Unveiling the Dynamics of Inside-Out Motion Tracking Technology in Virtual Reality
Unveiling the Dynamics of Inside-Out Motion Tracking Technology in Virtual Reality
Quick Links
- Conventional Positional Tracking
- Inside-Out Tracking
- The Advantages of Inside-Out Tracking
- The Downside of Inside-Out Tracking
For virtual reality to work, the position of the headset in 3D space is crucial information. Inside-out VR tracking uses onboard cameras and machine learning to perform this measurement, and it’s quickly becoming the gold standard for VR head tracking.
Conventional Positional Tracking
Alberto Garcia Guillen/Shutterstock.com
There have been many different approaches to positional tracking for VR, but when we refer to “conventional” positional tracking, it’s in reference to the modern VR revolution , starting around the mid-2010s, rather than the early virtual reality days of the late 80s or early 90s.
The original Oculus Rift was at the vanguard of this new generation of VR headsets. Built on technologies developed for smartphones, the Rift contained sensors that allow for finely grained detection of rotation and lateral movement. In other words, using internal sensors, the headset can report rotation and when it’s moving forward, backward or side-to-side. What it can’t do is report depth. That is, where within 3D space it is relative to other points.
The original Rift’s solution was to use an external tracking camera. The camera sees in the infrared spectrum and on the surface of the headset is an array of infrared lights. The camera tracks these lights and, since it knows their exact scale and pattern, can figure out exactly where the headset is relative to the camera itself.
Combined, all of this sensor data offers accurate positioning anywhere within 3D space, at least insofar as the external tracker can see the headset. Later, products such as the HTC Vive would introduce laser-based room-scale trackers. These were mounted on the walls of a room and allowed headset positions to be tracked anywhere within their range.
Inside-Out Tracking
Inside-out tracking flips the script on the traditional method we’ve just described. The headset still uses camera technology to figure out where it is in 3D space, but the cameras are all on the headset itself.
There are no external tracking markers, instead, sophisticated machine vision software looks for points of reference in the room around you. The software watches the movement of those reference points and then infers the headset’s movement.
The onboard cameras can do even more than that. Thanks to this spatial awareness, it’s possible to create a software-based virtual barrier, so that you don’t accidentally walk into a wall. This is also possible with room-scale tracking systems, but not with traditional single-camera external tracking.
The onboard cameras can also precisely track the position of your VR controllers relative to the headset. In a brilliant further development, it’s now also possible to use these onboard cameras to directly track your bare hands for interaction within VR. No controllers needed!
Inside-out tracking can also offer a form of “mixed reality .” That is, where real-world and virtual objects are blended together as one experience. The onboard headset cameras can do things like let you see your real-world keyboard when using an app like Virtual Desktop or bring your real-world chair into the virtual space to make it easy to sit down or get up.
The Advantages of Inside-Out Tracking
Inside-out tracking is quickly becoming the norm for VR headsets and it’s not hard to see why. This approach has numerous benefits, but the most prominent one is elegance and simplicity.
On a headset like the Oculus Quest 2 , there is only the headset and the two controllers. When using the Quest 2 as a tethered headset, you only need a single USB cable. Getting into VR is quick and easy. You don’t have to prepare equipment, just put on the headset and play. Moving from one location to the next is equally simplified. There’s no clutter and no messing around with cables, cameras, or trackers that have to be mounted. (Even if you want to use the Oculus Quest 2 as a PC VR headset , you can do it with a single USB cable—or wirelessly.)
Related: How to Play PC VR Games on an Oculus Quest 2
As we mentioned above, inside-out tracking also offers new opportunities to enhance VR that go beyond positional tracking. What started out as a solution to enable true standalone VR has become what seems to be the likely future of all VR headsets.
Inside-out tracking also solved the problem of occlusion, where the external tracking camera can’t see your headset or controllers because they’re obscured. One of the reasons there are at least two wall-mounted trackers with room-scale setups is to avoid anything being occluded from a sensor.
Best Overall VR Headset
Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 is our favorite VR headset given its ease of setup and inexpensive price. It features inside-out tracking so you don’t have to set up any separate cameras—you don’t even need a PC. (However, the Quest 2 can function as a PC VR headset, too.)
$289 at Amazon See at Bestbuy See at Target
The Downside of Inside-Out Tracking
Inside-out tracking is an impressive technology, but some of the most premium VR products, such as the Valve Index, still use externally-mounted trackers. If inside-out tracking is so great, why isn’t it universal? The main reason comes down to precision and accuracy. The software that drives inside-out tracking has to do a lot of “guessing” since no algorithm is 100% accurate. This is limited by how much computational power the headset has on-board since more accurate and sophisticated machine vision technology needs more processing power. Over time, this problem is addressed simply by the march of computer performance.
As a result, inside-out tracking on virtual reality headsets is not quite as accurate or fast as outside-in tracking, but it’s catching up rapidly and is already good enough that you probably won’t notice any problems while swinging a lightsaber around or trying to win a virtual boxing match.
Also read:
- [New] 2024 Approved From Buzz to Sales Transforming Social Media Into Traffic
- [New] In 2024, Capturing Your Mi 11 Screens - Step by Step
- [New] Inside Look Apple's M1 Max Attachments
- [New] The Complete Periscope User's Handbook
- [Updated] Thorough Examination Easy HDR Techniques Guide
- 2024 Approved Quantum HDR Explained The Ultimate Resource
- All About Factory Reset, What Is It and What It Does to Your Samsung Galaxy S23 FE? | Dr.fone
- Aural Adventures Tech Updates
- Connect and Project with Precision: Steps for Screen Reflection on LG Televisions
- Decoding HDCP Errors: Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis & Repair
- Discover the Best Hashtag Monitoring Solutions on Twitter: A List of 4 Key Platforms
- Discover the Samsung Galaxy Ring - Unveiling Its Launch Price, Features, D-Day & Latest Updates
- Easy Steps to Bridge Oculus Quest 2 with iPhone or Android Devices
- Effective Techniques to Repair Kernel3e DLL Corruption
- Evaluating the Performance: Snappy Driver Installer V1.13 Unveiled
- Exclusive Savings Alert: The Most Attractive Apple Watch Offers for This Month
- Exploring the World of Ray Tracing Technology Explained
- Fortifying iCloud Inboxes Using Biometric and Password Authentication Together
- Horizontal Monitor Setup - Done!
- How to Overcome Challenges with the Power-On Self Test (POST) Process in Computers
- How to Perform Hard Reset on Vivo Y77t? | Dr.fone
- How To Resolve The Missing d3dx9_e41.dll Error On Your PC
- How to Solve the Problem When a Mac Application Won't Open
- How to Turn On Night Time Settings in iPhone - A Comprehensive Walkthrough
- In 2024, Advanced Strategies to Transform Your Snaps Into Boomers
- In 2024, Effortless YouTube Content Crafting 10 Basic Video Ideas for All
- Lens of Loom Perfecting Your Video Weave
- Master the Art of Data Recovery: Bringing Back Your Disappeared iPhone Memories with Stellar Program
- Mastering the Reboot: Comprehensive Guide to Samsung Soundbar Resets
- Navigating Fullscreen Challenges with Sonic Gameplay, W11 Version
- nsp4.dll Not Detected? Here’s How to Resolve the Issue
- Optimizing Gaming Performance on Sony PS5 Through SSD Hard Drive Replacement
- Overcoming Connection Hurdles: A User Manual for Your Stadia Gaming Headset
- Overcoming Silent Phone Syndrome in iPhones
- Overcoming the Challenge of Missing OleAut32.dll: Expert Strategies Explained
- Permanent Removal Processes for Your Yahoo Mail - How To
- Quick Guide: How to Download and Update Dell Monitor Drivers with Ease
- Resolving Common Zoom Camera Errors with Easy Troubleshooting Steps
- Resolving the Issue: Steps to Correct Missing Advapi32.dll File
- Simple Instructions for Setting Up Your Samsung In-Ear Headphones on a Notebook
- Simplify Your Spreadsheet Workflow with Our Expert Advice on Consolidating Two Excel Columns
- Sony Virtual Reality Gear: Unveiling the Latest News on Pricing & Launch Details
- Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting the Iconic Heart Symbol Using Your Keyboard
- Step-by-Step Guide: Scheduling Your Visit at the Genius Bar
- Step-by-Step Instructions on Recovering a Lost, Forgotten or Unknown Email Address
- Steps to Prevent Auto-Play on Apple Music Streams
- The Rise and Fall of Yahoo! Messenger: Insights Into Its Purpose and Causes for Discontinuation
- Top 4 Complimentary CAD Software Solutions We Love
- Unleash Your Reading Habit: Explore Our Pick of the Top 17 Free E-Book Websites
- Unlock Your Creativity: Explore My Choice of 4 Free CAD Software Gems
- Unlocking Concealed iOS Apps: Your Ultimate How-To Manual
- Unveiling the Newest Apple EARWEAR Device - Anticipated Launch Dates & Features Inside!
- What to Binge on Max Right Now? Our Expert Selection
- Title: Unveiling the Dynamics of Inside-Out Motion Tracking Technology in Virtual Reality
- Author: John
- Created at : 2024-08-30 13:09:58
- Updated at : 2024-08-31 13:09:58
- Link: https://techno-recovery.techidaily.com/unveiling-the-dynamics-of-inside-out-motion-tracking-technology-in-virtual-reality/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.