Evaluation of a long-range transmitter for use with a magnetic tracking device in motion analysis

• Published in: Journal of biomechanics Vol. 31; no. 10; pp. 957 - 961
• Main Authors: Day, Judd S, Dumas, Genevieve A, Murdoch, Duncan J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1998
• Subjects: Accuracy; Equipment Design; Error; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Kinematic; Kinematics; Kinesiology, Applied - instrumentation; Magnetic devices; Magnetic tracking device; Magnetics - instrumentation; Measurement errors; Motion; Three-dimensional; Error; Kinematic; Accuracy; Three-dimensional; Magnetic tracking device
• ISSN: 0021-9290; 1873-2380
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9290(98)00089-X

The suitability of a long-range transmitter was evaluated for use with a Polhemus Fastrak
® magnetic tracking device in kinesiologic studies. Performance was judged by comparing positional and rotational accuracy to a standard transmitter. Data were obtained at distances of up to 2.7 and 5.0
m for the standard and long-range transmitters, respectively. Use of the long-range transmitter improved system performance allowing reproducible measurements at a greater distance. However, it is necessary to calibrate the system in each new test environment as there can be significant distortion of the magnetic field.