PRESS RELEASE 2019-05-16

The new Miqus underwater cameras provide accurate motion capture at close quarters - making intricate measurement accessible to many underwater applications within human biomechanics, engineering and animation for the first time.

Gothenburg, 16 May 2019 -- Qualisys, the leading provider of precision motion capture technology and 3D tracking systems, today announced the launch of the Miqus M3u and M5u underwater motion capture cameras - the smallest ever mocap solutions designed specifically for underwater measurement. An underwater color video camera, Miqus video underwater, was also launched today, providing full-HD resolution at 85 frames-per-second.

Qualisys has already revolutionized underwater motion capture. More than 10 years ago, the company launched the world’s first commercially available underwater motion capture camera, and today the high resolution 7+u camera system is successfully used across a variety of underwater applications in the fields of human biomechanics and engineering.

Now the smaller, nimbler Miqus solution opens up new possibilities for accurate underwater measurement in confined spaces. At just over 2kg, the Miqus is almost four times lighter and four times smaller than the 7+u, so it is easier to deploy in small tanks or pools where you are closer to your subject and require a wide angle to cover it effectively. The widest field-of-view option is 45% wider than the 7+u, making it much easier to deploy at close quarters when a wide angle lens is needed to cover the volume effectively.

Motion capture is renowned for its use in gait analysis, and Qualisys technology opens more possibilities for underwater rehab underwater rehab. The reduced size and wider field-of-view of the Miqus cameras allows them to accurately capture the gait motion, despite the shorter distances from pool walls to subject that are common in such setups.
 
The new cameras are also suitable for many applications in the engineering and industrial sectors.s. For example, in towing tanks that are used to test scale models of ships or underwater vessels, the smaller Miqus underwater cameras are perfect as they can measure the motion of the vessels as they are being towed along.

This year, Qualisys announced a move into the animation market. Today, the seemingly impossible task of animating realistic underwater motion is made possible with the Miqus Underwater camera system and the skeleton solving capabilities of the Qualisys Track Manager (QTM) software.

In addition to the motion capture camera models, the Miqus underwater series also has a color video camera in the line-up. It can be used together with the motion capture cameras to enable 3D video overlay and provide reference for the mocap system. It can also be used as a standalone video solution - bridging the gap between small, handheld consumer devices and more expensive cameras that are typically used in industrial settings.

“We have long been the only company able to provide high-performance underwater mocap solutions,” stated Magnus Berlander, CTO of Qualisys. “As we continue to develop our technologies and move into new markets, these Miqus underwater cameras will open up many more opportunities because they are so versatile. We are confident any organization looking for underwater 3D tracking, positioning or video monitoring can now benefit from a Qualisys system.”