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NEW
Noise-Reduction Software,
Noise X, Automatically
Detects Optimal Operating
Frequency for your Tracking
Environment
Ascension now offers a powerful
new software program that
will run your tracker in a
mode that measures any interfering
noise in the environment and
determines the best tracker
measurement rate to reduce
jitter in measurements. This
noise reduction program is
available for all Ascension
RS232 and ISA trackers: Flock
of Birds, miniBIRD, Nest of
Birds, pcBIRD and MotionStar
Wired.
»
Click
here to download
What
to do Before your Tracker
Arrives
»
Click
here
These tips will help get you
ready for a successful installation
of your new tracker.
Troubleshooting
Guide for Ascension Trackers
»
Click
here
This guide will help you troubleshoot
set-up and operational problems
for our tracking products.
FASTRAK
Emulator overcomes AC Tracker
Distortion
»
Click
here
Ascension offers free technical
support for its trackers.
Contact us by phone, fax,
or e-mail for immediate assistance.
We can help you set up your
tracker, interface it to your
host computer, and troubleshoot
any difficulty you may encounter.
We also provide on-site
installation support for our
MotionStar products. For Wireless
models sold in the USA, installation
is included in the price of
the unit. For Wireless models
sold internationally, installation
is available for travel and
living costs only.
Interface Support &
Drivers
We provide free interface
software (with commented source
code) with each of our trackers. Feel
free to modify or use this
software as you see fit. For
a listing of available software,
see our FTP site: ftp://ftp.ascension-tech.com
We also offer Windows (95,
98, and NT) drivers for our
products at No Charge to customers.
For more information, contact
support@ascension-tech.com.
FASTRAK
Emulator Helps Solve AC Accuracy
Distortion Problems
The
FASTRAK Emulator adapts Polhemus
FASTRAK-based applications
for use with Ascension tracking
devices.
If
you are buying a new Ascension
tracker, it is free and will
be included with your order.
Here's
what the Emulator can do for
you:
- DC
magnetic tracking technology's
far greater resistance to
conductive metal interference
- DC
magnetic tracking technology's
reduction of noise and jitter
over longer ranges
- More
trackers to choose from
-- a more customized tracking
solution
- Significant
cost savings over Polhemus
tracking options
- The
ability to upgrade tracking
without rewriting lines
of driver code
If
you purchased the FASTRAK
Emulator with an Ascension
tracking device, you will
find the emulation mode preset
at the factory. No additional
set-up will be necessary for
standard use; the emulation
will operate automatically
with the tracker.
If
you purchased the FASTRAK
Emulator, the Emulator
manual at our
FTP site will help you configure
the system. It will also help
you configure the system if
you are developing a new application.
We have included additional
information, such as the overview
of the BIRD system commands,
for advanced performance in
specialized applications.
The
FASTRAK Emulator is designed
for use with four different
Ascension trackers using an
RS 232C interface, running
firmware 9.01 or higher:
- Flock of Birds®
- Nest of Birds™
- pcBIRD®
- MotionStar® Wired
These trackers provide real-time
head, hand, body, instrument
and object position / orientation
data. Whether that data is
used for virtual reality,
biomechanics, interactive
visualization, 3D imaging
or stereotaxic localization,
you can now simply drop one
of these trackers into your
application and enjoy the
speed, accuracy and ease of
use characteristic to all
Ascension Technology products.
1. How does the FASTRAK
Emulator work?
The FASTRAK Emulator
is implemented entirely in
software by adding a FASTRAK
command handler front end
to the latest version of the
Bird firmware.
2. Which FASTRAK
versions are supported by
the Emulator?
The FASTRAK Emulator
supports the FASTRAK command
protocol as described in the
3SPACE FASTRAK USER’S MANUAL,
June 2000 Edition, Rev. A.
At this time, the FASTRAK
command protocol was fully
compatible with earlier versions
of the FASTRAK system.
3. With what applications
has the FASTRAK Emulator already
been used?
It has been successfully
tested on several applications.
See Appendix I, page 24 of
the Emulator manual for a
chart of those applications.
4. What are the FASTRAK
Emulator’s limitations?
Several advanced
commands are not supported.
These are rarely used commands,
not ones called upon in standard
operation. Several other commands
are not fully supported but
offer a high degree of compatibility.
5. What are the differences
between FASTRAK commands and
Bird commands?
We have provided
you with a table showing corresponding
commands. See the Command
Difference Summary, page 10
of Emulator manual.
6. What do I need
to set up the FASTRAK Emulator?
You will need the
Emulator and the cable we
provide with it. If you purchased
an Ascension motion tracker,
the FASTRAK Emulator was pre-set
at the factory. If you will
be setting the emulation mode
yourself, you will need the
Flock/Nest/pcBird/MotionStar
and FASTRAK Emulator manuals
for your tracker.
7. Why should I use
an Ascension motion tracker
in my FASTRAK-based application?
You will discover
that DC magnetic tracking
has several advantages over
AC magnetic tracking. First,
DC magnetic tracking offers
far greater resistance to
conductive metal interference.
Second, there will be a significant
reduction in noise and jitter
over longer ranges. Third,
you have more tracking devices
to choose from which means
your tracking will be more
specifically tailored to your
application. Fourth, Ascension
trackers cost less than many
trackers on the market.
8. How long will
it take for me to set up and
get running?
If you purchased
the FASTRAK Emulator with
an Ascension tracking device,
it was set up at the factory.
The only additional set-up
required may be setting Dipswitches
for the proper serial transfer
rate and connecting the new
communications cable. Other
than that, the emulation mode
will operate automatically
with the tracker.
If you purchased the FASTRAK
Emulator separately, the Quick
Start section of this manual
will help you set it up. See
page 8 of Emulator manual.
9. What do I do if
I want to switch back and
forth from an Ascension tracker
to a FASTRAK?
If you want to use
your system as an Ascension
tracker, the FASTRAK emulation
firmware must be replaced
with Ascension tracker firmware.
To reconfigure multiple birds
in emulation mode, the Quick
Start guide on page 8 of the
Emulator
manual will
help you.
10. Do I have to
change any of my driver code
to use the FASTRAK Emulator?
Probably not. Modifications
may be needed, however, in
the following situations:
--- Your application uses
a FASTRAK command that is
not supported by the emulation.
--- Your application uses
a FASTRAK command that exceeds
the limitations on the usage.
See the Command Differences
Summary, page 10 of manual.
11. How do I know
if the FASTRAK Emulator is
working?
When the system is
powered up, the LED will blink
6 times, pause, and then stay
illuminated.
12. Will this system
respond to Bird commands in
the emulation mode?
No.
13. Will the FASTRAK
Emulator stay in emulation
mode when I turn it off?
Yes, it will stay
in emulation mode.
14. Can I use all
of my old FASTRAK commands?
You can use about
95% of the original FASTRAK
Commands. See the Command
Differences Summary, page
10 of the manual.
15. Can I use the
FASTRAK Emulator with other
Polhemus motion trackers?
No, but do contact
us. We will be developing
additional emulators based
on demand.
16. Can I use the
FASTRAK Emulator with a long-range
transmitter instead of a standard
transmitter?
No.
17. Can I use the
FASTRAK Emulator with a 485
interface?
No. You can only
use it with an RS232 interface.
18. Can I use the
FASTRAK Emulator with a Unix
platform?
Yes.
19. Will the FASTRAK
Emulator work to run an Ascension
motion tracker in place of
an InterSense motion tracker?
Yes, if the application
does not send InterSense tracker
specific commands.
20. Can I get ASCII
data out of the FASTRAK Emulator?
Yes.
21. Will I get better
speed by using the FASTRAK
Emulator with an Ascension
motion tracker instead of
my FASTRAK?
Yes.
22. Can I use a Flock
with more than 4 Birds sensors
in the emulator mode?
No.
23. What does the
FASTRAK Emulator cost?
If you purchase an
Ascension motion tracker,
the FASTRAK Emulator is included
free of charge. If you purchase
the FASTRAK Emulator separately,
it costs $200.
FASTRAK
Compatibility
The FASTRAK Emulator supports
the FASTRAK command protocol
as described in the 3SPACE
FASTRAK USER’S MANUAL, June
2000 Edition, Rev. A. At this
time, the FASTRAK command
protocol was fully compatible
with earlier versions of the
FASTRAK system.
Other
Polhemus Emulators
If you have drivers or applications
that currently use a Polhemus
product other than FASTRAK
(such as Patriot or Liberty),
please contact Ascension Technology
for an update on other emulators.
We will be pleased to help
you.
Getting
Assistance
If you experience problems with
set-up or operation, contact
Ascension Technology Corporation
for technical support.
World Wide Web: www.ascension-tech.com/support/
E-mail: support@ascension-tech.com
Telephone: Call 802-893-6657,
Extension 14 between 8a.m.
and 4p.m (Eastern Standard
Time, Monday through Friday).
Fax: 802-893-6659
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