Xsens

Xsens Technologies B.V. (or Xsens) is a supplier of 3D motion capture products and inertial sensors based upon miniature MEMS inertial sensor technology. The company has created intellectual property in the field of multi-sensor data fusion algorithms, combining inertial sensors with aiding technologies such as GPS, Motion capture and biomechanical modeling. Xsens is part of Mcube the provider of the world’s smallest and lowest power MEMS motion sensors, key enablers for the Internet of Moving Things.

Xsens (Xsens Technologies B.V.)
Industrymotion capture, IMU, AHRS, INS
Founded2000
Headquarters
Enschede
,
Netherlands
Number of locations
5
ProductsMTi, MTw Awinda, MVN Animate, MVN Analyze
Number of employees
140
Websitewww.xsens.com

Xsens has offices in Enschede (headquarter), the Netherlands, Los Angeles, Bangalore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

History

The company was founded in 2000 by Casper Peeters and Per Slycke, both University of Twente graduates. Following work in measurement of the performance of athletes, they specialized in sensor technologies and sensor fusion algorithms. The company developed Inertial measurement units or AHRS (MTi-series and MTx) and human movement measurement systems (a complete wireless system MTw Awinda, the successor of the Xbus Kit). In 2007 Xsens introduced an inertial motion capture system called "Moven" (renamed to Xsens MVN[1] in 2009). In 2009 Xsens introduced the MVN BIOMECH system, a motion capture system for 3D human kinematics used in fields such as ergonomics, sports science and rehabilitation. In 2017 both Xsens MVN and MVN BIOMECH were renamed to Xsens MVN Analyze and Xsens MVN Animate. In 2015 Xsens introduced a new inertial sensor module by the name of the MTi 1-series[2] and in 2019 the latest series of inertial sensor modules was introduced, called the MTi 600-series.[3] In January 2020 Xsens launched Xsens DOT,[4] a state-of-the-art development platform for the analysis and reporting of human kinematics. The platform features high-accuracy wearable inertial sensors, an easy-to-integrate SDK, and community support from Xsens experts.

In 2008, Xsens acquired Utellus, a spin-off from telecom company Ericsson's EuroLab, specializing in applications of ultra wide band RF technology.[5]

In 2014 Xsens was acquired by Fairchild Semiconductor,[6] and becoming part of ON Semiconductor in 2016.

In Nov 2017, mCube Acquires Xsens from ON Semiconductor.[7]

Products

Xsens product range from inertial sensors to inertial Motion Capture.

Software

Xsens develops proprietary software for their own inertial sensors and motion capture products.

  • MT Software Suite[18] for all MTi sensors
  • MT Software Suite for MTw Awinda[19]
  • MVN Animate[20] motion capture software for 3D Character Animation
  • MVN Analyze[21] motion capture software for Human Motion Measurement

Inertial sensor applications

Typically Xsens inertial sensor technology is used for orientation, attitude- and positioning data. The technology is integrated by fleet operators, robotics integrators, digital mapping companies, drone developers, Vehicle-testing, Autonomous Vehicles, Warehouse & Logistics (AGV/AMR), Maritime/offshore (ROVs/AUVs/USVs/floating platforms), Aerospace, Heavy-Industry (harbor/construction/mining) and Agriculture (UGVs/robots).

Projects

Xsens participates in research projects[22] like AnDy,[23] a project funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme endowing robots with the ability to control physical collaboration through intentional interaction.

Xsens also participates in AWESCO,[24] a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initial Training Network funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and by the Swiss federal government. The project addresses the present key challenges of airborne wind energy technologies with the aim of supporting the commercialization in Europe.

Since 2014, Xsens is a full partner of KNEEMO Initial Training Network (ITN) [25] for knee osteoarthritis research funded through the European Commission’s Framework 7 Programme. As an industrial partner, its role is to develop methods to estimate knee joint loading using inertial motion capture.

Other projects are MC Impulse,[26] focusing on sensor data processing and MILEPOST, on indoor navigation.

Productions

Xsens products are widely known for use in film, game, live entertainment and advertising. Known productions that were created with the help of Xsens products are:

  • The Umbrella Academy [27]
  • The Mandalorian [28]
  • Stranger Things 3 [29]
  • WestWorld season 3 [30]
  • Avengers: Infinity war [31]
  • Black Panther [32]
  • Thor: Ragnarok [33]
  • Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice [34]
  • Ant-Man [35]
  • FIFA 16 [36]
  • Love Has No Labels [37]
  • Ted 1 and 2 [38]
  • Just Cause 3 [39]

References
  1. Article about Xsens MVN inertial motion capture
  2. MTi 1-series introduction by Xsens
  3. MTi 600-series introduction by Xsens
  5. Xsens Acquires UWB Technology Company Utellus
  6. "Xsens acquisition by Fairchild Semiconductor marks important step for motion tracking success story - Xsens 3D motion tracking". Xsens 3D motion tracking. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
  7. "mCube buys Xsens for system-level expertise". eeNews Europe. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  8. Xsens. "MTi 1-series". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  9. Xsens. "MTi 1-series". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  10. Xsens. "MTi 10-series". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  11. Xsens. "MTi 600-series". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  12. Xsens. "MTi 100-series". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  13. Xsens. "Product overview". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  14. MTw Awinda
  15. Xsens. "MVN Analyze". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  16. Xsens. "MVN Animate". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  17. Xsens. "Xsens DOT". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  18. MT Software Suite
  19. MT Software Suite for MTw Awinda
  20. MVN Animate
  21. MVN Analyze
  22. Xsens collaboration projects
  23. AnDy (Advancing Anticipatory Behaviors in Dyadic Human-Robot Collaboration)
  24. AWESCO (Airborne Wind Energy System Modelling, Control and Optimization)
  25. KNEEMO Initial Training Network Website
  26. MC Impulse
  31. "AVENGERS - INFINITY WAR: Graham Page - VFX Supervisor - DNEG - The Art of VFXThe Art of VFX". www.artofvfx.com. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  32. "Marvel's Black Panther pounces on to the big screen with Xsens - News - Xsens 3D motion tracking". Xsens 3D motion tracking. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  33. "'Thor: Ragnarok's' Sakaar chase scene was also a courtship dance". vfxblog. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  34. Batman vs. Superman
  35. Ant-Man
  36. FIFA 16
  37. Love Has No Labels
  38. "Xsens' MVN Helps Push Ted 2 VFX to New Heights". www.xsens.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  39. "Develop Issue 161 June 2015". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
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