Setting up the fit area

Instructions for proper camera positioning, distance requirements, and fit studio space considerations for optimal Velogic Studio performance.

Where should the camera be positioned?

The camera should be positioned 180cm-220cm from the bike (roughly 6-7 feet) with the lens ideally at a height of 95cm.

Relative to the bike the camera should be pointing at the approximate midpoint between bars and saddle. If the rider tends to turn their wrist you may find that you need the camera shifted a little towards the front of the bike.

Diagram showing optimal camera positioning 180-220cm from bike at 95cm height, aimed at midpoint between handlebars and saddle

Why does the distance matter?

If the camera is too close to the bike, it won't be able to see from the bottom of the bike to the top (head) of the rider.

1. With the Orbbec Femto Mega camera, the field-of-view is such that the horizontal distance from the camera to the bike is equal to the vertical distance that the camera can see. This means that if the camera is 7' away from the bike, the camera will be able to see 7' of height. If the camera is set at a height of 3.5', it will be able to see from the floor up to 7' height. A 6'3" rider in an upright position on a gravel bike on a rotating platform measures around 6'6" from the ground; so that 7' will allow 6" of clearance above the top of the rider's head, for a nicely positioned image of the rider in the frame.

2. The Kinect v2 camera has a slighly wider field-of-view, so you can get as close as 5' to the rider. If you have a small fit space, the Kinect camera might be a better choice.

If the camera is too far away, the image won't be as sharp, and the measurements will be less accurate (and most fit studios aren't wide enough for too-much-space to be an issue).

How much space is needed for double-sided?

To comfortably fit 2 x Orbbec Mega cameras laterally to the bike, we recommend a width of 15' (4.5m). You may be able to work with slightly less space than that by using innovative camera mounts (see below). If your fit studio width is significantly smaller than that, you could consider positioning the bike diagonally in the space, or using a rotating platform and capturing each side separately.

Orientation of the camera relative to the bike

It is advisable to have the camera level with the ground, and square to the bike. The calibration process will compensate for any misalignment, but it's still better to spend some time trying to get the camera level and pointing directly to the "plane" of the bike.

See also: Calibration FAQ

Camera mounting options

A standard camera tripod is an inexpensive and portable option.

If you are constrained for space such that every inch counts, you may need to get more creative with your camera mounts, e.g. a wall-mount or even recessing the camera into the drywall, such as this solution which uses 80/20 aluminum extrusion and a recess box:

Professional camera installation showing Femto Mega camera recessed into drywall using aluminum extrusion and recess box for space-saving mount

Camera recessed into drywall

Other considerations and "gotchas"

1. Direct sunlight streaming into your fit studio from a window may upset the time-of-flight cameras. Make sure you have a window covering available for use.

2. it is not required to have a blank/plain or white wall behind the rider during the fit process. However, if you're wanting customers to use the images on social media then a branded back drop could be beneficial.

3. The Orbbec Femto Mega cameras connect via standard ethernet network cabling (cat6 or better), which means that they're relatively easy to position anywhere in your fit studio and run the network cables either around the edge of the floor (to begin with) or installed into the wall (longer term). Kinect cameras require USB connections, so if you need to place a Kinect camera more than a couple of metres away from the computer, you'll need to use a powered USB extension cable.