Hi everyone,
We’ve been developing our own custom VR tracking driver that may be of interest to OptiTrack users who need accurate tracking in non-static or moving environments.
Our system combines OptiTrack camera tracking (currently using the V120 Duo) with custom sensor fusion, allowing full 6DOF head or object tracking inside a moving frame of reference.
What it does
Provides robust head-pose tracking even when the entire capture volume is moving.
Seamlessly combines OptiTrack optical data with low-latency sensor fusion to maintain precision under rapid motion, vibration, or partial occlusion.
Handles sensor calibration and drift correction.
Handles RigidBody cross-axes calibration for head-pose.
Operates fully independent of SteamVR base stations, inside out tracking or external beacons.
Supported hardware
Varjo XR-4 (native integration)
Pimax Crystal Light (native integration)
Any SteamVR-compatible PCVR HMD (should support OpenVR drivers) - requires our own sensor module to be attached to the HMD.
Any generic HMD that supports submission of pose data to track the HMD - requires our own sensor module to be attached to the HMD.
The system outputs real-time, low-latency head-pose data via a custom driver interface that can be mapped directly into most VR runtimes or engines.
We will likely add native support for further HMD's in the future, especially if there is demand for it.
Why we built it
This work originated from our need to track a headset within a large untethered motion simulator (the NOVA, a 1.8 m omni-rotational sphere).
Conventional tracking systems (including inside-out and Lighthouse-based setups) fail in this scenario because they assume a static environment. Our approach maintains accuracy even when the entire rig is in motion.
Looking to gauge interest
We’re curious whether other OptiTrack users - particularly those working on vehicle simulators, robotics platforms, or mixed-reality research setups - would find value in such a solution.
If there’s enough community interest, we may look to license or release this tracking driver as a supported solution for wider use.
Contact
If this sounds like something that would benefit your application, please reach DM me, or reach out to us via our website (www.eight360.com).
We are actively collaborating with several Universities already and would be happy to discuss the details and options further.
Thanks for reading,
Ravi Malcolm
Head of Engineering
Eight360 Ltd