Inertial Motion-Tracking Technology for Virtual 3-D

About this technology

Overview

NASA uses virtual reality technology for a variety of purposes, mostly training of astronauts and has funded a great deal of virtual reality research.. A graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Eric Foxlin, was conducting research in virtual reality systems when he came up with the idea to develop a miniature tracking device based on the same technology found in large, ship-borne navigation tracking devices. Foxlin used this concept to build a miniature device using low power, low cost components with support from an Ames grant. The first miniature, body wearable, sourceless tracker was developed and used as a technology seed to attract venture capital and start InterSense, Inc. InterSense now develops precision, miniaturized inertial motion tracking technology extensively deployed in simulation and training, entertainment applications, clinical and medical settings, for oil and gas discovery, virtual design and testing, and in a variety of research applications.