3D tracking of animal movement
Track3D
![Track 3D Home Track 3D Home](https://www.noldus.com/images/content-blog/track-3d-home.jpg)
About Track3D
Track3D allows the researcher to record the movement of an animal in a test chamber, visualize the resulting trajectory in a three-dimensional image and calculate a number of movement parameters. The system is suitable for almost any test chamber, swim tank or wind tunnel, flexible and very cost-effective. The Track3D software is an add-on module to EthoVision® XT, our video tracking system for the automation of behavioral experiments.
Calibrate your test chamber
In this preparatory step, you instruct the program to determine the relationship between the animal's position in 3D and the projection on the 2D image coming from the video cameras. For this purpose, you a calibration frame is placed in the test chamber. For larger test chambers, you can also combine multiple calibration frames. Calibration is a one-time operation, provided that cameras and test chamber don't move relative to each other.
![Track 3D how does it work Fig1 Track 3D how does it work Fig1](https://www.noldus.com/images/content-blog/track-3d-how-does-it-work-fig1.jpg)
A calibration frame is placed in the test chamber. Calibration in a one-time operation before you can start using Track3D.
![Track 3D how does it work Fig2 Track 3D how does it work Fig2](https://www.noldus.com/images/content-blog/track-3d-how-does-it-work-fig2.jpg)
Using Track3D involves three steps
1. Video recording - Release the animal in the test chamber and record video as high-resolution digital video files, one for each camera. The two video recordings will be in perfect sync with each other. This way, the program can reconstruct the 3D position of the animal in each individual video frame. You can also run your tests in complete darkness by using infrared illumination.
![Track 3D how does it work Fig3 Track 3D how does it work Fig3](https://www.noldus.com/images/content-blog/track-3d-how-does-it-work-fig3.jpg)
Video tracking
2. Video tracking - Track the animal’s movement from the digital video files using the EthoVision XT software. The program records the two-dimensional coordinates of the moving animal in each individual video image. If desired, you can set EthoVision XT to track from a specific time point in the video.
![Track 3D how does it work Fig4 Track 3D how does it work Fig4](https://www.noldus.com/images/content-blog/track-3d-how-does-it-work-fig4.jpg)
3. Visualization and parameter calculation - Next, you use Track3D to convert the 2D coordinates from each camera view to one set of 3D coordinates. You can visualize the movement track in three dimensions, play back, rotate and zoom in and out for a better view. The program also calculates a large number of flight parameters such as distance moved, absolute and ground speed, and turn angles relative to the different planes.
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