SpacePoint 9-axis Sensor System revolutionizes game controllers

July 21, 2010

SpacePoint^® 3D Sensor Technology Revolutionizes Game Controllers

SANTA ROSA, CA – Big improvements are coming to the video game controller near you. Absolute, real-time pointing and precise tracking accuracy for game controllers are both now possible with PNI Sensor Corporation’s new SpacePoint^® 9-Axis Sensor System.

The SpacePoint 9-Axis Sensor System is the first 9-axis sensor suite with Motion-Tracking Engine™ software.  This one-piece solution makes possible a new class of video controllers that will dramatically improve game play, and it makes first-person-shooter games feasible.  The SpacePoint 9-Axis Sensor System seamlessly captures and correctly interprets 3D motion, eliminating common problems of existing technologies, such as re-calibration, gyro drift, re-setting and out of alignment pointing that keeps players “out of the game.”

PNI’s SpacePoint system uses three separate, three-axis sensors.  PNI’s Reference Magnetic Sensor, a 3-axis gyroscope, and a 3-axis accelerometer are driven by the proprietary Motion-Tracking Engine software that auto-calibrates and maintains millimeter accuracy at all times.  “The Motion-Tracking Engine was developed using a 3-axis gyro and 3-axis accelerometer from STMicroelectronics,” said Becky Oh, CEO of PNI. “We chose STMicroelectronics’ sensors for their low noise, stable gyro bias, and all digital interface.”  STMicroelectronics is a leading manufacturer of motion sensors. 

The PNI Motion-Tracking Engine software integrates the sensors, using highly advanced Kalman filtering algorithms that fuse the gyroscope and accelerometer outputs with precision directional data from the PNI Reference Magnetic Sensor.

“PNI Sensor Corporation has been at the forefront of magnetometer technology for many years. Our expertise in magnetometer and Kalman filtering algorithms has enabled us to fuse gyros and accelerometers with our magnetometers to create this revolutionary SpacePoint technology.  This natural extension of our core technology enables exciting applications for the gaming industry. It eliminates out-of-alignment pointing due to accelerometer and gyro drift” stated Becky Oh, CEO of PNI.  “The absolute accuracy created by this product will bring gaming to a whole new level.”

Find out more about what SpacePoint can do for your products: visit www.pnicorp.com/products/spacepoint-gaming for more information. Years in the making, the SpacePoint 9-Axis Sensor System and development platform are now available and priced for commercial use.