The "Trackit system family"
Path acquisition systems based on newest video techniques
 
 
Key Features
 
Fully automatic position measurement in 2D (Trackit) and 3D (Trackit 3D).
A large observable area obtained by moveable camera optics, without sacrificing spatial detail.
Close-up image analysis for reliable object detection and precise measurement of body axis orientation
Temporal resolution of 50 images per second
Streaming of position data to RS-232 interface for on-line stimulus manipulation
Optional infra-red functionality
A user-friendly and highly adaptable interface
Simple installation and calibration procedure (3D)
 
 
 
 
Trackit 2D
  Trackit performs object tracking at 50 frames per second. The obtained data is processed instantly and is on-line available to the user. The orientation of the long body axis of the tracked animal is also measured on-line. Trackit is a data acquistion system that integrates a pan-tilt video camera, a personal computer with a video digitizing board and with special-purpose software. The aim of the system is to follow the object with a close-up zoom, thereby keeping it near the centre of the image. The movements of the camera and details of the grabbed images allow the subsequent calculation of the animals trajectory.
   
The concept of 'Trackit': A pan-tilt video camera (VC) obtains close-up images of the flying insect.
1.  These images are passed on to a frame grabber card within the computer.
2.  Body axis oriantation and object position in the frame are determined.
3.  Position is used to compute the steering commands for the camera.
4.  The data are stored immediately for later use.
Trackit 3D
 
Trackit 3D uses two cameras to obtain 3-dimensional position data. Like its "little brother" it obtains data in real-time and at a temporal resolution of 50 frames per second. The system is designed for maximum flexibility and can adapt to various experimental designs.
 
 
   
  In many experiments it is good to be able to vary stimulus type and intensity in dependency of the animal's behavior. We provide a flexible and powerful solution to this problem: Position data is acquired in real-time and processed in a specific device or on a computer (platform independently). This way stimulus conditions can be controlled and altered during the process of the trial.
Trackit 3D Commander is successfully used in a project in which a parasitoid nocturnal fly is tracked in a 3-dimensional environment (Dr. D. Robert, P. Müller, Bioacoustics Lab, University of Zürich; correspondence to: piemue@zool.unizh.ch). The graph below shows the 3-dimensional trajectory of the fly. The 3D position data is transferred to a computer while the fly approaches an emitting loud-speaker. The computer reads in the the position data and uses it to trigger a sensory stimulus when the fly is within a certain region, as for instance the shaded region shown in the graph.
   
 
 
Flight trajectory of a fly from a starting platform (shown on the left side) to a loud-speaker on the floor. The observed volume was approx. 10 cubic metres. In the green shaded volume the fly’s position was used to control external hardware. Experiments and graph: Pie Müller, University Zurich
   
  References
 
  Graham P, Fauria K and Collett TS (2003). The influence of beacon-aiming on the routes of wood ants. J. Exp. Biol. 206: 535 - 541.
[Abstract] [pdf]
 
  Graham P, Collett TS (2002) View-based navigation in insects: how wood ants (Formica rufa L.) look at and are guided by extended landmarks. J. Exp. Biol. 205: 2499-509.
[Abstract] [full text]
 
  Müller P and Robert D (2002) Death comes suddenly to the unprepared: singing crickets, call fragmentation, and parasitoid flies. Behav. Ecol. 13:598–606
[Abstract] [full text]
 
  Müller P and Robert D (2001) A shot in the dark: the silent quest of a free-flying phonotactic fly. J. Exp. Biol. 204: 1039-52.
[Abstract] [pdf]
 
  Fry SN, Bichsel M, Müller P and Robert D (2000) Tracking of flying insects using pan-tilt cameras. J. Neurosci. Meth. 101: 59–67.
[Abstract] [full text]
 
 
If you have questions concerning this product, please don´t hesitate to use the following e-mail:
trackit@biobserve.com

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