Client: Vicon
Project: Cara facial capture headset
Services: Concept design, ergonomics, mechanical design, CMF, prototyping & testing, manufacture liaison.
Vicon is a global leader in motion capture equipment for the film, television and gaming industries. Its aim with the Vicon Cara was to create the world’s first out-of-the-box(?) 3D facial motion capture headset. Utilising markers positioned about the face, it can track natural movement in real-time and translate that directly into the movement of CGI characters. With a custom-made head rig built for actor comfort, four HD cameras and optional onboard lighting, Vicon allows directors and actors the freedom to create great content with no restrictions.
Vicon Cara has changed the world of motion capture with its capabilities highlighted in films such as Star Wars and Gravity. It has now become the standard go to film and gaming capturing device for facial motion capture and continues to exceed expectations in the industry.
“Cara was a landmark product that defined a new era of facial motion capture. We chose Curventa for the holistic vision and technical expertise.”
Vicon Cara | Lupita Nyong’o playing 'Maz' Kanata in Star Wars : The Force Awakens.
Vicon Cara | Overview
Vicon Cara | Maz Kanata Motion Capture - The Force Awakens Bonus Features
The Technology.
With various features integrated into the design, Vicon Cara allows for extremely easy and effortless motion capture.The comfortable yet robust headset is fully adjustable to fit all head sizes enabling full freedom of movement. This flexibility ensures users concentrate on their performance with no distraction from the device. Equipped with four high-resolution, high-speed cameras and custom built onboard lighting, the Vicon Cara ensures that not even a single moment is missed.
Vicon Cara | Fully Adjustable - Headset fully adjustable to fit all head sizes
Vicon Cara | High Clarity - With 4 high-resolution, high-speed cameras capturing every nuance, and custom built on-board lighting, Vicon's Cara facial motion capture system will ensure you don't miss a thing
icon Cara | Freedom of Movement - Needs text
Vicon Cara | Designed for comfort & usability - Fully padded for comfort - Comfy for hours.
Designed to fit.
To create the right look for Vicon Cara we had to firstly understand the industry and the environment it was going to be used in. Crucially it had to be fully adaptable and customisable to allow directors and actors the freedom to express their ideas.
From initial sketching through to prototyping the final model, our team worked very closely with the Vicon team. Working within such tight design constraints for this project proved challenging and we went through many rounds of prototyping and testing to hone the fit and function. We used our 3D scanner to scan various head sizes. This ensured that the product would fit a full range of users, a key feature of the device.
Vicon Cara | Designed to fit its surroundings
Vicon Cara | Initial concept sketch
Vicon Cara | Ergonomically design for comfort
Vicon Cara | Prototyping and testing
The impact on film & gaming industry.
Vicon Cara has gone on to become a leader in its industry, playing a key role in various films and games. For instance, in the iconic Star Wars film ‘The Force Awakens’, Vicon Cara’s impressive capabilities were demonstrated by Lupita Nyong’o, who could fully immerse herself in the role of Maz with no distractions from the device. In the film Gravity, Vicon Cara also helped to push the boundaries of visual effects and the use of 3D facial motion capture.
Vicon Cara | Star Wars: The force awakens
Vicon Cara | Gravity
