Best head tracking?

[Askie]

More or less just the title, i was wondering what the best head tracking is, is it trackir? i'm hesitant to buy it since it's from 2009 and idk if it's up to date, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Richardus]

General consensus from what I've read:

VR > TrackIR/Delanclip/Trackhat > Opentrack without IR LEDs > Tracknoir

(I'm at the Opentrack sans IR LEDs tier)

[startrekmike]

Having used my own DIY setup (that actually worked surprisingly well), some stuff from smaller outfits like Trackhat (using Opentrack as the software and a PS3 eye camera that they recommend), and then finally TrackIR, I think that TrackIR is still the most convenient option when it (specifically) comes to the camera and software. Out of all the options, TrackIR is the most "plug and play" and isn't even remotely as finicky as other options.

Obviously everyone is going to have different experiences and different tolerances but I personally would feel dishonest if I were to try and up-sell Opentrack and a PS3 Eye camera as anything but a sort of "budget option". They work but they require more setup, tweaking, and general fuss than you will deal with when using TrackIR software. I hate to say it because I generally don't like Naturalpoint as a company but I can't pretend that TrackIR isn't the easiest, most consistent option.

When it comes to the actual IR clips, things get a bit more complicated. The TrackIR Pro Clip is generally going to be the best option in terms of mounting it to your headset. It has a pretty versatile, very light-weight clip design that (if handled with some degree of care) won't break as easily as you might have read. Granted, I do pay extra attention when handling mine and don't put it in situations where it can get accidentally dropped or something.

That being said. It is brittle and the wire will inevitably start to give you a lot of problems (the coating around the wire will stiffen and break which puts a lot of stress on the wire inside). This is a easy enough thing to fix in the short-term with some solder and tape but once the plastic around the wires really starts to harden up, you will want to start looking at replacing the whole thing.

There are options for wireless IR tracking clips. RJSimTech seems to have the most practical design with Delan Clip Fusion being another option (with a far, far less versatile mounting design).

As far as TrackIR being outdated or something. That isn't really a issue (yet). So far, the software and camera are still keeping up with what is required.

[SSerponi76]

Originally posted by Richardus:

General consensus from what I've read:

VR > TrackIR/Delanclip/Trackhat > Opentrack without IR LEDs > Tracknoir

(I'm at the Opentrack sans IR LEDs tier)

VR > TrackIR > Delanclip/Trackhat > Opentrack without IR LEDs > Tracknoir

[Dagger]

Originally posted by SSerponi76:

VR > TrackIR > Delanclip/Trackhat > Opentrack without IR LEDs > Tracknoir

This.

TrackIR (specifically TrackIR5 with pro clip) is miles ahead of all others.

There is not building, and the resolution, response time, FOV and sample rate are way ahead even the closest competitor.

[Perfect Info]

For what it's worth, there isn't a lot of room for the technology behind something like TrackIR to advance since 2009. The computer vision behind it is pretty simple: detect the first moment of N points of highest-intensity IR light, then compute the orientation of the target from a formula relying on those N points.

Something without a pre-defined target (e.g. face tracking) that rely on machine learning algorithm results would be the ones you need to worry about keeping up-to-date. So OpenTrack's newer neuralnet tracker is way better than the older FaceTrackNoIR (having used both).

As someone mildly interested in target-less body tracking, I was hoping rangefinding IR+computer vision would take off a little more in this space, but target-based tracking still eats its lunch in almost every way.

[van Leeuwenhoek's mustache]

Opentrack + IR LED clip offers the best bang for the buck, imho.

Delanclip would be great if it costed half the current price, but, as it is, you're better off building your own IR LED series circuit with a USB cable as power source.
(all you need is a soldering kit, thin wire, 3x IR LEDs, resistor, L-shaped frame, peg + bag clip and lots of tape)

As for the tracker device, I'd try to get my hands on a PS3 camera, or any USB camera with refresh rates of 60+Hz.

Homemade IR tracking systems work MUCH better than FaceTrackNoIR or any other face tracking software I've ever tried.

Now, are they better than the "official" trackIR? Probably not, but I'd say they come pretty close (assuming everything is configured properly).
Also, they can be easily repaired, since they're very simple, built using common / inexpensive materials that can be found laying around your house.

For instance, just a couple of weeks ago, a virtual buddy of mine couldn't fly in the server because his "official" trackIR wasn't working... I was flying just fine with my homemade system.

See, unlike him, I know exactly how my IR clip works, how it's designed and I have all the required materials at home to repair it (which I rarely have to do).

[jalsina]

TRackIR and all "free" opentrack variants (I had one DIY before TrackIR), are not the as perfect as they could be.
I understand there are good quality costly VR sets that are really good. But for VR be ready to exercise your neck more than you would like, provided you fly more A to A than A to G missions.

[Slapshot]

I can't comment on how it compares with the IR LED approaches, but I've been using Opentrack with the Smoothtrack app on my iPhone as the camera and I've been really happy with it. It certainly killed the urge to buy a new TrackIR . I used to have TrackIR with the Vector option going back 15+ years ago... I know they've moved on a bit since then ;)

I also play on VR but there are times when I want to enjoy the graphics of DCS that VR won't yet provide and the Opentrack/Smoothtrack/iPhone options lets me without any troubles.

The other big upside for me was that I didn't need any tech... just my phone and the apps.

[Undead Rufus]

I use the Grass Monkey "Puck" with OpenTrack. As someone who'd never messed with headtracking previously, I had very little trouble getting it running and tweaked. It's been going strong for ... I dunno, two or three years.

Can't say it's the absolute "best," but for less than half the cost of a new TrackIR rig at the time, I'm fine with it.

[Dagger]

I find it fascinating that DCS, being a high fidelity study milsim, where people spend thousands on hardware, just as much on peripherals, will skimp out something that is the most important part of your cockpit SA.... head tracking.

We can't all afford a VR set, with a VR capable PC, but TrackIR, with what it provides, is cheaper than a single good stick of RAM and has a much much bigger impact on your gaming experience. TrackIR with proclip goes for $169 in the US ($169 won't even get you a proper joystick mount).

Prior to buying TrackIR I tried all the other homemade head tracker jobbies when DCS first came out. but nothing prepared me for the MASSIVE difference.

You really can't compare them.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by Dagger:

I find it fascinating that DCS, being a high fidelity study milsim, where people spend thousands on hardware, just as much on peripherals, will skimp out something that is the most important part of your cockpit SA.... head tracking.

Because some non-TrackIR options work fine. Maybe it's a "MASSIVE difference" in some cases, but right now I can't imagine what TrackIR supposedly does (e.g. move the camera when my head moves) that my Puck doesn't.

[Dagger]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

Because some non-TrackIR options work fine. Maybe it's a "MASSIVE difference" in some cases, but right now I can't imagine what TrackIR supposedly does (e.g. move the camera when my head moves) that my Puck doesn't.

resolution, response time, FOV and sample rate .... not even close.

Your puck resolution is 640×480 @30hz with a response time average of 30 milliseconds.

Track IR Resolution is 640X480 @120hz with 9ms response time and a FOV of 51 degrees (Puck does not disclose FOV)

The difference would be completely obvious to you in your first 45 seconds

Anyways I chimed in because people will whip out thei D#cks to show they paid $1250 for a joystick, others who spent $5000-$10000 to completely overhaul their PCs to play on VR,
while others will solder a christmas tree LED light to their ballcaps and claim it to be the best headtracker out there for the value.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by Dagger:

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

Because some non-TrackIR options work fine. Maybe it's a "MASSIVE difference" in some cases, but right now I can't imagine what TrackIR supposedly does (e.g. move the camera when my head moves) that my Puck doesn't.

resolution, response time, FOV and sample rate .... not even close.

Your puck resolution is 640×480 @30hz with a response time average of 30 milliseconds.

Track IR Resolution is 640X480 @120hz with 9ms response time and a FOV of 51 degrees (Puck does not disclose FOV)

The difference would be completely obvious to you in your first 45 seconds

Anyways I chimed in because people will whip out thei D#cks to show they paid $1250 for a joystick, others who spent $5000-$10000 to completely overhaul their PCs to play on VR,
while others will solder a christmas tree LED light to their ballcaps and claim it to be the best headtracker out there for the value.

I cannot perceive the latency when I turn my head in DCS or any other game. From everything I've seen, TrackIR might be a better out-of-the-box solution with easier software, but arguably more fragile than the Puck or Delanclip. Don't see the point in paying double for a marginal, and perhaps imperceptible, performance increase.

I use a budget HOTAS too, with an aging PC, so....

[Dagger]

hahaha!

Ok then my comment was not directed at you, but those who do play EDS and other games with higher specs and absolutely will notice when their head tracker is responding at 1/4 the current in game FPS.

[Emme]

Originally posted by Richardus:

General consensus from what I've read:

VR > TrackIR/Delanclip/Trackhat > Opentrack without IR LEDs > Tracknoir

(I'm at the Opentrack sans IR LEDs tier)

100% not this!

TrackIR is undebatable the best solution overal at this current time, period.

VR has too much downsides compared to TrackIR.

#1 the costs

#2 VR needs an insane performance to get at least a decent optic

#3 it's 1 to 1 head movement which means to look behind you'll need to perform a 180° head turn

#4 some VR's are simply just heavy af and uncomfortable to wear

#5 a lot people get motion sickness using VR

@OP TrackIR 5 is an absolute safe bet.