DIY Head Tracker For A Tenner

NeilF · Jul 7, 2014

Omegahunter said:
Easy just added it to the previous post.

All I was using were basic tools ie a craft knife, small files, and drill bits. Got a hole bradle but the job it done could be done with a drill bit and something to hold them ( I used a small hand vice that I made in school metal work many many years ago).

When I know I've got an ED Tracker on the way - supposedly I'm on the list

- I'll pop over to Maplin and pick one up.

Once I know the EDTracker is working, I'll then hacksaw it and fit in the box.

Thanks!

Omegahunter · Jul 7, 2014

NeilF said:
Interesting how your button comes out a long way, while on Omegahunter's (same height box) it doesn't?

The buttons I ordered were only about 3mm high, the ones that Brumster uses are around 5 to 8mm high.

I like that the switch is recessed in to the box so it can't be damaged. It just a matter of sourcing the size length of switch you want.

NeilF · Jul 7, 2014

Omegahunter said:
The buttons I ordered were only about 3mm high, the ones that Brumster uses are around 5 to 8mm high.

I like that the switch is recessed in to the box so it can't be damaged. It just a matter of sourcing the size length of switch you want.

Agreed... Shorter would seem to make more sense when it's mounted in a box. Worse case a tiny "addition" could be super glued onto the top of the button to extend it...

Omegahunter · Jul 7, 2014

NeilF said:
When I know I've got an ED Tracker on the way - supposedly I'm on the list - I'll pop over to Maplin and pick one up.

Once I know the EDTracker is working, I'll then hacksaw it and fit in the box.

Thanks!

Yes I did the same. the first ED Tracker I built was on a bread board with jumper pins.

Then built one on a Bumster home made PCB (a software error on the MPU-6050 meant I destroyed the PCB to remove the components)

Build three was on the custom made PCB while still running build one.

I have now built and cased three ED Trackers without an issue cutting the corner.

Vulcan24v · Jul 8, 2014

NeilF said:
Ahh - I couldn't see the 5cm box in black before, but there it is! - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/hammond-m...se-abs-box-1551-series-black-50x35x17mm-n78bq

How easy is it to cut the PCB then to make it fit? I don't have a dremel or anthing, just small saws/craft knives.

I just had to cut the tinyiest bit off one corner with a craft knife.

NeilF · Jul 8, 2014

Doh! Now I have access to the orginal combat demo (as a Standard Beta member), but have no EDTracker

Can't arrive quick enough now for me

Omegahunter · Jul 8, 2014

NeilF said:
Doh! Now I have access to the orginal combat demo (as a Standard Beta member), but have no EDTracker

Can't arrive quick enough now for me

The original Alpha combat build doesn't support multiple controllers (1.1 if I remember right) So if you had the ED Tracker it wouldn't work anyway.

But the end of the month Beta will so you still have about three weeks to get your one

brumster · Jul 8, 2014

Update Tool

Ok peeps, it's time to announce the Update Tool for beta test

it's command line at the moment, but Pocketmoon will in due course include it in the GUI. For now, it can be test via the command line provided you've got java 7 installed. No need for any IDE, no downloading of source code, no compiling, none of that (although the source will still be up there for those who want to twiddle).

Pre-reqs :

Java 7 JRE
Arduino Drivers installed/device recognised
An internet connection!

Download it :-

32-bit JRE users
http://www.edtracker.org.uk/phocadownload/EDTrackerUpdateTool_v1.0.0_x86.zip

64-bit JRE users
http://www.edtracker.org.uk/phocadownload/EDTrackerUpdateTool_v1.0.0_x64.zip

Unpack the ZIP to a folder of your choosing

Read the readme.txt or, in short,

1. Open up a command line to where you unpacked it
2. Grab a list of images available for flashing with :-

Code:

D:\temp>java -jar UpdateTool.jar -l
EDTracker Update Tool v1.0.0
 Found 3 releases available for download...
          RELEASE_ID    REVISION          RELEASE COMMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------
          EDTracker2    (v2.10.0)       - 22 Jun 2014 - fix 180 flip after prolonged use
     EDTracker2Calib    (v2.2.0)        - 22 Jun 2014 - fix 180 flip after prolonged use
               debug    (v1.0.0)        - Simple flash-LED binary for Arduino sanity testing
DONE

3. Flash one in by specifying the 'RELEASE_ID' column value for the sketch in question. E.g.

Code:

D:\temp>java -jar UpdateTool.jar -f EDTracker2
EDTracker Update Tool v1.0.0
Found release EDTracker2 @ v2.10.0
Downloading http://www.edtracker.org.uk/update/EDTrackerII_2.10.hex
Available serial ports : COM1 COM9
Guessing EDTracker port as COM9
If this is wrong, override with the -c option
Opened port COM9
Closed port
Bootloader port : COM8
Opened port COM8
Connected to bootloader
Starting flash write...
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Bootloader - clean exit
Closed port
DONE

It's not fast (playing it safe on baud rates at the moment!) but I've used it many a time so far without any issues, and some other private testers have had luck with it. Be good to see how you get on.

You will need java path'd in, it seems some installs on Windows 8 don't do this unless you run the command line as Administrator.

If you need to override COM ports/etc then have a look in the readme.txt for the other available options.

I hope this makes peoples lives a bit easier!

NeilF · Jul 9, 2014

Omegahunter said:
The original Alpha combat build doesn't support multiple controllers (1.1 if I remember right) So if you had the ED Tracker it wouldn't work anyway.

But the end of the month Beta will so you still have about three weeks to get your one

Supposedly the Combat Demo 1.0 is using the latest build of the (multiplayer) engine, so surely EDTracker would be supported in there?

brumster · Jul 9, 2014

I should think so, yes.

NeilF · Jul 9, 2014

brumster said:
I should think so, yes.

Is there an obvious thing to look for in the options/config (for Combat Demo 1.0) to see if it is EDTracker ready?

brumster · Jul 9, 2014

Yup, look in the following file

Code:

<profile dir>\AppData\Local\Frontier_Developments\Products\FORC-FDEV-D-1000\ControlSchemes\DeviceMappings.xml

for the entry

Code:

<EDTracker><PID>8037</PID><VID>2341</VID></EDTracker>

OldGrumpyGit · Jul 9, 2014

For anyone still looking for the board, Hobby Components now have them back in stock (and, by extension, the head tracker kit is in stock as well)

http://hobbycomponents.com/index.php/arduino-compatible-pro-micro.html

http://hobbycomponents.com/index.php/kits/kits-electronics/diy-head-tracker-bundle.html

Blaze Stark · Jul 9, 2014

Just want to post a huge THANKS! to the crew behind this project. Work like a charm (after replacing a faulty USB cable) and make the ED experience so much better. Great work!

Vergoth · Jul 9, 2014

I'm on the list

Is there a tutorial for setting it up both for Windows and in elite? Or is it as simple as Windows recognising the "joystick" and then assigning "look" to it in elite?

Neillm · Jul 9, 2014

Vergoth said:
I'm on the list Is there a tutorial for setting it up both for Windows and in elite? Or is it as simple as Windows recognising the "joystick" and then assigning "look" to it in elite?

Is you look up brumster100 on YouTube, there are some excellent videos for setting it up in Windows (EDTracker2). Once it's working, the Elite side is dead easy...

Head Look section:

Set it to Direct mode
Bind the Y axis (not the up/down) by selecting it and moving your head up/down
Bind the X axis by moving your head side to side
It's worth also setting a binding to turn it on/off (this may already be set up) because sometimes, you just need to look ahead instead of gawping at the scenery and crashing into the space station.

Hmm, thinking again, the axes may be called pitch and yaw but I'm not at my machine at the moment and can't remember. It's pretty obvious which is which anyway.

Good luck!

Wrongway · Jul 9, 2014

Has anyone found a source of nice thin USB cable for the EDtracker. I have looked around but most are quite beefy. The thinner it is the less noticeable when wearing on a headset. Might experiment a bit with wireless.

Neillm · Jul 9, 2014

Wrongway said:
Has anyone found a source of nice thin USB cable for the EDtracker. I have looked around but most are quite beefy. The thinner it is the less noticeable when wearing on a headset. Might experiment a bit with wireless.

I bought one of the flat 'noodle' cables at the suggestion of pocketmoon (I think) which arrived this morning. It seems a lot less bulky and more flexible than a round one, but I'm not sure how it will hang alongside the headphone cable. I've also got a longer round one on order which I ordered first. Hopefully, I should be able to find one that suits.

I couldn't find a specific thin one as I looked for this first. Some are even braided fabric but I've also ways found these to be a bit stiff and fragile.

Wrongway · Jul 9, 2014

I'll have a look for one of these noodle cables. I did hear mention of them at the Con but never got around to seeing one. CPC (Farnell) are fairly close to me and have a vast range of that sort of stuff. Last time I was in there I picked up a few cables to try but all were either too thick or too short. That place is a bit like Argos in that you only see what somethings like when you have bought it as they only have a limited selection of things on show.

Vergoth · Jul 9, 2014

Wrongway said:
Has anyone found a source of nice thin USB cable for the EDtracker. I have looked around but most are quite beefy. The thinner it is the less noticeable when wearing on a headset. Might experiment a bit with wireless.

Amazon do them in 1m, 2m and 3m lengths and in a choice of colours. They are USB 3.0 too