[ hardware ] [ software ] [ lab & office ]  

HARDWARE  

A 12-camera Vicon 512 optical motion tracking system obtains millimeter precision real-time data of a wide assortment of tracked bodies. Infrared light is reflected from an array of reflective tags placed at key locations on the guest and experience props.

For each experience, a tactile interface contoured to the interaction's makeup is fabricated and tracked. Some examples of this are VERTO (Vertical Enhancement Recreational Technology Object) for Icehopper, and PUMARTO (Planar Underfoot Musical Actuation Reconfigurable Technology Object). Each prop has a custom 3D skeleton defined in software to mirror the real-world marker configuration.


LAMARTO latency analysis tool.
 
[ hardware ] [ software ] [ lab & office ]  

SOFTWARE  

An extensive pipeline of software carries the raw camera data to the participating guest, a hybrid of hardware-specific and in-house software. The Vicon system runs two programs called Workstation and Tarsus, which receive and monitor the camera data and fit the 3D tracked points to skeleton, respectively. Data produced by Tarsus is received by the Mo'jox MasterMotion code base which filters the 3D data and passes it on to the game logic and rendering units. All MasterMotion code is written in C, C++, and Python. Prototypes are written in Python and rendered with the Stage3 Alice system, or the open source library PyGame.

Originally, the MasterMotion codebase was entirely written in C/C++, but as the need for a better rapid prototyping and transitioning method developed, technologies such as PyNeSaul (the Python-Network-Saul) and CoPyLiT (Console Python LithTech) interfaces were created, so developers' work could easily be produced initially, and transitioned later to our industrial 3D engine.


The Alice prototyping environment.
 
[ hardware ] [ software ] [ lab & office ]  

LAB - Wean Hall 1326  
The Carnegie Mellon Motion Capture lab is a unique space perfect for interaction experimentation. A wide array of SGI and WinTel computers provide a variety of possibilities for mocap data processing. The cameras may be mounted in several configurations for special attention to facial, upper body, and full range capture. Mo'jox makes use of the full wide configuration to capture 3D positional data in an area of 16'x8'x7'. The lab is also fitted with a well-outfitted set of tools, electrical equipment, and spatial reinforcements as well as a commerical sound system with the option of spatialized sound.

The motion capture space.
 
OFFICE - Doherty Hall 4302a
The bulk of the development and design process occurs in MOTOWN, the Mo'Jox team office. Newly relocated because of expansion in personnel and resource needs, MOTOWN occupies the old ETC lounge with some of the finest in digital and physical implements for creativity.

MOTOWN.