Show HN: DIY Position Tracking Using HTC Vive's Lighthouse

Post by RobertLong » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 7:39 AM UTC

RossBencina wrote: post #10

RobertLong wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is awesome! Curious what your thoughts are on this vs one of the official SteamVR tracking modules[1] which use the TS3633[2]? For $10 this is an awesome hack for off the shelf components. However, for $70 + Shipping you can pick up 10 of the tracking modules which filter out noise and do accurate envelope calculation. [1] https://www.triadsemi.com/product/ts3633-cm1/ [2] https://www.triadsemi.com/product/ts3633…

I'm not familiar with the SteamVR tracking modules that you linked, however from the link: > The CM1 contains all the circuitry necessary to convert SteamVR Tracking base station infrared light into a digital output that encodes the angle of the sensor from the base station. That implies that it's not a full location tracking solution by itself (angle only). The data sheet[0] doesn't seem to shed any further (ahem) l…

Post by ashtuchkin » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 7:55 AM UTC

RobertLong wrote: post #12

RossBencina wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not familiar with the SteamVR tracking modules that you linked, however from the link: > The CM1 contains all the circuitry necessary to convert SteamVR Tracking base station infrared light into a digital output that encodes the angle of the sensor from the base station. That implies that it's not a full location tracking solution by itself (angle only). The data sheet[0] doesn't seem to shed any further (ahem) l…

Correct, it's only going to give you a signal "upon incident light from an IR source once the threshold level for light intensity has been exceeded"[0]. What you are getting in this chip is all of the work Valve and Triad have done in improving the accuracy of that envelope signal. Essentially, the accuracy in the timing of that signal == the accuracy of the position. There's a really good talk from Steam Dev Days[1]…

Post by moron4hire » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 8:25 AM UTC

ashtuchkin wrote: post #11

RobertLong wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is awesome! Curious what your thoughts are on this vs one of the official SteamVR tracking modules[1] which use the TS3633[2]? For $10 this is an awesome hack for off the shelf components. However, for $70 + Shipping you can pick up 10 of the tracking modules which filter out noise and do accurate envelope calculation. [1] https://www.triadsemi.com/product/ts3633-cm1/ [2] https://www.triadsemi.com/product/ts3633…

Thanks! I actually haven't seen those, they look pretty good, basically replace the custom schematics I needed to build. The timing calculation still needs to be done somewhere though, I wish there was a module that would do it internally and just publish the timing numbers - that would be more scalable and then even Arduino would be able to handle several sensors.

Post by fest » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 8:53 AM UTC

ashtuchkin wrote: post #2

Hey, author here. I used the system described in the link for indoor stabilization of a drone, plus precise landing, to support an automatic battery swap station project (have a video there). Worked pretty well, so I decided to open-source it in hopes this would help fellow hackers. Let me know if you have any questions!

Post by RossBencina » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 11:32 AM UTC

ashtuchkin wrote: post #2

Hey, author here. I used the system described in the link for indoor stabilization of a drone, plus precise landing, to support an automatic battery swap station project (have a video there). Worked pretty well, so I decided to open-source it in hopes this would help fellow hackers. Let me know if you have any questions!