System and tracker for tracking an object, and related methods

摘要

A system to track a three-dimensional position and an orientation of a movable object and associated methods are provided. The system includes a tracker having an optically trackable body adapted to connect to the movable object. A plurality of optical indicators are connected or mounted to the optically trackable body to form a plurality of geometric figures. A plurality of obfuscating flanges optically separate the optical indicators from each other to prevent each of the optical indicators from becoming optically coincident with another optical indicator when viewed along a preselected viewing path. The system also includes an apparatus to track the tracker having an optical detector to simultaneously detect the three-dimensional position of at least three of the plurality of optical indicators and a determiner to determine the three-dimensional position and orientation of the optically trackable body from the position of the optical indicators.