Tracking rats from overhead

[brunorivard]

I'd like to track the head of a rat 6dof with a TrackIR looking down from high up. This requires that the roll coordinate have 360 deg of range, but 180 deg for yaw, pitch is ok. Is this possible?

[NaturalPoint - Mike]

With a TrackIR, this will not be possible. You will likely need to use multiple cameras to solve this type of tracking, assuming you can properly marker the rats. I won't say this is impossible, but it would present quite the challenge!

[brunorivard]

I use some of your IR reflecting balls without difficulty. We currently use red and blue LEDs, mounted on the rat's head, attached to an implant fixed surgically to the skull. That way we can get pretty good x-y tracking.

I can make a support clip for any number of IR balls in any geometric arrangement using our CNC machining shop.

What package do you recommend I get (hardware and software)? I was thinking about 3 V100R2 and the Tracking tools software, if you can get us an educational discount. How about the Optitrack SDK? can I implement a 6dof tracker with it? I will need to use python, to interface the tracker to Blender3D's python API. Can I access the Tracking Tools software real-time data with python?

[brunorivard]

Hello,

Please reply, i need to include pricing in my next grant application.

[NaturalPoint - Mike]

Hello -

Both the Camera SDK and the Tracking Tools API are accessible through C++, and can be wrapped into any language of your choosing.

Prices are available directly on our webpage, unfortunately there are no educational discounts on our systems. 3 cameras may be able to provide proper tracking over a small volume, however more may be required. The 3 V100R2 bundle would be a good place to start, and is expandable to 6 cameras with only the purchase of the cameras and the cables, no other equipment should be necessary.