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An Evaluation of Motion Trackers with Virtual Reality Sensor Technology in Comparison to a Marker-Based Motion
Jan P Vox1,2, Anika Weber3,4, Karen Insa Wolf2
1Institut of Technical Assistance Systems (ITAS), Jade University of Applied Sciences, Ofener Str. 16/19, 26121 Oldenburg, Germany.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) systems can model workplaces for ergonomic assessments. However, the HTC Vive tracker combined with Final IK shows significant joint angle deviations compared to gold-standard motion capture, requiring careful consideration in risk assessments.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Ergonomic risk assessments involve analyzing body postures during work processes.
- Virtual reality (VR) systems enable the simulation of complex work scenarios and evaluation of ergonomic designs.
- Commercial VR systems offer a potential low-cost alternative to traditional motion capture for ergonomic analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of a commercial VR tracking system (HTC Vive tracker with Final IK) for measuring joint angles in ergonomic risk assessments.
- To compare the performance of the VR system against a marker-based optical motion capture system (Qualisys), considered the gold standard.
- To identify potential inaccuracies and provide recommendations for improving VR system performance in ergonomic evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous data collection using HTC Vive tracker with Final IK and Qualisys marker-based motion capture.
- Observation of 26 subjects performing 20 defined movements.
- Analysis of 16 key joint angles to quantify deviations between the two systems.
Main Results:
- Significant joint angle deviations ranging from ±6° to ±42° were identified between the VR system and the gold standard.
- The commercial VR system demonstrated potential for mapping joint angles but exhibited substantial weaknesses and inaccuracies in specific body regions.
- High deviations necessitate careful consideration in ergonomic risk assessments when employing VR technology.
Conclusions:
- Commercial low-budget VR tracking systems can map joint angles but require cautious application due to identified inaccuracies.
- Substantial weaknesses in certain body regions necessitate further research and development for reliable ergonomic assessments using VR.
- Recommendations are provided to enhance tracking accuracy and mitigate systematic errors in VR-based ergonomic evaluations.
