Abstract: A system for determining the spatial position and orientation of each of a plurality of bodies. Each one of the bodies has at least three markers in a predetermined, relative geometric relationship. The markers are adapted to emit energy in response to an activation signal and/or to reflect energy impinging upon such passive marker from an activatable energy source. A common energy detector is provided for detecting the energy emitted by the active marker and the energy reflected by the passive marker. A common processor is provided. The processor has a memory. The memory has stored therein the predetermined, relative geometric relation of the markers for each one of the bodies. The processor compares the stored predetermined geometric relation of the markers for each of the bodies with the energy detected by the energy detector to identify the bodies emitting/or reflecting the detected energy.

Abstract: A system for determining the spatial position of a target having an active target adapted to emit energy in response to an active signal and a passive target adapted to reflect energy impinging upon such passive target from an active energy source. A common energy detector is provided for detecting both the energy emitted by the active target and the energy reflected by the passive target. A common processor is provided for determining the spatial positions of both the passive and active targets in response to the energy detected by the common detector. During a sensor cycle the spatial position of the active target is determined and during a sensor cycle the position of the passive target is determined. The sensor cycles may be interspersed or may be the same cycle to enable simultaneous determination of both the active target and the passive target during a single sensor cycle.