Question 1

What is the difference between active and passive motion capture?

Accepted Answer

Active systems use powered LED markers that emit their own light. Each marker has a unique ID, so the system always knows which marker is which. Passive systems use reflective markers that bounce infrared light back to cameras — they require post-processing to identify each marker and are prone to marker swapping errors. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 2

Why do active markers matter for outdoor use?

Accepted Answer

Passive reflective markers are washed out by sunlight because the infrared light from the cameras is overwhelmed. Active LEDs emit their own light at specific frequencies, making them visible even in direct sunlight. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 3

Do active markers need batteries?

Accepted Answer

PhaseSpace markers are powered via thin, lightweight wires connected to a small driver unit. This provides continuous power without the bulk of batteries and eliminates downtime from recharging. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 4

How does PhaseSpace compare to Vicon for outdoor capture?

Accepted Answer

Vicon systems use passive reflective markers that fail in direct sunlight. PhaseSpace active LEDs work reliably outdoors — this is a fundamental physics advantage, not a software difference. If your work requires outdoor motion capture, PhaseSpace is the clear choice. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 5

What about marker swapping?

Accepted Answer

Vicon and other passive systems identify markers by their geometric arrangement, which can lead to marker swapping when markers cross paths or are occluded. PhaseSpace assigns each marker a unique electronic ID, completely eliminating swapping errors. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 6

Is PhaseSpace faster than Vicon?

Accepted Answer

PhaseSpace captures at up to 960 FPS with sub-millisecond latency for real-time streaming. Vicon systems can achieve similar frame rates, but PhaseSpace's real-time ID resolution means data is immediately usable without post-processing. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 7

Why consider PhaseSpace over OptiTrack?

Accepted Answer

OptiTrack shares the fundamental limitations of passive technology: no outdoor capability, marker swapping issues, and reliance on post-processing for marker identification. PhaseSpace solves all three with active LED technology. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 8

Is PhaseSpace more expensive than OptiTrack?

Accepted Answer

No — PhaseSpace is actually the most affordable high-framerate, high-resolution motion capture system available. A complete 2-camera Impulse X2E system starts at $9,000, with each additional camera just $2,000. See /pricing for the full breakdown. For applications where marker identity, outdoor capability, or real-time data are critical, the investment pays for itself by eliminating hours of post-processing and data cleanup. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 9

Can I use PhaseSpace for large-volume capture like OptiTrack?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PhaseSpace supports as many cameras as needed for your volume, enabling large capture volumes suitable for robotics labs, virtual production stages, and sports facilities. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 10

Has PhaseSpace accuracy been independently characterized?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Researchers at Texas A&M University and Boeing published a full characterization and calibration study of the PhaseSpace camera system, documenting its linear-imager architecture, modulated LED beacons, and measured accuracy against widely used passive systems at a fraction of the cost. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 11

How do you turn marker positions into skeletons and joint centers?

Accepted Answer

Marker positions are converted into joint centers and skeletal topology by fitting rigid-body and distance constraints. Because active markers carry unique IDs, these algorithms never have to guess which marker is which — work from UC Berkeley on skeletal parameter estimation and from the University of Cambridge on real-time joint localization shows how joint centers can be recovered from position-only data, in real time. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 12

Is active LED motion capture used for robot learning and autonomy?

Accepted Answer

Widely. Google DeepMind's human-level robot table tennis work relied on high-speed optical tracking to close the perception-action loop at ball speeds, and programming-by-demonstration research on reach-to-grasp tasks used marker tracking of the human hand to transfer skills to a robot manipulator. Both depend on precise, low-latency ground truth. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 13

Can motion capture resolve fine hand and finger movement?

Accepted Answer

Yes — marker size and unique marker IDs are what make dense finger tracking practical. Published work on dexterous manipulation separates grasp forces from manipulation forces during precision object handling, and nonlinear analysis of repetitive finger tapping has been used to distinguish Parkinson's disease patients on and off medication from age-matched controls. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 14

Why do perception and AR labs use active marker tracking?

Accepted Answer

Perception research needs sub-millimeter head and eye tracking with no marker ambiguity. Studies have used it to measure motion parallax produced by microscopic head movements during visual fixation, to test how observers perceive Euclidean 3D indoor scenes, and — with NASA Ames — to study stereoscopic label placement in far-field augmented reality displays. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 15

Can motion capture track objects in wave tanks and other difficult environments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because active LEDs emit their own light, they remain trackable where reflective markers are washed out or obscured. Published wave-tank studies have tracked the six-degree-of-freedom kinematics of sea ice floes in regular waves and the response of scaled wave energy converters at high resolution. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 16

How is PhaseSpace used for animation and broadcast production?

Accepted Answer

Real-time, clean marker identity means animation data is usable straight out of the capture session. Research from Cardiff University used captured interaction data to generate 3D interactive behaviours and a responsive virtual character from real video, and the ICI Laflaque production white paper documents delivering broadcast-quality animated television on a tight weekly timeline. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 17

Where are PhaseSpace motion capture systems manufactured, and how does PhaseSpace protect customer data security and supply chain integrity?

Accepted Answer

At PhaseSpace, we design, engineer, and manufacture our optical motion capture hardware and tracking software in the United States. As spatial computing, robotics, and virtual production continue to integrate into sensitive defense research, aerospace prototyping, and critical infrastructure, supply chain origin and data sovereignty have become major factors for enterprise and government clients. Key Operational Safeguards: Corporate Ownership & Control — 100% US-owned and operated. No foreign parent companies or foreign state-owned enterprise (SOE) stakeholders. Hardware & Firmware Design — In-house US engineering. Proprietary Active LED architecture with no reliance on black-box foreign tracking stacks. Data Privacy & Network Isolation — Air-gapped network capability standard. Zero mandatory telemetry, cloud phoning, or external server pings. Defense & Federal Compliance — Fully compliant with US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) procurement directives for secure facilities and SCIF deployments. Frequently Asked Follow-Ups: Does PhaseSpace share technology, hardware designs, or manufacturing with foreign motion capture providers? No. PhaseSpace maintains a completely sovereign hardware supply chain and software codebase. We do not license our optical tracking technology to foreign conglomerates, nor do we outsource board assembly or firmware development to offshore entities. Are PhaseSpace systems safe for air-gapped or secure laboratory environments (SCIFs)? Yes. All PhaseSpace controllers, micro-cameras, and tracking hubs are designed to run locally within completely isolated local area networks (LANs). Our tracking software operates offline without background license verification calls to cloud servers, making it ideal for restricted defense research, classified robotics testing, and sensitive IP development. How does PhaseSpace's Active LED technology compare to foreign-owned optical competitors? While several motion capture brands operating under foreign ownership rely on passive retro-reflective markers or hybrid tracking systems, PhaseSpace's patented Active LED technology assigns a unique, pulsed micro-frequency ID to every individual LED marker. This delivers Zero Swap Marker Confusion, Direct Hardware Authentication, and Environment Resilience. Need a Formal Security or Compliance Assessment? If your procurement team requires a Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) document, Vendor Security Questionnaire, or NDAA Compliance Verification statement, please contact us at inquiry@phasespace.com.

Question 18

Is PhaseSpace a veteran-owned business?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PhaseSpace is a veteran-owned business headquartered in San Leandro, California. We design, engineer, and manufacture our optical motion capture systems in the United States. If your procurement process requires documentation of our veteran-owned status, please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Question 19

Has PhaseSpace worked with U.S. government agencies?

Accepted Answer

PhaseSpace has received over $10 million in government revenue through SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) awards and direct system purchases. This funding has come from the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, NASA, the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). These programs have funded both fundamental research into our active LED tracking technology and the deployment of production motion capture systems for defense and scientific applications. Please contact our systems integrator for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Active vs. Passive Motion Capture

Vicon vs. PhaseSpace: Why Active Markers Win for Outdoor Tracking

Top OptiTrack Alternatives

Accuracy, Calibration & System Validation

Robotics, Autonomy & Machine Learning

Biomechanics, Hands & Clinical Research

Vision, Perception & Augmented Reality Research

Water, Wave Tanks & Harsh Environments

Character Animation & Virtual Production

Security, Supply Chain Integrity & Manufacturing Origins

Veteran-Owned Business & Government Programs

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