Motive
Optical motion capture software.
Motive 3.1 is here! Introducing trained markersets, enhanced sensor fusion, full USB camera support, and so much more.
What is Motive?
Motive software pairs with OptiTrack cameras to track and capture the motion of small retroreflective markers attached to people and objects, and delivers real-time motion data with industry-leading accuracy.
Motive offers simple setup, supports larger volumes and produces clean data. Tracking data is used in numerous ways from robotics and movement sciences to video game animation, cinematic virtual production and location-based virtual reality.
Motive 3.1 Feature
Trained Markersets
Leveraging advancements in machine learning, Motive now enables you to track and label anything you can imagine, in real time, to quickly recognize and follow tracked objects such as animals, jump ropes, faces, floor mats and much more.
Motive 3.1 Feature
Camera Compatibility
Motive is compatible with all OptiTrack motion capture camera from the precision Primex series and sleek Slim series to the low-cost Flex series and desktop tracking V120 Trio and Duo. The software maximizes each camera’s capabilities and features to deliver the best possible motion data.
Motive 3.1 Feature
Continuous Calibration
Continuous Calibration
Bumped Camera
Motive’s continuous calibration can automatically repair or correct against the harshest of tracking environment with features such as Anchor Markers, Camera Partitions, and Bumped Camera corrections. Instead of happening completely behind the scenes Motive signals any calibration issues with a variety of colors and alerts, making users aware of what’s happening.
Motive 3.1 Feature
Pre-Defined Settings For Prime Color Cameras
Small Size – Lower Rate
The smallest video size you can have. 1/4 of the frame rate of the tracking cameras
Small Size – Full Rate
The smallest video size you can have while still running at the same rate as the tracking cameras.
Great Image
Focuses on the image quality, the data rate is rather high relative to the other modes.
Calibration Mode
Switches Filter Switcher cameras into object mode and gets them ready for calibration.
Motive 3.1 Feature
Enhanced Sensor Fusion
Motive’s sensor fusion process combines marker and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) tracking, using the best attributes of both methods to provide remarkably smooth data. It also is robust against difficult tracking solutions as it supports full 6 Degrees of Freedom tracking with only a single marker data. Sensor fusion is ideal for applications that require the smoothest or robust camera tracking such as In-Camera Virtual Effects (ICVFX) or Virtual Reality (VR).
Raw, unedited data from Motive 3.
Raw, unedited data from Motive 3.
Raw, unedited data from Motive 3.
New Skeletal Solver
Vastly improved skeletal tracking precision. Robust, accurate bone tracking – even during heavy occlusion of markers3
What’s a solver?
“Solver” in human motion tracking terms refers to the programmatic process of estimating the pose (6 DoF) of each bone, deduced by the actual measured markers, at each frame of measurement.
A precision solver, like that developed for Motive 3.0, accurately defines the skeleton movement of the tracked subject(s) which yields higher confidence and more nuanced performance capture for character animation.
A robust solver will also perform precision marker labeling and skeletal tracking even when many markers are hidden from cameras or lost, providing more reliable tracking data and vastly reduced editing time across all applications.
Active and Passive tracking. Motive processes OptiTrack camera data to deliver global 3D positions, marker IDs, rotational data (with respect to the object’s local reference), and of course, hyper accurate skeletal tracking.
Passive markers – or retroreflective markers, including spheres, hemispheres, and even flat reflective discs, are easily tracked with OptiTrack’s precision, long range cameras.
Signature Pulse Active invisible IR LEDs, enable 100% error free marker ID’s, low latency data delivery and <0.1s acquisition time. It’s become the benchmark for low latency VR tracking, ground truth systems for AR, and high subject count robotics applications such as drone swarms.
Continuous Calibration. Dramatically reduces operator workload while consistently improving data quality. After initial camera installation and ‘wand wave’, Motive calibrates automatically with data collected during normal use of the system. No longer does your calibration degrade over time with changing temperatures or challenging building movement—it is always a “fresh” calibration delivering precision tracking data.
Setup and operation is easy. Motive makes system setup easy. Aim Assist, auto-masking, one-click rigid body creation, versatile hardware and the industry’s longest range cameras make even large systems easy to set up with just one person.
Forceplate and EMG integration. Native, plug-and-play support for all major digital force plates (AMTI, Bertec and Kistler), Delsys EMG, and analog devices, providing researchers the tools they need most for real-time display, reporting and analysis.
Flexible Real-Time Streaming Options
Motive gives users the choice between turn-key pipelines, or customized outputs for unique requirements. Stream patient data into Visual3D, InSight and MotionMonitor, stream performance mocap into Unreal, Unity3D, MotionBuilder, or write your own interface with our free NatNet SDK and camera SDK.
Streaming Types
- NatNet (UDP with Multicast/Unicast options)
- VRPN
- TrackD
Lab Integrations
- STT InSight
- TheMotionMonitor
- Visual3D
- MATLAB
- LabView
Plugins
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- MotionBuilder
- OpenVR (HMD Tracking)
- Maya (VCS only)
Track (way) more stuff. With a single tracking system and a single PC, everything on-set can be tracked including drone swarms, micro-robots, performers, props, head mounted displays, set pieces, live action and virtual cameras, clapperboards, and even the Director’s coffee mug.
Validated Markersets
Motive:Body offers a library of predefined markersets, including many which are scientifically and clinically validated and used in dozens of peer-reviewed scientific publications. 3D representations are available for each markerset, enabling fast and accurate marker placement on specific anatomical landmarks for each patient or subject.
These include
- Helen Hayes Markerset
- Conventional Gait Model
- Rizzoli Clinical Gait Model
- Rizzoli Multi-Segment Foot Model
Manual 3D digitization ready. Precisely digitize objects both large and small using the OptiTrack Micron Probe. Easy to use software workflows enable fast and accurate 3D characterization of an infinite number of surfaces and objects, with world leading accuracy.
One-click subject calibration. Calibrate new performers, subjects, patients, athletes and skeletons in an instant, with a single button click. You can even do so with multiple subjects in the volume at once. The character pipelines into Unreal Engine, Unity, MotionBuilder, and several others are polished for production ease and reliability.
Editing tools. Motive’s solver already enables a massive reduction in editing time, but included Python and C# templates will take care of the remainder of post processing, if any. Mocap made easy.
User Customization
Motive’s workflow makes it easy to create and customize hundreds of new trackables, initialize a dozen performers, return to yesterday’s work, or to start trials for a new patient.
Hotkeys. Redesigned to visualize hotkey assignments, allowing for extremely fast navigation among viewports, and fully customizable workflows.
Custom Scripting. Python and C# batch scripting tools with powerful templates—ready be used out of the box, or as a starting point for custom workflows.
Mouse Presets. Match assignments to other 3D packages, including Maya, Blade, MotionBuilder and Visual3D, or make custom presets in seconds.
New Viewports. Create the perfect workspace with improved visualizations, 3D rendering, and per-viewport customization options.
External sync in/out, Genlock, and Time Code. Synchronize Prime and Primex cameras to any signal or source with the eSync 2 with all the functionality and flexibility you’d expect with a professional tracking system. Cameras sync to dozens of sources including a professional cameras’ Genlock signal, where record and other event triggering can be managed from general purpose inputs and software commands.
Use the sync output signal as a master or to trigger force plates, EMGs and National Instrument DAQs for flexible yet precise hardware synchronization. Highly accurate frame timing can also be achieved with SMTPE Time Code for ease in editing and logging. OptiTrack’s free and open SDK allows for further customization within the timing protocols.
Full resolution grayscale reference video. All Primex cameras can be used as a reference video source – with synchronized, calibrated 3D overlay. Deliver and/or record full resolution, full frame rate video with 3D overlay of markers, rigid bodies, skeletons, etc. Simply software select the camera(s) which are best for reference capture.
1. Most OptiTrack camera configurations will produce accuracies of +/- 0.2mm even across large tracking areas. Please speak with one of our engineers to ensure your installation will deliver your target accuracies.
2. Most OptiTrack systems derive global orientation (rotation) from three or more passive or active markers. As such, rotational accuracy can vary with the distance between these markers. Please speak with one of our engineers to ensure your installation will deliver your target accuracies.
3. When using the Quantum Solver in Motive 3.0+.
Motive 2 Body
Motive 3 Body
Motive 3 Body Unlimited
Solver Features
Quantum Solver
Live Skeletons
Unlimited
Up To 3
Unlimited
Edit Skeletons
Unlimited
Up to 3
Unlimited
Tracks 6RB Skeletons
Motive 2 Body
Motive 3 Body
Motive 3 Body
Unlimited
Marker Features
Tracks Passive
Tracks Signature Pulse Active
IMU Sensor Fusion
Motive 2 Body
Motive 3 Body
Motive 3 Body Unlimited
Live Camera Compatibility
Primex Series
Prime Series
Slimx 13 & Slim 13
Flex 13
Flex 3
Slim 3U
Global Features
Marker Tracking
Track over 1,500 markers at one time.
Supports Signature Pulse Active technology, which uses blinking powered LEDs to give unique ID values to each marker in the scene. This allows hundreds of similar rigid bodies to be tracked in real-time.
Supports passive marker technology, which uses retroreflective material to track any object.
Both rigid bodies and skeletons support a mix of active and/or passive markers.
Rigid Body and Skeleton Tracking
Track over 12 skeletons in real-time.1
Track over 300 rigid bodies in real-time.
Skeleton and rigid body tracking uses state-of-the-art algorithms that result in graceful animations, even with large amounts of occlusion.
Typical rigid body tracking yields,2
- Positional accuracies typically +/- 0.2 mm or less
- Rotational accuracies typically +/- 0.1 deg or less
- Latency typically < 10ms
Single click creation process for skeletons, rigid bodies, probes, and HMD clips.
Calibration
The calibration process calculates the 3D position and the lens distortion of cameras with an intuitive interface and easy to understand visuals.
Continuous Calibration – evaluates markers during normal system use to provide a fresh calibration, typically every few minutes.
Recalibrate a single camera or a group of cameras to quickly fix a bumped or moved camera.
Mask all of your cameras with a single click to ignore other objects or light sources in your capture volume.
User Interface
Intuitive data management and organization.
- A take file (.tak) contains all video, marker, and asset data in one simple to manage file.
- Supports importing take lists from text and CSV files.
- Detailed metadata (timecode, notes, etc.) is also included in take files. This data is helpful for organizing long lists of takes.
Uncommonly used properties are hidden by default, but can be unhidden by advanced users.
The Builder pane is used to create and edit different types of assets (skeletons, rigid bodies, HMDs, etc.) with visual guides.
Connected physical devices (cameras, force plates, etc.) appear in the Devices pane for simple configuration.
Data Editing and Export
Scripting is available through NMotive using Python or C#. A variety of prebuilt scripts are included to help automate common tasks.
Create or use default graphs to display your data in a variety of ways.
The Edit Tools pane includes cleanup tools (trimming tails, filling gaps, smoothing, etc.).
The Labels Pane allows markers to be manually labeled if needed.
Export data out to CSV, C3D, FBX ASCII, FBX Binary, BVH, and TRC data formats.
Cameras and Synchronization
Supports over 250+ Ethernet cameras (or up to 24 USB Cameras) at one time.
Reliable camera synchronization down to the microsecond.
Detailed control over camera properties (frame rate, exposure, gain, video mode, etc.).
Calibrated reference video with 3D visual overlays.
Aim Assist makes setting up cameras simple and easy.
Use the eSync2 to input or output SMTPE timecode, genlock, or other input data to keep your devices synchronized.
Data Streaming
Flexible real-time streaming (OptiTrack NatNet SDK, VRPN, and Trackd).
Create your own custom plugin for any application using the NatNet SDK. A variety of samples are included.
Free NatNet plugins are available (Unreal Engine, Unity, OpenVR, MotionBuilder, MATLAB, etc.).
SDK’s and API
Use the NatNet SDK to stream data from Motive to another application in real-time. This also allows you to control some aspects of Motive remotely.
Use the Motive API to bypass the Motive user interface entirely and create your own application with Motive, but with all the tracking capabilities. This contains Camera SDK.
Use the Camera SDK to interface with cameras directly in custom built applications.
System Requirements
Recommended system requirements can vary significantly based on camera model and count. Please contact us to find system recommendations tailored to your specific setup.
1.The number of skeletons supported depends on your license type. (See the Compare page for more details.)
2.Tracking accuracy depends on the camera used as well as other factors such as marker distance from the cameras, marker type, and whether it is indoor or outdoor tracking.)
Motive 2 Tracker
Motive 3 Tracker
Solver Features
Quantum Solver
Live Skeletons
Edit Skeletons
Tracks 6RB Skeletons
Motive 2 Tracker
Motive 3 Tracker
Marker Features
Tracks Passive
Tracks Signature Pulse Active
IMU Sensor Fusion
Motive 2 Tracker
Motive 3 Tracker
Live Camera Compatibility
Primex Series
Prime Series
Slimx 13 & Slim 13
Flex 13
Flex 3
Slim 3U
Global Features
Marker Tracking
Track over 1,500 markers at one time.
Supports Signature Pulse Active technology, which uses blinking powered LEDs to give unique ID values to each marker in the scene. This allows hundreds of similar rigid bodies to be tracked in real-time.
Supports passive marker technology, which uses retroreflective material to track any object.
Both rigid bodies and skeletons support a mix of active and/or passive markers.
Rigid Body and Skeleton Tracking
Track over 12 skeletons in real-time.1
Track over 300 rigid bodies in real-time.
Skeleton and rigid body tracking uses state-of-the-art algorithms that result in graceful animations, even with large amounts of occlusion.
Typical rigid body tracking yields,2
- Positional accuracies typically +/- 0.2 mm or less
- Rotational accuracies typically +/- 0.1 deg or less
- Latency typically < 10ms
Single click creation process for skeletons, rigid bodies, probes, and HMD clips.
Calibration
The calibration process calculates the 3D position and the lens distortion of cameras with an intuitive interface and easy to understand visuals.
Continuous Calibration – evaluates markers during normal system use to provide a fresh calibration, typically every few minutes.
Recalibrate a single camera or a group of cameras to quickly fix a bumped or moved camera.
Mask all of your cameras with a single click to ignore other objects or light sources in your capture volume.
User Interface
Intuitive data management and organization.
- A take file (.tak) contains all video, marker, and asset data in one simple to manage file.
- Supports importing take lists from text and CSV files.
- Detailed metadata (timecode, notes, etc.) is also included in take files. This data is helpful for organizing long lists of takes.
Uncommonly used properties are hidden by default, but can be unhidden by advanced users.
The Builder pane is used to create and edit different types of assets (skeletons, rigid bodies, HMDs, etc.) with visual guides.
Connected physical devices (cameras, force plates, etc.) appear in the Devices pane for simple configuration.
Data Editing and Export
Scripting is available through NMotive using Python or C#. A variety of prebuilt scripts are included to help automate common tasks.
Create or use default graphs to display your data in a variety of ways.
The Edit Tools pane includes cleanup tools (trimming tails, filling gaps, smoothing, etc.).
The Labels Pane allows markers to be manually labeled if needed.
Export data out to CSV, C3D, FBX ASCII, FBX Binary, BVH, and TRC data formats.
Cameras and Synchronization
Supports over 250+ Ethernet cameras (or up to 24 USB Cameras) at one time.
Reliable camera synchronization down to the microsecond.
Detailed control over camera properties (frame rate, exposure, gain, video mode, etc.).
Calibrated reference video with 3D visual overlays.
Aim Assist makes setting up cameras simple and easy.
Use the eSync2 to input or output SMTPE timecode, genlock, or other input data to keep your devices synchronized.
Data Streaming
Flexible real-time streaming (OptiTrack NatNet SDK, VRPN, and Trackd).
Create your own custom plugin for any application using the NatNet SDK. A variety of samples are included.
Free NatNet plugins are available (Unreal Engine, Unity, OpenVR, MotionBuilder, MATLAB, etc.).
SDK’s and API
Use the NatNet SDK to stream data from Motive to another application in real-time. This also allows you to control some aspects of Motive remotely.
Use the Motive API to bypass the Motive user interface entirely and create your own application with Motive, but with all the tracking capabilities. This contains Camera SDK.
Use the Camera SDK to interface with cameras directly in custom built applications.
System Requirements
Recommended system requirements can vary significantly based on camera model and count. Please contact us to find system recommendations tailored to your specific setup.
1.The number of skeletons supported depends on your license type. (See the Compare page for more details.)
2.Tracking accuracy depends on the camera used as well as other factors such as marker distance from the cameras, marker type, and whether it is indoor or outdoor tracking.)
Motive 2 Edit
Motive 3 Edit
Motive 3 Edit Unlimited
Solver Features
Quantum Solver
Live Skeletons
Edit Skeletons
Unlimited
Up to 3
Unlimited
Tracks 6RB Skeletons
Motive 2 Edit
Motive 3 Edit
Motive 3 Edit
Unlimited
Marker Features
Tracks Passive
Tracks Signature Pulse Active
IMU Sensor Fusion
Live Camera Compatibility
Primex Series
Prime Series
Slimx 13 & Slim 13
Flex 13
Flex 3
Slim 3U
Global Features
Marker Tracking
Track over 1,500 markers at one time.
Supports Signature Pulse Active technology, which uses blinking powered LEDs to give unique ID values to each marker in the scene. This allows hundreds of similar rigid bodies to be tracked in real-time.
Supports passive marker technology, which uses retroreflective material to track any object.
Both rigid bodies and skeletons support a mix of active and/or passive markers.
Rigid Body and Skeleton Tracking
Track over 12 skeletons in real-time.1
Track over 300 rigid bodies in real-time.
Skeleton and rigid body tracking uses state-of-the-art algorithms that result in graceful animations, even with large amounts of occlusion.
Typical rigid body tracking yields,2
- Positional accuracies typically +/- 0.2 mm or less
- Rotational accuracies typically +/- 0.1 deg or less
- Latency typically < 10ms
Single click creation process for skeletons, rigid bodies, probes, and HMD clips.
Calibration
The calibration process calculates the 3D position and the lens distortion of cameras with an intuitive interface and easy to understand visuals.
Continuous Calibration – evaluates markers during normal system use to provide a fresh calibration, typically every few minutes.
Recalibrate a single camera or a group of cameras to quickly fix a bumped or moved camera.
Mask all of your cameras with a single click to ignore other objects or light sources in your capture volume.
User Interface
Intuitive data management and organization.
- A take file (.tak) contains all video, marker, and asset data in one simple to manage file.
- Supports importing take lists from text and CSV files.
- Detailed metadata (timecode, notes, etc.) is also included in take files. This data is helpful for organizing long lists of takes.
Uncommonly used properties are hidden by default, but can be unhidden by advanced users.
The Builder pane is used to create and edit different types of assets (skeletons, rigid bodies, HMDs, etc.) with visual guides.
Connected physical devices (cameras, force plates, etc.) appear in the Devices pane for simple configuration.
Data Editing and Export
Scripting is available through NMotive using Python or C#. A variety of prebuilt scripts are included to help automate common tasks.
Create or use default graphs to display your data in a variety of ways.
The Edit Tools pane includes cleanup tools (trimming tails, filling gaps, smoothing, etc.).
The Labels Pane allows markers to be manually labeled if needed.
Export data out to CSV, C3D, FBX ASCII, FBX Binary, BVH, and TRC data formats.
Cameras and Synchronization
Supports over 250+ Ethernet cameras (or up to 24 USB Cameras) at one time.
Reliable camera synchronization down to the microsecond.
Detailed control over camera properties (frame rate, exposure, gain, video mode, etc.).
Calibrated reference video with 3D visual overlays.
Aim Assist makes setting up cameras simple and easy.
Use the eSync2 to input or output SMTPE timecode, genlock, or other input data to keep your devices synchronized.
Data Streaming
Flexible real-time streaming (OptiTrack NatNet SDK, VRPN, and Trackd).
Create your own custom plugin for any application using the NatNet SDK. A variety of samples are included.
Free NatNet plugins are available (Unreal Engine, Unity, OpenVR, MotionBuilder, MATLAB, etc.).
SDK’s and API
Use the NatNet SDK to stream data from Motive to another application in real-time. This also allows you to control some aspects of Motive remotely.
Use the Motive API to bypass the Motive user interface entirely and create your own application with Motive, but with all the tracking capabilities. This contains Camera SDK.
Use the Camera SDK to interface with cameras directly in custom built applications.
System Requirements
Recommended system requirements can vary significantly based on camera model and count. Please contact us to find system recommendations tailored to your specific setup.
1.The number of skeletons supported depends on your license type. (See the Compare page for more details.)
2.Tracking accuracy depends on the camera used as well as other factors such as marker distance from the cameras, marker type, and whether it is indoor or outdoor tracking.)
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