DIY Head Tracker For A Tenner

Aelordel · Dec 25, 2014

Hi

I've got an issue with my ED Tracker : even if my device is completely still, I observe very small and fast variations (+/- 1) on accelerometer axes in calibration UI. Unfortunately, after several calibrations, oscillation remains (just to be clear : it is not a drift issue). In Calibration UI, the 2 points are centered but move sometimes around center position, and in game I feel a little bit nauseous due to this undesirable behaviour. Is it normal? Do you think it could be an hardware malfunction?

Omegahunter · Dec 26, 2014

Guess I was the only one that noticed it but thank for the Christmas greetings from the ED Tracker guys that was in the UI launcher yesterday.

DDC · Dec 27, 2014

pocketmoon said:
Can you post a photo of the tracker, front and back ? Sounds like the MPU6050 isn't working.

Here you go, the button has been removed in these shots as I thought that might have been the issue, but no. No raw data is coming out of the unit apart from temp.

http://imgur.com/a/swM7b

Ytheleus · Dec 28, 2014

Aelordel said:
Hi

I've got an issue with my ED Tracker : even if my device is completely still, I observe very small and fast variations (+/- 1) on accelerometer axes in calibration UI. Unfortunately, after several calibrations, oscillation remains (just to be clear : it is not a drift issue). In Calibration UI, the 2 points are centered but move sometimes around center position, and in game I feel a little bit nauseous due to this undesirable behaviour. Is it normal? Do you think it could be an hardware malfunction?

It is normal, or at least I have the same thing though it isn't really bad. The example in the calibration video is probably exceptional, so just do your best to get x,y,z accels centred in calibration, take your time and get it as good as you possibly can.

After that, one good way to get rid of jitter is to use opentrack (see endless posts above and brumster's video), with the accella filter on its default settings. This smooths accelerometer jitter out. Unless it's really ridiculous, in which case you probably just got unlucky with a poor sensor board.

typod · Dec 29, 2014

This looks fantastic and I am just about to pull the trigger on one of these great little devices with the 9150 etc. Really good they come in at under 1/3 of what TrackIR 5 costs. I was just wondering if there was a wireless/Bluetooth (maybe) version on the cards? Usually the day after I buy something a new model is announced that does everything I wanted from the old one I just bought

So I am keen to avoid that here.

Really good work, the ingenuity of people out there never ceases to amaze me. I did think about buying the kit, but lets just say I don't have the best track record with DIY. Generally it costs me twice as much in the end to fix the mistakes I make.

pocketmoon · Dec 29, 2014

typod said:
I was just wondering if there was a wireless/Bluetooth (maybe) version on the cards? Usually the day after I buy something a new model is announced that does everything I wanted from the old one I just bought So I am keen to avoid that here.
.

Hi, There is a wireless version in the pipeline from the EDTracker team but it's many months away. Plan is to always offer the wired version (to keep costs low).

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Aelordel said:
Hi

I've got an issue with my ED Tracker : even if my device is completely still, I observe very small and fast variations (+/- 1) on accelerometer axes in calibration UI. Unfortunately, after several calibrations, oscillation remains (just to be clear : it is not a drift issue).

One way to see if this effects the response in-game is to run the UI, recentre the view and then increase the yaw/pitch scaling until you see visible movement of the head (if any). If you find you're way up in double digits (with linear scaling) before you see any fluctuation of the head then you're probably OK. Happy to swap it over if it's one you got from us (edtracker.org.uk team).

OillyRag · Dec 29, 2014

@pocketmoon

Just dipping back into the thread after a while so sorry if you've already answered this but do you have a 9150 sketch you are happy to release to the masess, or are you still experimenting?

cheers...

bAdbUd · Dec 29, 2014

Hi, I received my little device for Christmas, however I'm unable to Calibrate it, these are my problems, oh and I've followed the documentation with no joy.

In game movements are way to rapid from side to side and up and down, but I suppose I can get used to that unless there's a setting in game to change this.

My main problem though is calibrating the device for Drift. I bought one that's been pre made and also calibrated, and according to the sheet, it has a drift value of -0.10. When I run the calibration tool it starts out at around -2.43, the image of the face slowly turns to the left until after about 2 mins it's showing the back of the head and the Yaw Drift Value is still at around -2.28.

When I first started doing this it was around -4.40 so somethings changed.

What am I missing? As I've said I've followed the instructions but still not able to calibrate it.

Software Version: 2.20.7
Drift Value: -0.10
Orientation: Top/USB Right
Axis Setup: Linear
EDTracker UI: 3.0.4.0

I know I don't have to calibrate it, and I just tried using the EDTRacer GUI to see what it was like and when I got this huge variance I believe I have a problem.

ZZR600 · Dec 29, 2014

bAdbUd said:
Hi, I received my little device for Christmas, however I'm unable to Calibrate it, these are my problems, oh and I've followed the documentation with no joy.

In game movements are way to rapid from side to side and up and down, but I suppose I can get used to that unless there's a setting in game to change this.

My main problem though is calibrating the device for Drift. I bought one that's been pre made and also calibrated, and according to the sheet, it has a drift value of -0.10. When I run the calibration tool it starts out at around -2.43, the image of the face slowly turns to the left until after about 2 mins it's showing the back of the head and the Yaw Drift Value is still at around -2.28.

When I first started doing this it was around -4.40 so somethings changed.

What am I missing? As I've said I've followed the instructions but still not able to calibrate it.

Software Version: 2.20.7
Drift Value: -0.10
Orientation: Top/USB Right
Axis Setup: Linear
EDTracker UI: 3.0.4.0

I know I don't have to calibrate it, and I just tried using the EDTRacer GUI to see what it was like and when I got this huge variance I believe I have a problem.

Hi,

I'd go in to the ED controller settings and check that the headtracking is set for Direct and not Accumulated. Also ensure that mouse look is disabled which is near the top of the settings page.

Things you have to take in to consideration is the ambient temperature that it was calibrated at may be different to your room so calibration may and possibly is off. It's advisable you calibrate from scratch.

I'm presuming that you have the 6050 version of the tracker. Ensure you wipe tracker settings and then zero the gyro and accel parameters in the calibration sketch once it's warmed up and stable. Then proceed to the tracker sketch and reset the drift tracking so the counter starts. Leave for 5-10 mins, save the tracker settings and then see what happens over the course of the next minute or so on screen.

You may wish to set the re-centring function in the GUI to medium to start with and then minimise it before playing. You can also tone down how fast the headtracker works as well in this screen. If you make it that far then you'll hopefully have a pain free play session.

bAdbUd · Dec 30, 2014

ZZR600 said:
Hi,

I'd go in to the ED controller settings and check that the headtracking is set for Direct and not Accumulated. Also ensure that mouse look is disabled which is near the top of the settings page.

Things you have to take in to consideration is the ambient temperature that it was calibrated at may be different to your room so calibration may and possibly is off. It's advisable you calibrate from scratch.

I'm presuming that you have the 6050 version of the tracker. Ensure you wipe tracker settings and then zero the gyro and accel parameters in the calibration sketch once it's warmed up and stable. Then proceed to the tracker sketch and reset the drift tracking so the counter starts. Leave for 5-10 mins, save the tracker settings and then see what happens over the course of the next minute or so on screen.

You may wish to set the re-centring function in the GUI to medium to start with and then minimise it before playing. You can also tone down how fast the headtracker works as well in this screen. If you make it that far then you'll hopefully have a pain free play session.

Thanks.

Just turning Mouse Look Up "OFF" resolved most of the problems, I knew there was an option for this but couldn't find it as I was looking at the area where the axis are for EDTracker.

I still have a problem, which I think I can resolve with the added info latter. The problem being when I look to the left or the right it'll stay there for a while and then snap back to just of centre view.

pocketmoon · Dec 30, 2014

bAdbUd said:
Hi, I received my little device for Christmas, however I'm unable to Calibrate it, these are my problems, oh and I've followed the documentation with no joy.

Do you have the correct control binding in the game ? You need to bind to the 'look left/right' and 'look up/down' axis (those two) and not the four individual left,right,up down.

It's easy to re-calibrate, rnu the UI and once it's warmed up just click on Save Drift Compensation. As long as it goes green, and you have Auto-Centre set to medium you should be fine in-game.

You can adjust the scaling of the motion using the UI in the 'Response Scaling' section

Cheers,

Rob

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woodstok said:
@pocketmoon

Just dipping back into the thread after a while so sorry if you've already answered this but do you have a 9150 sketch you are happy to release to the masess, or are you still experimenting?

cheers...

Got some bugs to kill (thanks to everyone that tested the test sketch and reported back). Had to rebuild my PC this week as main hard drive failed (thing is only 6 months old!! Backed-up though) then the GPU gave up the ghost (also 6 months old!) Grrr.

But I have a week before I'm back at work so will be cracking on with the UI and sketches this week

Rob

ZZR600 · Dec 30, 2014

bAdbUd said:
Thanks.

Just turning Mouse Look Up "OFF" resolved most of the problems, I knew there was an option for this but couldn't find it as I was looking at the area where the axis are for EDTracker.

I still have a problem, which I think I can resolve with the added info latter. The problem being when I look to the left or the right it'll stay there for a while and then snap back to just of centre view.

The re-centring will only activate if you're looking slightly left or right, it won't grab you say from a 90 degree point of view. If it always behaves like this and literally snapping back then I don't think it's a drift issue as drift will just keep going. Are you able to record a video of the behaviour as it will give more idea of what it is doing?

bAdbUd · Dec 31, 2014

I'll get back with results at the weekend, thanks for the help thus far.

Aelordel · Dec 31, 2014

Ytheleus said:
It is normal, or at least I have the same thing though it isn't really bad. The example in the calibration video is probably exceptional, so just do your best to get x,y,z accels centred in calibration, take your time and get it as good as you possibly can.

After that, one good way to get rid of jitter is to use opentrack (see endless posts above and brumster's video), with the accella filter on its default settings. This smooths accelerometer jitter out. Unless it's really ridiculous, in which case you probably just got unlucky with a poor sensor board.

Thanks a lot Ytheleus, I've followed step by step opentrack tutorial on ED tracker web site. With Accela filter, jitter has completely disapear

Ytheleus · Dec 31, 2014

Aelordel said:
Thanks a lot Ytheleus, I've followed step by step opentrack tutorial on ED tracker web site. With Accela filter, jitter has completely disapear

Well done. Enjoy it.

Aquila Oculus · Dec 31, 2014

I've just ordered one of these, looking forward to trying it out soon, and thanks for all the effort!

This will get me by until the Rift is released, I'm not paying that ridiculous amount for the overpriced Track IR.

Cedhric · Jan 1, 2015

Hey all,

Just built mine, and installed and run the EdTracker UI 3.0.4.0. Flashed the EdTracker2Calib 2.5.3 and stabilised the gyros etc. (all green).

Instruction video then says to flash EdTracker2 2.20.7. Flash works okay, but at this point the Pro Micro Rx & Tx LEDs go out (USB data in/out) and I get no data back from the device. Pressing "Connect to Tracker" toggles between "Connected / Disconnected", but still no life from the device
I can flash back to EdTracker2Calib 2.5.3 and it springs back into life (3d head moves as expected).

Any ideas?

pocketmoon · Jan 1, 2015

Cedhric said:
Any ideas?

From the sounds of it, it's either a connection issue with the button or the INT pin on MPU-6050.

Way to check the INT pin is to load the Calibration sketch and click 'Toggle Sensor Mode' to select 'Polling'. Then load the main sketch and see if it responds.

The button needs to be 'open' by default. If it's wired wrong then it will appear pressed and the tracker will just sit in a 'recentre view' loop and not respond.

Rob

reaper7 · Jan 2, 2015

What mpu board are you using 6050, 9150 or 9250. 9250 is not currently supported to my knowledge and has the issue you describe.

Really hope they can add the 9250 to there scripts.

Cedhric · Jan 2, 2015

Thanks Pocketmoon, found the problem with the help of Dan. It was a missing ground connection to AD0 on the MPU. Soldered that up and it's now working a treat. Very impressed, many thanks to you all for your work on this.

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reaper7 said:
What mpu board are you using 6050, 9150 or 9250. 9250 is not currently supported to my knowledge and has the issue you describe.

Really hope they can add the 9250 to there scripts.

6050, but see above, got it working.