Track IR alternative - Printable Version
+- All-Aircraft-Simulations (https://allaircraftsimulations.com)
+-- Forum: Help Desk (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=270)
+--- Forum: IL2 Technical Help (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=304)
+--- Thread: Track IR alternative (/showthread.php?tid=71722)
+- All-Aircraft-Simulations (https://allaircraftsimulations.com)
+-- Forum: Help Desk (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=270)
+--- Forum: IL2 Technical Help (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=304)
+--- Thread: Track IR alternative (/showthread.php?tid=71722)
Pages:
1
2
Track IR alternative - burlaff - 25.09.2010
I've recently been considering buying a Track IR, but i don't fancy paying lots of money when I could use a much cheaper alternative...
I've had Freetrack on my P.C. for a while and I was wondering if I could use a Wii remote (as an alternative to the Track IR thing that sits on your monitor), a hat trackclip from the Track IR naturalpoint website and freetrack. I'm pretty sure it would work but I just wanted to know whether the hat trackclip uses infra-red, which would then be picked up by the Wii remote in Freetrack.
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Re: Track IR alternative - KG64_Cnopicilin - 25.09.2010
The Wii sensor specs are not publicly available, Johnny Lee has quoted the API output which is interpolated data. TrackIR is 120fps @ 358X290, runs off USB power, is expensive, very responsive and runs hot. The Wii on the other hand runs on 2xAA batteries (for 30 hours while using sensor), is cheap, laggy and runs much cooler, also PixArt, the makers of the sensor, only seem to make 30fps sensors. Taking all this into consideration I would be very surprised if the Wii sensor is any more than 30fps @ 320x240; no better than a cheap webcam.
Pros:
Negligable cpu usage.
No IR filter removal required.
Sensor may be better than a 30fps webcam.
Readily available.
Cons:
More expensive than a cheap webcam.
Needs bluetooth dongle.
Batteries.
Attaching it to a monitor may be difficult.
Re: Track IR alternative - burlaff - 25.09.2010
Thanks for the quick reply.
I've already got the Wii remote and bluetooth dongle etc, but what I really need to know is if this: http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/02- ... oRight.jpg
...uses infra-red. Any thoughts?
Thanks for the info on the Wii remote by the way. I've already got a webcam so if the Wii remote turns out the be laggy I can try the cam instead.
Re: Track IR alternative - KG64_Cnopicilin - 25.09.2010
The part over you TV has 2 infrared leds, you can put 2 of them on a cap, just measure the distance between them.
Re: Track IR alternative - burlaff - 25.09.2010
ok, great. thanks!
Re: Track IR alternative - 8FS_Bulau - 25.09.2010
burlaff Wrote:...but I just wanted to know whether the hat trackclip uses infra-red, which would then be picked up by the Wii remote in Freetrack...The TIR hatclip is simply a reflector. The part that sits on the monitor is both transmitter and detector.
As Cnopi said, you will need to get some infrared LEDs to put on your cap. Does the Wii remote detect IR?
Re: Track IR alternative - KG64_Cnopicilin - 25.09.2010
8FS_Bulau Wrote:Yes it does.burlaff Wrote:...but I just wanted to know whether the hat trackclip uses infra-red, which would then be picked up by the Wii remote in Freetrack...The TIR hatclip is simply a reflector. The part that sits on the monitor is both transmitter and detector.
As Cnopi said, you will need to get some infrared LEDs to put on your cap. Does the Wii remote detect IR?
Re: Track IR alternative - Lejo - 26.09.2010
Why not trying a headtracking device which doesn't need a headset and LED lights?
It is called FaceTrackNoIR.
It really works, you only have to d/l their freeware. I experimented with it and got it working in IL2.
You can d/l here:
http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm
Info here:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,7689.0.html
Re: Track IR alternative - KG64_Cnopicilin - 26.09.2010
Lejo Wrote:Why not trying a headtracking device which doesn't need a headset and LED lights?How? It crashed with my FSX and does not work with my Il-2, just look downright.
It is called FaceTrackNoIR.
It really works, you only have to d/l their freeware. I experimented with it and got it working in IL2.
You can d/l here:
http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm
Info here:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,7689.0.html
Re: Track IR alternative - burlaff - 26.09.2010
KG64_Cnopicilin Wrote:Lejo Wrote:Why not trying a headtracking device which doesn't need a headset and LED lights?How? It crashed with my FSX and does not work with my Il-2, just look downright.
It is called FaceTrackNoIR.
It really works, you only have to d/l their freeware. I experimented with it and got it working in IL2.
You can d/l here:
http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm
Info here:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,7689.0.html
I already tried 'FaceTrackNoIR' and i couldn't get it to work with IL-2 either...
I think I'll just make an infrared track hat of some description...
Re: Track IR alternative - Lejo - 26.09.2010
burlaff Wrote:I already tried 'FaceTrackNoIR' and i couldn't get it to work with IL-2 either...
I think I'll just make an infrared track hat of some description...
In TrackNoIR you need to select 'Fake TrackIR' an not 'Freetrack'. That's mainly the cause why people can't get it to work.
Another thing can be that in the little camscreen you first need to see the yellow tracking lines around your face and eyes which follow the movements of your face.
With both above mentioned options it should work.
Cheers.
Re: Track IR alternative - KG64_Cnopicilin - 26.09.2010
Only protocols other than freetrack I have are FTNoir and FlightGear
Re: Track IR alternative - Serpiko - 06.11.2010
Hi,
I discovered FaceTrackNoIR only two weeks ago, tested it and posted a review here in the "utilities" section", but I haven't figured out how to solve an annoying bug yet. Maybe you can give me a hint.
No problem getting it to work with IL2 (you're right though, it only works with "Fake TrackIR" protocol). Visual trembling is not that dramatic. But here's the pain in the [bottom]: sometimes (too much often IMO) visual suddenly screws up and gets stuck at an impossible angle (i.e. looking under the seat), and centering key no longer works.
In this cases the "virtual mask" in the FaceTrackNoIR window shows that my face is still being correctly tracked, but somehow communication with the game is messed up. Nothing happens if I reset the tracking with "stop" and "start" buttons. I need to minimize the game, close the window and re-run FaceTrack to regain visual control.
Ok, it's not that complicated, but this takes at least 15-20 secs, and if you fly online this means 15-20 secs of blind flying... often when you were in the middle of a battle! And even if you manage to survive and regain control, it will happen again in about 15 minutes! :x
Is this a TrackIR/Freetrack problem too? Is there a way to fix it? Thank you.
Re: Track IR alternative - V4Friend - 07.11.2010
KG64_Cnopicilin Wrote:Only protocols other than freetrack I have are FTNoir and FlightGearHello KG64_Cnopicilin,
Sorry to barge in like this, but I noticed this post about 'my' FaceTrackNoIR here and thought I might offer some help.
If you do not see the 'fake TrackIR' protocol, then you don't have the latest version installed.
As a matter of fact, I just released a new version of FaceTrackNoIR last week (version 1.4). To be able to use it, you must first install v130 and then apply the update (http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/information_links/download.htm). The latest version offers even more:
- support for Microsoft Flight Simulator X;
- support for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002/2004;
- support for Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator;
- some improvements, like curves to define the relation between head-movement and in-game movement...
If you are looking for specific IL-2 issues, you might indeed have a look here: http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?topic=7689.new;topicseen#new. There are more IL-2 flyers there :wink: It's OK though, to ask questions here.
Re: Track IR alternative - V4Friend - 07.11.2010
Serpiko Wrote:Hi,Hello Serpiko,
Ok, it's not that complicated, but this takes at least 15-20 secs, and if you fly online this means 15-20 secs of blind flying... often when you were in the middle of a battle! And even if you manage to survive and regain control, it will happen again in about 15 minutes! :x
Is this a TrackIR/Freetrack problem too? Is there a way to fix it? Thank you.
I don't know if the other movement-trackers have the same issue. I think the problem you describe is more a PC-performance-issue: once the TrackIR-connection was made, it does not really 'change'. Some have reported face-tracking to stop sometimes, but apparently that is no issue here?
Have you already installed the latest update? Maybe it helps?