Xsens and Time Domain Partner to
Advance Entertainment Industry 3D Tracking Technology

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands, and HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —August 3, 2009— Xsens Technologies B.V., the leader in 3D tracking systems, and Time Domain Corporation, the leader in ultra wideband (UWB) real-time location systems (RTLS), today announced a partnership that will advance the entertainment industry’s 3D tracking and motion capture systems. Xsens will unveil the new tracking system’s capabilities at this week’s SIGGRAPH conference (August 3 – 7) in New Orleans at booth 2819.

The partnership is based on Time Domain’s Precision Location Ultra Wideband System (PLUS) technology combined with Xsens’ inertial sensor technology and builds on the success of Xsens’ MVN full-body cameraless motion capture system. Xsens MVN, which is already in use among top developers at Electronic Arts, Industrial Light and Magic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, THQ and others, will enable gaming and visual effects developers to track extremely large spaces in demanding environmental circumstances in real time. It will also eliminate the line-of-sight restrictions associated with existing camera-based systems.

“The combination of MVN with UWB technology meets industry demands for scalable multi-person motion capture systems that can be used on location and provide robust data in real time for on-set previsualization,” said Per Slycke, founder and CTO of Xsens. “This is a huge step forward in providing the entertainment sector with the best, ground breaking and non-intrusive technologies available. It is great working with a company that understands the level of integration needed to make UWB work with inertial sensors and truly excels in its area of expertise.”

Time Domain’s PLUS is a highly accurate Real-Time Location System (RTLS) that enables enterprises to have precise location information of their people and assets. Using UWB technology, a PLUS network can provide indoor location information at accuracy levels previously unavailable from Wi-Fi or other RTLS technologies.

“Time Domain’s UWB-based tracking technology is a perfect fit for Xsens’ leading-edge MVN system, essentially adding the equivalent of an indoor GPS system,” said Greg Clawson, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Time Domain. “This partnership expands Time Domain’s presence to the movie and gaming industries and reflects the continued growth of our partnership program.”

About Xsens Technologies

Xsens is a leading supplier of 3D motion tracking products based upon miniature MEMS inertial sensor technology. Since its inception in 2000, several thousands of motion sensors and motion capture solutions have successfully been deployed in areas such as 3D character animation, rehabilitation and sports science, and robot and camera stabilization. Customers include Electronic Arts, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Össur, Daimler, Saab Underwater Systems, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace and many other companies and institutes throughout the world.

Xsens’ research department has built a unique portfolio of technologies and know-how in the field of multi-sensor data fusion algorithms, combining inertial sensors with aiding technologies such as GPS and RF positioning and biomechanical modeling. The company and its products have received several awards, amongst which 3 consecutive ratings in Deloitte’s ranking of fastest growing technology companies in Europe. www.xsens.com

Xsens is headquartered in Enschede, The Netherlands and has an office in Los Angeles, CA, US. 

About Time Domain

Time Domain is the world leader in ultra wideband (UWB) product development and provides solutions that enable enterprises to maximize productivity of their people and assets using a real-time location system (RTLS).  Our products and professional services deliver "Precise Location for a World in Motion" to the healthcare, retail, and other vertical markets and are sold and supported through a network of certified channel partners.  Time Domain's new Precision Location UWB System (PLUS) products are powered by the innovative PulsON suite of UWB technologies, which are also available for strategic OEM integration.  www.timedomain.com.

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PLUS is a trademark of Time Domain Corporation.

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