Xsens launches MVN Animate 2018 – the first inertial motion capture system to deliver Hollywood-grade data outside of the volume in all conditions

Enschede, Netherlands, 7 Nov 2017 – Xsens, the leading innovator in 3D motion tracking technology, has announced the official launch of MVN Animate 2018 – a disruptive software solution that heralds a new dawn for motion capture.

Fundamentally different to past releases, MVN Animate 2018 is Xsens' first motion capture software release to solve the “unsolvable” – it remedies several issues that have plagued inertial motion capture in the past; primarily magnetic distortion. This means users can capture anywhere, anytime, without concern for their environment, and receive Hollywood-grade data.

MVN Animate 2018 is now the only inertial-based motion capture solution that can go head to head with optical systems on accuracy of data.

Watch MVN Animate 2018 in action – Xsens has made the data captured in this video free for all to use, proving the power of the data.

MVN Animate is Xsens' proprietary motion capture software. It is used in conjunction with Xsens MVN hardware to record, monitor and analyze movement. While optical solutions require markers, volumes and cameras, Xsens inertial technology can be used anywhere with no need for such paraphernalia. Users can capture anywhere, in any environment, with total reliability – and without the need for extensive post-capture clean-up or editing.

The ease, reliability and robustness of capturing motion in this way is comparable to GoPro in the world of action cameras.

Revolutionizing motion capture

Xsens MVN solutions are based on inertial technology – it uses gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers rather than digital cameras, volumes and markers to capture movement.

In the past, data captured using inertial techniques suffered from environmental magnetic distortion, caused by the presence of metals in furniture, buildings, vehicles and other objects. MVN Animate 2018 solves this issue – it is immune to magnetic distortion, thanks to a new mo-cap engine that extracts more information from the same data.

This brings the benefits of all types of motion capture into one streamlined package – MVN Animate 2018 offers flexibility, precision, and production-level data all in one solution.

Hollywood-grade data

MVN Animate 2018 eliminates drawbacks to previous iterations of inertial motion capture technology, such as drift, foot slide, contact handling, and distorted height tracking and 3D position. Using MVN Animate 2018 means that there is a much-reduced need for expensive clean-up – the post-capture data is astoundingly good. MVN Animate 2018 is ready to be used out of the box: it’s plug-and-play and works seamlessly with major 3D packages like Unity, Unreal and Autodesk tools.

Setting a new standard for inertial

Due to these groundbreaking advances in inertial technology, MVN Animate 2018 is positioned to democratize motion capture. While other inertial motion capture solutions promise a world of “mocap for everyone”, Xsens delivers on the promise with superior data under all circumstances, meaning more people can use it in entirely new markets, from indie devs, to live-entertainment, biomedical students, and big studio projects.

Hein Beute, Product Manager at Xsens, comments: “Xsens is now the obvious choice for studios that are on the lookout for a solid, dependable mocap solution. Now they can not only capture outside of the volume, but do so with total confidence that the data will be reliable. MVN Animate is set to turn the world of motion capture on its head.”

Matt Stoneham, Principal Technical Artist at Ninja Theory, comments: “There’s a certain level of understanding and knowledge required to extract the best from an optical stage – that’s not the case for Xsens. The barrier of entry is much lower: and not just the costs. It’s actually a joy to use Xsens, from putting it on to getting everything calibrated. Xsens just powers up, you can easily get the suit on – everything just works. Xsens is absolutely rock solid, and really reinforces the turnkey nature of the MVN suit.”

Xsens MVN Animate is available now and will be shipped with every new Xsens purchase. All current customers with a valid support contract can upgrade for free!

Xsens delivers state-of-the-art mocap solutions to the triple-A game developers and leading VFX studios across the globe. Xsens mocap systems have powered numerous high-end productions, including FIFA, X-Men, LawBreakers, Iron Man, Hellblade and Dunkirk.

Xsens is also set to release MVN Analyze 2018 – a new version of the software tailored to the sports science, biomechanics and ergonomics markets. Here, Xsens is enabling efficiencies in the speed and accuracy of results, resulting in more robust data with which to improve research. 

About Xsens

Xsens is the leading innovator in 3D motion tracking technology and products. Its sensor fusion technologies enable a seamless interaction between the physical and the digital world in applications such as industrial control and stabilization, health, sports and 3D character animation. Clients and partners include Electronic Arts, NBC Universal, Daimler, Autodesk, ABB, Siemens and various other leading institutes and companies throughout the world.Xsens has offices in Enschede, the Netherlands and Los Angeles, California.