ENSCHEDE, THE NETERLANDS — Xsens (www.xsens.com), the provider of inertial motion capture technology, has launched a new education program offering studio-grade technology priced to meet educational budgets. Currently rolling out in the United States, the new Xsens Education Program offers schools a ready-made bundle that includes the MVN Awinda system, a lifetime license of MVN Studio PRO software, support, online Web training and a recommended curriculum.
The Xsens Education Program is designed to make MVN technology more accessible to VFX and animation programs, which are often limited by budgets and physical space. These schools can now teach professional motion capture anywhere there’s a wi-fi connection, removing the need to turn rooms into makeshift studios.
“After speaking with schools, we heard that creating a mocap training program was daunting,” says Xsens product manager, Hein Beute. “They needed a comprehensive package that eliminated the guesswork and cut the cost. They get both with the Xsens Education Program.”
Xsens has been working with educational institutions such as Belmont University, Capilano University, Chapman University, Chico State, College of the Canyons and Middlebury College, to help refine their education program and create a motion capture centric curriculum. Together they identified what the institutions needed to effectively train their students, as well as to find a price point that worked within their budget parameters.
“Our students can now get more real-world experience, using tools that are actually utilized in the industry,” says Ruth Daly, a lecturer at Chapman University and veteran animator. “Experience with a motion capture system like MVN is very valuable in the workforce; it makes students more attractive to potential employers and equips them to compete as artists.”
With the Xsens Education Program, students will have access to the same mobile technology used on films and TV shows like Independence Day: Resurgence, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ted. Unlike optical systems that require a dedicated room, the MVN Awinda system uses wireless, inertial trackers to record the motion capture information, promoting free-reign of an environment. As students control the recording through an app on a smartphone or mobile device, the collected data is streamed to a nearby desktop or laptop computer. Set-up times are fast (under ten minutes) and require very little space, making it ideal for people working under tight schedules.