The DIY Head Tracker Thread

[conceit]

This goes to all the hobbyists and low-budgetiers out there -- all the others are better to buy a TrackIR, vr HMD or something.

Here's the setup that I used before I got a vr headset. It worked pretty well and was a game changer for me. Never played ED without head tracking any more.

Basically it was built according to this post: http://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-build-your-own-ir-head-tracker/, so I won't go deep into the details. You need a web cam (e.g. Sony PS3 eye), a floppy disk (the magnetic disk is an awesome infrared filter), three IR LEDs (take wide angle LEDs), a 5 ohm resistor, cable ties, paper clips and a gooseneck keyboard lamp, one like this: https://www.amazon.com/Durable-Notebook-Keyboard-Desktop-Accessories/dp/B01I34O0HS/, just to break the gooseneck off (I bought mine from a 1€ store). Additionally an old usb cable that you can cut off.

Software: Open-Track worked well: https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack/releases


Pls. post your ideas, pictures of things you've built and experiences with ED.


The complete thingy:

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The headset:

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Attaching the IR filter to the camera with cable tie and paper clip:

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[the100thmonkey]

FreePIE IMU and Opentrack work for me. It's totally free and requires minimal setup work, provided you have a phone with good enough gyroscopes.

I occasionally have to reset the orientation, but not very often at all.

 

[conceit]

FreePIE IMU and Opentrack work for me. It's totally free and requires minimal setup work, provided you have a phone with good enough gyroscopes.

I occasionally have to reset the orientation, but not very often at all.

I tried that before the IR tracker, but felt uncomfortable with it. How did you fixate your smartphone to your head? And, don't you worry to have it in active radio mode all the time near your brain when playing for several hours? I somehow know it's said the WiFi radio waves don't do harm in any way, but well.. Just because cockroaches are said to be harmless doesn't mean I bring them to my home, know what I mean?

 

[the100thmonkey]

I tried that before the IR tracker, but felt uncomfortable with it. How did you fixate your smartphone to your head?

A few elastic bands around the arch of my headphones. It holds the phone quite firmly, and while the weight takes a little getting used to, the headphones I use are adjustable so it stays pretty snug.

And, don't you worry to have it in active radio mode all the time near your brain when playing for several hours? I somehow know it's said the WiFi radio waves don't do harm in any way, but well.. Just because cockroaches are said to be harmless doesn't mean I bring them to my home, know what I mean?

If you have the right phone, you can use the USB cable. Personally, I don't particularly care about the microwaves, but as it stands the arch on the headphones holds the phone a good 4cm away from my scalp. The inverse square law being as it is...

 

[Ophion]

I made ED Tracker a while ago, didn't play without it ever since. It was so much fun to make and it works great! No software needed in Windows 10.

 

[conceit]

I made ED Tracker a while ago, didn't play without it ever since. It was so much fun to make and it works great! No software needed in Windows 10.

What did you pay for parts?

 

[Ophion]

What did you pay for parts?

Around 15 euros.
The case is from a bicycle led tail light painted in black. The board fits well inside.

 

[Sandmann]

Another fan of EdTracker here. I'm on my second home made one - the first worked exactly as described, but used the early chip without the magnetic whatsit so it drifted a bit. When I tried to disassemble it to upgrade to the new chip I killed the Arduino too so also had to replace that. They cost what, about $25-30 Australian to make, and with the newer magnetic whosit they are dead accurate with near zero drift and absolutely no lag, for all of a minute's calibration once per play session.

I don't like headphones, I use 5.1 speakers, so I attached mine to a plastic hair band... so I have the added bonus of feeling pretty while I play. You could always attach it to the bill of a cap or something though if that was a bit too homoerotic for you.

Even better, they can be used with pretty much any game or sim that supports headtracking and really up the enjoyment of the game - they are SO intuitive. Don't launch into space without them.

 

[NW3]

I also have an ED Tracker, which I like very much. Now that I have a headtracker, I never play ED without it. I bought the prebuilt one, for ~$60 including shipping. It's wired, but so are my headphones, so it's not an issue for me.