VR Golf Club Controller

[Finn]

I am loving this as an early release VR golf game. TGC has established itself well in the electronic golf world, and even into the simulation world with a company called SkyTrak. Anyway, it would be great if there was a way to use a real club in VR instaed of the controller. I am sure that this is no easy task, but if there are 2 companies that could pull it off, I think it would be these 2 companies.

Just some ideas: I know its always easier said than done....
Is there a way to add stickers to our real clubs that could be tracked to the base station?
Is is possible to use a real ball that could be tracked by base stations?
A golf glove that could be worn to position the hand and club that communicates with the base stations?

Anyone else thought about this?

[The Loafer]

There is presently no way for any tracking possible other than the vive headset and the two vive motion controller. Valve has stated they are opening up the ability for 3rd party controllers so you never know in the future, but nothing that has been publically shared.

[Acrilix]

What you're suggesting is impossible because the Vive lighthouses are not doing the actual tracking. The controllers and the headset are doing the tracking. The lighthouses are just emitting light to enable them to do so.

[PsychoChem]

http://steamcommunity.com/app/489600/discussions/0/333656722979905288/

Hey Finn I have done some work here and will be improving on this design but feel free to try and make something similar. Update to it I had an actual golfer (like college team championship) try it out on pro. And where I hooked and sliced... He hit it dead straight and far having never used a vive before with this controller..... Need him to test more :)

[turnerm05]

So I'm guessing you just have to stand really far away from the ball with this setup right? Otherwise your hands would be far too low.

Good stuff though. We really do need some sort of official (third party most likely) club controller.

[Buck]

Seems like the best bet might be Valve officially supporting 3rd party controllers at some point.

[Finn]

Originally posted by Acrilix:

What you're suggesting is impossible because the Vive lighthouses are not doing the actual tracking. The controllers and the headset are doing the tracking. The lighthouses are just emitting light to enable them to do so.

I love it when when people say ideas are impossible :)

[Finn]

Originally posted by PsychoChem:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/489600/discussions/0/333656722979905288/

Hey Finn I have done some work here and will be improving on this design but feel free to try and make something similar. Update to it I had an actual golfer (like college team championship) try it out on pro. And where I hooked and sliced... He hit it dead straight and far having never used a vive before with this controller..... Need him to test more :)

Love the idea! However, I agree that the distance is off. We will have to wait until there are 3rd party oprtions. I have a feeling that there will be a huge market in bringing real objects for use into VR. Some company will bring a golf club controller to market.

There is definetly a hybrid solution to bring real clubs and balls into VR combining this game and existing golf simulation technology that tracks ball flight for the ultimate VR Golf Sim.

[Finn]

Originally posted by Acrilix:

What you're suggesting is impossible because the Vive lighthouses are not doing the actual tracking. The controllers and the headset are doing the tracking. The lighthouses are just emitting light to enable them to do so.

Also, I am pretty sure that your understanding of how this system works is wrong.... Specifically the way the controllers and headset are positioned (tracked) in VR space. However, I am no expert myself.

[PsychoChem]

I can verify the lighthouses are just dumb boxes that shoot lasers and send out their current position/orientation. This is why when we do Vive demos with more than 1 Vive and no curtains, we can use 2 lighthouses for 2 Vives. If they were "smart" you wouldn't be able to use more than 1 vive for each lighthouse area.

[Finn]

Originally posted by PsychoChem:

I can verify the lighthouses are just dumb boxes that shoot lasers and send out their current position/orientation. This is why when we do Vive demos with more than 1 Vive and no curtains, we can use 2 lighthouses for 2 Vives. If they were "smart" you wouldn't be able to use more than 1 vive for each lighthouse area.

But they are integral for positioning your head and hands in VR. When the boxes/beams/irsensors are obstructed, you lose your equilibrium in VR. For example if you hsve your back turned to 1 of the boxes, or you are hunched over putting (in this case) I lose tracking and the club sways a lil bit. I am sure they could be "smarter" but you def need 2 boxes to stay well grounded in VR. I agree with you, they do indeed put out focused beams and there seems to be some sort of galvo system in there to scatter them. Why would statically mounted boxes need to transmit their own position if the boxes do not move? (rhetorical)

[MichaelDot]

Finn, valve has all of the data needed to understand the system published. The boxes are dumb. They are in sync with each other for the light to be scattered in a known way. That's why they have a,b and c settings and the sync cable for special issues. The tracking is all done by the devices on you. The bases are stationary so that the tracking is done in known positions. That's why when you set it up, you walk around the room with the controller. The controller itself detects the position and reports back to the computer.
You can visualize the light using the custom light house replacement in the community portal. That might make more sense. Or, listen to podcast "embedded" episode 162 where alan yates, who developed the system explains how it works in detail.

[Finn]

Cool, I will def listen to that podcast. Thanks for the heads up!