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OpenCap
What it is
OpenCap estimates 3D human movement kinematics and forces from smartphone video for biomechanical analysis. Its outputs include joint angles, moments, and muscle forces calculated through musculoskeletal dynamics. Users can record with multiple iOS devices or try a beta monocular mode that records with one iPhone and requires no calibration. A web app supports reviewing and downloading data, while video processing takes place on cloud servers. Python utilities support further analysis, including kinetics estimation, and exports include JSON, TRC, and MOT. Example analyses include walking, sit-to-stand, squats, drop jumps, treadmill running, and jumping. The maker says the system has been validated against marker-based systems and uses encryption in transit and at rest on HIPAA-compatible infrastructure. Its terms permit the development team to view submitted data, including videos, and potentially use it for algorithm development. The service is free for academic or nonprofit non-commercial research and educational use; commercial entities, including those conducting research, are prohibited from using it and are directed to contact the authors.
For and against
For
- Estimates kinematics and forces from video.
- Offers multi-camera and beta monocular capture.
- Exports JSON, TRC, and MOT.
- Python utilities support further analysis.
- Free for eligible non-commercial use.
Against
- Commercial entities are prohibited from using it.
- Android is not supported.
- The development team can view submitted videos.
- Multi-camera capture requires at least two iOS devices.
The verdict
OpenCap offers video-based movement analysis with cloud processing, analysis utilities, and several export formats. Its non-commercial restriction and submitted-data access terms are important considerations before use.
Who it suits
OpenCap suits academic or nonprofit teams doing non-commercial research or educational work on human movement. Users must account for participant consent and the service's data access and sharing terms.
Plans and prices
OpenCap
Free for academic or nonprofit non-commercial research or educational use · commercial entities must contact the authors
Read 5 Oct 2026 · opencap.ai
On the record
- Analysis utilities
- OpenCap provides Python utilities for further analysis, including estimating kinetics.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Capture modes
- It offers multi-camera capture and a beta monocular setup that records with one iPhone.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Commercial use
- The service terms prohibit use by commercial entities, including for research, and direct interested entities to contact the authors.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Data access
- OpenCap's terms say the development team can view submitted data, including videos, and may use it for algorithm development.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Data sharing
- Investigators must obtain participant consent, and participants can choose among several levels of public data sharing, including no public sharing.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Device requirements
- The multi-camera instructions require at least two iOS devices and say iPhones, iPads, and iPods released in 2018 or later are supported.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Monocular requirements
- The monocular instructions require one iPhone for recording and say no calibration step is needed.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Outputs
- The platform provides joint angles, moments, and muscle forces through musculoskeletal dynamics.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenCap estimates 3D human movement kinematics and forces from smartphone video for biomechanical analysis.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says data is encrypted in transit and at rest and that its infrastructure is HIPAA-compatible.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The contact page directs technical questions to the multi-camera or monocular forums before emailing and says Android is not supported.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The site lists walking, sit-to-stand, squats, drop jumps, treadmill running, and jumping as example movement analyses.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Validation
- The maker says OpenCap has been validated against marker-based systems.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
- Workflow
- Users record with iOS devices, review and download data through a web app, and process videos on cloud servers.opencap.ai · read 5 Oct 2026
