6Qv0pANPHXkhRXX45cT13IB4GTrHqe-M6_wgH-2UuJaS3HeAx_MupKn0MAQ8BeIfBd7FRVToekLnJ9IZY-sY6svl4EzdqRjWiF9KNbnbWY3fC59A2vbbaHsXMYcYJI7BNbaG93rS41FvG6sy0BNGOtR6cxWRPs2cUyV9XDq9MxDBHFp5NDTGv9QTwssipv5N6xSSSZBrpD8Znmv7D4VXHxFeJSpz52XiPnxIhDg&click=bffc5e0e-c679-4e9c-ae45-cb14d30cd2fa&hsutk=465d693af42ae05f614571b3e65e8679&signature=AAH58kEMA0ksQiY3ruTj6_wf16Fv5Vd07Q&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fexplore%3Ffilter%3Dcases&pageId=30700473825&__hstc=81749512.465d693af42ae05f614571b3e65e8679.1589191131131.1592310119548.1592381053130.73&__hssc=81749512.2.1592381053130&__hsfp=4231159045&contentType=blog-post" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Go to the product page">go to the product page</a>.</span></p>

Keeping A Boat Still On Moving Water

Advanced HamiltonJet Propulsion Control System Uses MTi Sensor For Roll And Pitch Compensation

<p>The drone, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), has transformed the practice of land surveying, providing a faster, more efficient way to complete large-area surveys complemented by high-resolution visual and thermal aerial images.</p><p>Unfortunately, the two types of conventional drone in common use for surveying today – quadcopters, and fixed-wing craft – both have drawbacks which reduce their effectiveness in surveying and mapping applications.</p><p>Now an ambitious and innovative drone manufacturer, <a href="https://www.atmosuav.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ATMOS UAV</a> based in Delft, The Netherlands, is disrupting the drone market with a breakthrough design combining take-off and landing from helicopters with the long endurance of airplanes. ATMOS UAV’s goal is to provide the ultimate airborne surveying tool offering the industry’s best all-round performance. To achieve the millimeter-level accuracy that ATMOS UAV’s customers value, it relies on the <a href="https://www.xsens.com/mti-products" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">MTi series</a> of integrated <a href="https://www.xsens.com/inertial-sensor-modules" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">inertial sensor modules</a> from Xsens.</p><p><strong>Easy to launch, fly and land</strong></p><p>Of the two conventional types of drone, the fixed-wing type is better for surveying missions once it is in the air: it cruises faster and more efficiently than the other conventional type of drone, the quadcopter. This means that it can sustain longer flights and cover a greater survey area on each mission. It also offers greater stability in flight and is less affected by wind – an important characteristic for surveying missions which need to capture sharp, high-resolution visual and thermal images, unaffected by blur or other visual artefacts.</p><p>The biggest advantage is its manoeuvrability, which leads to the ability to take-off and land from a small footprint using&nbsp;its Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability. Unlike a fixed-wing craft, it requires no runway or slingshot launching device, and operates from a tiny landing area.</p><p>The breakthrough made by ATMOS was to develop Marlyn, a hybrid fixed-wing UAV which performs vertical take-off and landing from a 2m x 2m landing area, but which cruises smoothly and efficiently.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LtcLD3zOHAc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-gtm-yt-inspected-37="true" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span><br></p><p>&nbsp;The fully-electric Marlyn drone includes a redundant dual battery system which enables it to fly uninterrupted for 50 minutes, reaching a top speed of 95km/h when cruising. The flight plan is easy to program before each flight in ATMOS’ intuitive Marlynk software tool. The drone offers impressive stability in flight: it can handle wind speeds up to 6 Bft (45km/h) during take-off, cruising and landing.</p><div class="u_fNK" data-grammarly-part="highlights" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; top: 483px; left: 0px; width: 778px; height: 39px; position: relative; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="height: 959px; width: 2485px;"><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div><div class="u_fNK" data-grammarly-part="button" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; top: 483px; left: 0px; width: 778px; height: 39px; position: relative; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="position: absolute; transform: translate(-100%, -100%); top: 29px; left: 773px; width: auto; height: auto; pointer-events: all;"><div style="flex-direction: row; display: none; pointer-events: auto;"><div style="position: relative;"><div class="_2vV1Z _3uWIx" style="position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><div class="_2mmtW"><div class="-mjUa"><div class="_1NNY0 _3PC-V" style="transform: scale(1);">0</div>&nbsp;Advanced issue found<div class="SY83w _5pAkg">▲</div><div class="_3pmCo"><br></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="_5WizN _1QzSN"><div class="_3YmQx"><div class="_3QdKe" title="Protected by Grammarly">&nbsp;</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><br></p><div class="u_fNK" data-grammarly-part="highlights" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; top: 483px; left: 0px; width: 778px; height: 39px; position: relative; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="height: 959px; width: 2485px;"><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div><div class="u_fNK" data-grammarly-part="button" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><div style="box-sizing: content-box; top: 483px; left: 0px; width: 778px; height: 39px; position: relative; pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="position: absolute; transform: translate(-100%, -100%); top: 29px; left: 773px; width: auto; height: auto; pointer-events: all;"><div style="flex-direction: row; display: none; pointer-events: auto;"><div style="position: relative;"><div class="_2vV1Z _3uWIx" style="position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><div class="_2mmtW"><div class="-mjUa"><div class="_1NNY0 _3PC-V" style="transform: scale(1);">0</div>&nbsp;Advanced issue found<div class="SY83w _5pAkg">▲</div><div class="_3pmCo"><br></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="_5WizN _1QzSN"><div class="_3YmQx"><div class="_3QdKe" title="Protected by Grammarly">&nbsp;</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNTg4MzQwMjQwOTQzLU1hcmx5bmsuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="Marlynk2" srcset="https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=408&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 408w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=815&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 815w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=1223&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 1223w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=1630&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 1630w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=2038&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 2038w, https://www.xsens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marlynk2.png?width=2445&amp;name=Marlynk2.png 2445w" sizes="(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true" spellcheck="false"><em>The intuitive user interface of the Marlynk flight planning software</em>&nbsp;</span></span></p><p><br></p><p>ATMOS supplies Marlyn with a choice of surveying cameras which produce visual, thermal or multi-spectral outputs in all the common data formats supported by professional surveying software systems.</p><p><strong>Millimeter-scale geolocation accuracy</strong></p><p>The dynamic characteristics of Marlyn, then, enable surveyors to fly long missions over large survey areas, with the convenience and ease of use that VTOL capability offers.</p><p>But the real test of surveying equipment is its geolocational accuracy – and here Marlyn excels, thanks to its high-performance <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mti-100-series" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">MTi-G-710-GNSS</a> motion sensor module from Xsens. The MTi-G-710-GNSS is Xsens’ most full-featured sensor: it integrates a 3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope, magnetometer and a receiver input for a GNSS satellite positioning signal into a small 37mm x 33mm x 12mm module which weighs just 11g. Low power consumption of just 750mW in normal operation helps ATMOS to prolong the Marlyn’s flight duration between battery charges.</p><p>The MTi-G-710-GNSS provides high-quality attitude, position, velocity, acceleration, magnetic heading and rate-of-turn data. The GNSS receiver features a multiple-constellation configuration which maintains high location accuracy, even during periods of limited GNSS visibility. Proprietary sensor fusion software developed by Xsens combines the unit’s inertial measurements with the satellite signals to produce accurate positioning data at an output data rate of up to 400Hz. In the Marlyn system, the survey outputs and visual/thermal images are tagged with geolocational data accurate to as little as ±10mm.</p><p>The sensor module’s attitude and heading data outputs are also used to stabilize the Marlyn drone in flight, and to enable optical image stabilization. The low latency of the Xsens sensor – less than 2ms – means that these stabilization systems can respond in real-time to events such as gusts of wind which disturb the drone’s attitude.</p><p>Despite the internal complexity of the MTi-G-710-GNSS module’s components, the outputs were easy for Marlyn’s developers to integrate into their system software, thanks to the MT Software Suite developer tool, supplied free by Xsens with any MTi module.</p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNTg4MzQwMzU0Njg4LUFUTU9TLVVBVi5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p>Rene Worms, Global Head of Sales at ATMOS, says that the positional accuracy of Marlyn is the key to its position as the industry’s premium airborne surveying tool. He says: ‘Marlyn offers surveying professionals the highest productivity as well as the most accurate and detailed outputs. To be able to make this promise, we specify premium components which provide the best performance. That’s why we chose the MTi-G-710-GNSS, which gives us a unique combination of high accuracy, reliability, small size and weight, and ease of use.’</p><p><em>For more information about the Marlyn surveying drone, go to&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.atmosuav.com/" target="_blank"><em>www.atmosuav.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)

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