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zactrack Documentation

Measure

All necessary hardware has been setup and powered on in the prior steps, now the showfile needs to be created in order to calibrate the tracking system and integrate other systems later on.

The following procedure summarizes the Measurement step:

Connect to Wi-Fi

  1. Open the Wi-Fi settings of the tablet.

  2. Connect to the Wi-Fi which the server is providing. The default SSID and passphrase is printed on the label on the server backside.

wifi_connection.jpg

Note

The WiFi configuration (SSID, passphrase, frequency, channel etc.) can be changed and reset to default via the app's advanced system settings.

Establish a Server Connection

  1. Open the tablet app.

  2. Tap the network_disconnect_3.png icon in the top right to open the server connection dialog.

  3. In the dialog, select a server from the list in the section Available Servers. If the server is not in the list, tap the Enter IP button to manually enter and confirm the IP of the server.

  4. If the server is online, the app will connect to it. Upon successful connection, the server connection icon changes to network_connect_3.png.

Note

The app constantly checks for a server connection and updates the status icon accordingly. If it changes to network_disconnect_3.png, this indicates an offline state. In this case, check the server and network connections.

Change the Wi-Fi settings (optional)

Upon successful connection to the Server, the app will show a warning that the default Wi-Fi password is in use, which imposes a security risk.

default_wifi_warning.jpg

  1. Click the warning banner.

    Alternatively, tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon in the top right to open the system menu, select System Settings, tap the Advanced ... button and select Network Settings.

  2. In the dialog, change the passphrase and adapt the rest of the parameters if desired.

  3. Tap the Ok button to store the changes.

  4. Confirm the changes in the dialog by tapping the Save and Restart button.

system_network_settings.jpg

Tip

The Wi-Fi settings can be restored to the default (as printed on the label on the backside of the Server) by tapping the Reset To Default button.

Create a new Show

  1. Tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon in the top right to open the system menu.

  2. Select New Show.

  3. In the dialog, select Empty Show and tap Create.

  4. Confirm the warning dialog to create the empty Show.

Note

The showfile is created and edited on the app and needs to be uploaded to the server in order for the changes to take effect. The server operates with the current showfile until a new one is uploaded. The app allows working on a showfile (including import and export) without requiring the presence of a server.

System settings are stored independently from the show history. Hence, creating a new show does not change these settings.

Set the Show Details

  1. Tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon in the top right to open the system menu.

  2. Select Show Settings.

  3. In the dialog, provide a name and author (optional) for the show. These settings can be changed later at any time. DMX settings can be left unchanged at this point of time. They will become relevant in the Integrate step later.

  4. Confirm the changes by tapping the Save button.

show_settings.jpg

Tip

The name field can also be used to add useful short notes about the changes made in a particular showfile version, e.g. added fixtures or changes made to autofunctions.

Upload to the Server

  1. Tap the sync button in the top right next to the Server connection indicator.

  2. In the dialog, select Upload to Server.

    The showfile has been uploaded and the sync button will change its icon to version_sync.png.

Note

The Server keeps a history of previously uploaded showfiles, each indicated by a version number.

The sync state to the server is indicated by different icons:

version_sync.png The local (in-app) showfile is fully synced and running on the Server.

version_modified.png The local showfile has changes, which are not yet uploaded to the Server.

version_mismatch.png The Server has a different version (e.g. a higher version number) than the local showfile. This can be the case e.g. when the tablet contains a showfile from another system/production.

Add Anchors

  1. Switch to the Show Editor via the top navigation bar.

  2. Select the Points tab via the bottom navigation bar.

  3. All Anchors will show up in the list as grey items. To add all Anchors to the Show at once, long-tap on one of the items.

  4. Select Auto Add All to automatically add all Anchors to the Show.

  5. Upload the Show to the Server.

show_editor_points_grey_anchors.jpg

Tip

Anchors can also be added individually by tapping each grey entry and confirm the settings in the dialog.

Check the Anchor Link

Once all Anchors are added to the Show, the system will start the wireless communication of the Anchors. zactrack MINI requires a stable UWB connection between all Anchors and the Master Anchor. The connection quality can be checked in the Tracking Settings.

  1. Tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon in the top right to open the system menu.

  2. Select Tracking Server.

  3. In the dialog, tap the Anchor Link button.

  4. The Anchor Link dialog is shown, presenting a realtime status of the connection quality between the Anchors and the Master Anchor.

anchor_link_mini.png

Note

A stable connection is characterized by numbers of 85% or higher, indicated by a green cell background.

  • If individual Anchors are showing low numbers, optimized their location by either repositioning them or removing obstacles.

  • If low numbers are shown across the entire list, the system is operating at its limits in terms of range (area size). Raising the power offset can resolve this issue. Tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon and go to the System Settings. Slowly raise the Transmission Power Offset in the General Settings section while monitoring the changes in the Anchor Link until the quality indices improve.

Add Trackers

  1. Take out all Trackers from the Charging Bay or disconnect the USB-C power. This will bring all Trackers online.

  2. Switch to the Show Editor via the top navigation bar.

  3. Select the Actors tab via the bottom navigation bar.

  4. All Trackers will show up in the list as grey items. To add all Trackers to the Show at once, long-tap on one of the items.

    Alternatively, each entry can be tapped and added individually.

  5. Select Auto Add All to automatically add all Trackers to the Show. Each Tracker will be assigned to a new Actor.

  6. Upload the Show to the Server.

show_editor_actors_grey_trackers.jpg

After uploading the show, the server will provide status information for the Trackers assigned to each Actor.

show_editor_actors.jpg

Define the Coordinate System

The tracking system needs a defined coordinate system in order to create a relation between the physical space and computed tracking positions. This is done by defining an origin and 3 axes (X, Y, Z). Since the coordinate system's axes are orthogonal to each other, it is sufficient to clearly define the origin and the x-axis. The y-axis just needs a definition of its principal direction to the "left" or "right" of the x-axis. The z-axis consequently is defined being orthogonal to the other axis, pointing upwards.

right_handed_coords.png

Placing 4 Trackers on the floor - each with a specific role - fully defines a coordinate system for the tracking computations.

Tracker

Disk

Role

1

White

Origin

2

Red

X-Axis

3

Green

Y-Axis (principal direction)

4

Blue

Auxiliary measurement point

Before starting the calibration procedure, it is necessary to define which Trackers shall take which role for the coordinate system definition.

Note

These settings only need to be done when changes are needed. Once configured, the system will always assign each Tracker with its defined role.

  1. Tap the ic_menu_dark.png icon in the top right to open the system menu and select System Settings

  2. Go to the Calibration Settings section and define which Tracker shall take which role using its EUI. The number can be edited manually or selected in a dialog by tapping the Select button.

    calibration_settings.png

  3. Confirm the settings and close the dialog by tapping the Save button.

When the roles are defined, the Trackers can be placed on the tracking area. Place the Trackers with a distance of at least 3m apart from each other. For larger tracking areas, this can be increased accordingly.

Calibrating the Tracking System

After all preparations have been done, the Trackers are placed on the tracking area for performing the calibration.

  1. In the tablet app, switch to the Show Editor and open the Points tab.

  2. Tap the System Calibration button, which opens the calibration wizard.

  3. Select Reinitialize System in order to perform a new calibration and tap the Next button.

  4. All existing anchors will be listed and are pre-selected for the calibration. Confirm by tapping the Next button.

  5. In the next dialog view, observe that 4 of 4 pucks (the Trackers in the colored disks) are online. If other Trackers shall be chosen, enable the Advanced Mode switch and select different Trackers.

    Tip

    If the tracking area is not a flat surface, the advanced mode also allows defining z-heights for the individual tracker positions, e.g. when being placed on a stage riser.

  6. Tap the Next button.

  7. The wizard guides through the placement procedure by displaying a visualization. The individual steps can be seen by using the arrow buttons on the left and right side. The Trackers need to be placed on the tracking area. Take Trackers 1-4 out of the Charging Bay and place them into the colored disks according to their role. They will also blink in accordance to the role's color.

  8. The wizard guides through the placement procedure by displaying a visualization. The individual steps can be seen by using the arrow buttons on the left and right side.

  9. Tap the Next button. The system is performing the calibration (called "mesh ranging"), which takes approximately 1-2 minutes. To ensure the best possible calibration, the area should be free of people or objects being moved.

  10. When the calibration is finished, the wizard will display the result. Finish the calibration process by tapping the Close button.

    calibration_finished.jpg

  11. Upload the Show to the Server and put the trackers back into the charging bay.

Note

Tap the Details button to check possible issues in case of a failed or insufficient calibration result. The calibration quality can be affected in case of bad radio reception, anchors or trackers being moved during the process or insufficient anchor placement.

Perform a tracking test

After a successful calibration, the system is ready for tracking.

  1. In the tablet app, switch to the Live view.

  2. Take one of the trackers out of the charging bay and walk across the tracking area. Observe the position of the associated Actor in the visualizer.

  3. Place the tracker on the origin and walk along the x-axis or other positions in order to verify the correctness of the calibration.

Next: Integrate

In this section: