Application Notes
 Image Processing Brightness, Contrast, Gamma and Exponential
This application note discusses Brightness, Contrast, Gamma and the Exponential/Logarithmic (Exp. /Log.) function settings in relation to image processing with Xcitex ProAnalyst software. This application note details how to control light and dark in images and how these factors relate to video analysis. Also included are explanations of these LUT settings, image palette options and how they affect tracking and building a histogram in relation to image processing.
Image Filtering in ProAnalyst
This application note describes image filtering, a subsection of the overall process of image processing -- manipulating your video to get the highest image quality in order to achieve the best possible tracking results. This is a detailed account of how image filtering works in ProAnalyst. Adding and removing specific filters, modifying filter properties, and a list of available filters are included.
Using the Fixed Length Perspective Calculator in ProAnalyst
The Fixed Length Perspective Calculator is a ProAnalyst tool that calculates a 2-D perspective calibration that minimizes the variation of the distance between two tracked targets across multiple frames in a video. This tool can be useful for golf, baseball, or any application where a known-length object is moving in a flat plane. For example, once the calibration is completed, users can measure angular velocity of the object in the plane or velocity of various points on the object.
Calculating the Velocity of a Ball Moving Toward or Away From a Camera with ProAnalyst
This application note describes a technique for measuring the velocity of a ball moving in a linear path toward or away from a camera. ProAnalyst is used to automatically track the apparent size of the ball as a function of time. This data is exported to an Excel spreadsheet for computation. The user just needs to provide the real diameter of the ball and the distance from the ball to the camera at the first frame of the video.
Building Your Own 3-D Calibration Fixture for use with ProAnalyst
A 3-D calibration fixture is an integral component in the 3-D analysis process. While ProAnalyst is optimized to use a standard Xcitex 2-panel fixture, any arbitrary construct can be substituted, and there is no specific size or configuration that must be used. This document will describe the necessary components an arbitrary fixture must possess, as well as a method for generating a calibration file recognizable by ProAnalyst.
Using the x264vfw Codec with ProAnalyst
H.264 is a new video compression standard that is very popular for compressing video with high quality into smaller file sizes. While Xcitex does not recommend compressing video, many customers have asked about this compression technique. X.264 is an open source implementation of the H.264 standard. This application note describes how to use the x264vfw encoder and decoder with ProAnalyst. This enables ProAnalyst to load and save X.264/H.264 encoded AVI files. Specific software version, configuration, and file saving recommendations are provided for obtaining the best results.
Brochures
ProAnalyst Brochure
Any video camera becomes a non-contact test instrument with award-winning ProAnalyst motion analysis software from Xcitex. Choose a software edition and optional toolkits to suit your application.
Customer Case Studies
Digital Image Correlation of Dynamic Impact Deformation without Painted Dots using ProAnalyst 3-D Photogrammetry Software
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ProAnalyst customer case study from the Army Research Laboratory. Photogrammetry is an important and perferred noncontact measurement tool to record and quantify deformation in armor testing. This report describes how the Army Research Laboratory uses ProAnalyst 3-D Professional software to analyze a high-speed deformation event. |
Voice Analysis at Massachusetts General Hospital Using Digital Kymography and Xcitex Software
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Digital kymography is a high-speed medical imaging technique used to visualize human vocal cord vibration. Before this technique was created, doctors studying vocal cords and their vibratory characteristics faced major challenges in capturing vocal cord motion for analysis and diagnosis. Assisted by Xcitex engineers, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a solution using ProAnalyst and MiDAS software. |
Spider Web Design and Silk Analysis using ProAnalyst
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Biological researchers at the University of Akron in Ohio are conducting evolutionary studies on spiders and their silk. The team uses ProAnalyst motion analysis software from Xcitex to analyze web construction techniques and materials for a number of spider species. |
High Speed Video Applications in the Frame of the HSS3 Development and Qualification Program
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ProAnalyst customer case study from RUAG SPACE AG. This paper explains how the implementation of a high speed imaging system supported the validation of Finite Element models used to simulate the jettison phase and precisely reproduce the deformations and kinematics of the the Ariane 5 Payload Fairing. The 2-D images from each camera were analyzed with ProAnalyst 3-D Professional to produce 3-D measurement data for each measurement point. The data was used to obtain accurate three-dimensional trajectory data and optical feedback. |
Tutorials
How to Perform a Periodic Recalibration of Your Standard Xcitex 3-D Calibration Fixture
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This tutorial shows you how to perform a periodic recalibration of your Xcitex 3-D calibration fixture for use with ProAnalyst. You should perform this procedure if you have disassembled and reassembled the fixture, or if the fixture has been damaged or modified. Xcitex recommends that you perform this simple recalibration at least once per year. The purpose of this procedure is to generate an accurate ProAnalyst 3-D fixture file for your fixture. |
Line Tracking Featureless Objects
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This project showcases the ability of ProAnalyst to analyze fuel combustion in an engine. Combustion has no distinct features that can be tracked, however, we can use the unique 1-D Line Tracking tool to track the leading edge of a flame front that is expanding out from the center. |
Learning to use ProAnalyst
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If you are new to ProAnalyst, this tutorial will provide you with a strong foundation from which to further explore the capabilities of this powerful video analysis package. This tutorial will provide inexperienced or first time users with a step-by-step walkthrough of ProAnalyst general usage. Included is an explanation of the most important aspects of the ProAnalyst interface, as well as a step-by-step guide to creating and managing a project, importing data, calibrating and processing an image, motion tracking, user defined content and report generation. |
Cilia Analysis with ProAnalyst
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The analysis of motile cilia (small, numerous flagellae) is one example of how ProAnalyst can be adapted to applications in biological and medical science. This tutorial demonstrates how to use the 1-D Line Tracking and Line Summary features to track, record, view and analyze the motion of cilia. Although cilia analysis is a unique case, the principles illustrated in this tutorial can be applied to many other situations. |
Stabilizing a Shaking or Vibrating Video
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Camera shake, vibrating objects, and tracking the relative motion of two or more objects are common problems faced by many image analysis professionals. The ProAnalyst Image Stabilization toolkit solves these problems by providing the means to stabilize shaking or vibrating video images, or simulating video acquisition by a moving or stationary camera. This process is accomplished by locating and tracking video features that should maintain a stationary position. The shift and rotation necessary to maintain the features in a fixed position can then be computed, allowing stabilization to be performed for any combination of unwanted horizontal, vertical, or rotational motion. |
Using the Lens Distortion Tool with ProAnalyst
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One of the best features of ProAnalyst is the Lens Distortion Calculator and associated image filter. This tool and filter combination allows users to calculate and remove unwanted radial distortion from their video images. This application note describes (1) the applicability of this tool, (2) the meaning of the information presented, and (3) instructions on how to use this powerful video processing feature. |
Creating a Composite Motion Image with ProAnalyst
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A Composite Motion Image is a revolutionary method of creating a single digital image (JPG, BMP, TIFF, etc.) that encapsulates all the motion contained in a video sequence. The pertinent information from the entire video is extracted and then super- imposed onto a master image that is used to show the relationship of moving objects over time. Composite Motion Images are convenient tools for motion visualization. Anybody with a web browser can open a JPG - its smaller size is much easier to work with than a full video. |
Analyzing a Golf Swing with ProAnalyst
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This tutorial explains how to apply multiple analysis tools to different types of motion in the same video sequence by analyzing a golf swing. |
Human Biomechanical analysis with ProAnalyst, A Rugby Kicker
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The feature tracking capabilities available in ProAnalyst make it a powerful tool for biomechanical analysis. In a lab setting, motion tracking markers make the process of capturing athletic motion extremely simple and efficient. Combined with automatic feature tracking in ProAnalyst, analysis results can be obtained quickly and efficiently, and may be exported to a variety of output formats. Stick figure rendering provides easy access to joint angle measurements. The topics discussed in this tutorial will be: Image processing, automatic feature tracking, manual feature tracking and stick-figure analysis. |
2-D Scene Calibration in ProAnalyst
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This tutorial explains how to calibrate a 2-D scene in ProAnalyst. The two types of calibration (planar and perspective) are discussed, along with reasons and helpful hints for calibrating images and using multiple calibrations for a single video image. For planar (normal) calibration, examples are given for defining a scale and defining a coordinate frame. This tutorial also explains the procedures for setting the default calibration and saving and loading calibration files. |
Performing Length and Angle Measurements in ProAnalyst
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Two different methods can be applied to measure lengths and angles in ProAnalyst. Graphical annotations allow you to draw text, lines and shapes onto a video image. These are static annotations that can be manually placed on a single frame or specific range of frames of a video. Two of these annotations provide static length and angle measurements. For dynamic measurements that move with objects in the video, you can configure lines to be drawn between tracked features. The distance between any two tracked features can be displayed frame by frame. Similarly, the angle between any 3 or 4 tracked features can be displayed frame by frame. The resulting feature line measurements can be plotted on a graph as a function of time. |
Modifying the Parameters of a Video Sequence with ProAnalyst
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Depending on the method of acquisition, the record rate, shutter speed and zero frame of a video may or may not be automatically determined by ProAnalyst. If the parameters of a video are not automatically determined, they may be modified by the user. These modified parameters can then be saved into a configuration file and automatically loaded by ProAnalyst whenever the video itself is loaded. |
Blob Analysis with ProAnalyst, Water Droplets
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This tutorial describes how the ProAnalyst Contour Tracking Toolkit identifies, tracks, and analyzes objects whose shape changes over time. In this example, the surface area, shape, and location of a water drop are analyzed as it falls through the video frame. This method can be used to analyze airbags, blobs, pills, coatings, particles, or other variably shaped objects. Note that this tutorial makes use of features found in the ProAnalyst Professional Edition, as well as the optional Contour Tracking Toolkit. |
Tracking Particles in a Flow Environment with ProAnalyst
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This tutorial describes how to use ProAnalyst to count, size and analyze particles as they move through a video sequence. A basic understanding of ProAnalyst, including project management and interface navigation, is necessary to make full use of this tutorial. If you have not already done so, it is recommended that you complete the Learning to Use ProAnalyst tutorial before proceeding any further, as the concepts discussed here will build upon that foundation. The topics discussed in this tutorial will be filtering an image, tracking and computing statistics of particle flow and data filtering. |
Quantifying Motion in Three Dimensions with ProAnalyst
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This tutorial provides users with a step-by-step guide to performing an analysis with ProAnalyst 3-D Professional Edition. This lesson covers the ProAnalyst 3-D Manager, calibration, measurement, and graphing. Prior ProAnalyst experience is assumed, but not required. Where necessary, we refer to other tutorials that explain concepts not included in the scope of this document. |
Particle Tracking with ProAnalyst
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The ProAnalyst Particle Tracking toolkit is intended for statistical analysis of particle flows. This toolkit can identify the location, size, orientation, and eccentricity of bright or dark particles in each video frame. A summary of the total particle count, average, minimum and maximum size, orientation, and eccentricity for each frame can be displayed, graphed, and exported. |
Importing and Synchronizing Data and Video with ProAnalyst
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The ability to import and synchronize external sensor data with a video is one of the most powerful features of ProAnalyst. While the process is simple and straightforward,several steps are required to import and synchronize data successfully. Before any external data can be imported into ProAnalyst, it must first be properly formatted. Data must be contained in a text file in which each line contains one set of data. The text file may also contain comment lines, indicated by a special character at the start of the comment line. Any blank lines in the text file are ignored. Non-comment lines should contain the same number values. These values can be separated by spaces, tabs, commas, or any other delimiter. |
Gait Analysis with ProAnalyst
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This tutorial demonstrates how ProAnalyst can be used to perform measurements on the gait of a runner. The gait motion is analyzed and the points plotted. Then, using the on-screen real-time annotations toolkit, the various angles and distances are calculated. Finally, the motion of the runner is graphed for analysis. |
Tracking a Rotating Object with ProAnalyst
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The ProAnalyst feature rotation algorithm can automatically track rotating objects by comparing rotated versions of a feature template against its search region to find a match. The feature template is rotated across a user specified Angular Range, and the best match over the entire range of rotation is returned as a final match. |
Graph Line Filtering in ProAnalyst
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By default, ProAnalyst does not apply any smoothing or filtering operations to display tracking or sensor data in favor of displaying raw, unaltered data whenever possible. If any smoothing or noise removal is necessary, a series of filters can be easily applied to any graphed sensor or tracking information. |
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