Common Problems - Northern Digital Polaris Vicra User Manual

Troubleshooting
Note
If you are using your own applications, use the GET command to read the "Info.StatusAlert" parameter to check
the alert status. Refer to the "Polaris Application Program Interface Guide" for further information.
13.4

Common Problems

The following paragraphs lists specific problems and a possible solution.
The tool is inside the measurement volume, but the software reports that the tool is
partially out of volume
This may mean that less than the minimum number of markers (a parameter in the tool definition
file) are inside the characterized measurement volume, but at least one marker on the tool is inside
the characterized measurement volume.
For example, consider a four-marker tool, whose minimum number of markers parameter is set to 4.
If three of the tool's markers are inside the characterized measurement volume, and the other marker
is outside the characterized measurement volume, the Polaris Vicra System will continue to track the
tool, but the accuracy is unknown, and the tool will be reported as partially out of volume.
The system doesn't track tools at the back of the characterized measurement volume
If the system will track at the front of the measurement volume but not at the back, the Position
Sensor may be damaged, or calculating high line separation values. For more details on line
separation, see
values using the 3D command. See the "Polaris Application Program Interface Guide" for details.
Other IR-based devices are not working properly
Using the Polaris Vicra System in the same room as other IR-based devices may cause these other
devices to malfunction. The Position Sensor's illuminators flood the surrounding area with IR light,
which could saturate other IR receiving devices, preventing them from properly receiving other IR
signals.
It may be possible to synchronize other devices with the Polaris Vicra System, so that IR signals
from the other devices are not being emitted at the same time as the illuminators emit IR. Contact
NDI Technical Support for details or visit the support site at
The Polaris Vicra System is tracking some tools, but not others
As the Position Sensor begins to lose calibration, it may lose the ability to track some tools before
others. This is due to the various algorithm constraints used by the Polaris Vicra System, which
make certain tool designs more sensitive to loss of calibration than others. Consider, for example, a
tool that has several similar segment lengths or similar angles between segments, or has segment
lengths similar to those of another tool. The out-of-calibration Position Sensor may not be able to
determine which markers belong to which tool, and so will report the tools as missing. (See
Detection and Tool Tracking" on page 28
segment lengths and angles.)
74
"Marker Detection and Tool Tracking" on page 28. You can check the line separation
http://support.ndigital.com.
and the "Polaris Tool Design Guide" for details on
"Marker
Polaris Vicra User Guide - Revision 2