Key Takeaways
1. Daniel McKenzie created a basic VR headset with only three degrees of freedom (3DoF), suitable for sim racing.
2. Critics highlighted the lack of positional tracking (6DoF) as a major flaw, even for sim racing.
3. Daniel upgraded the headset by adding outside-in tracking and wireless controllers using the open-source HadesVR project.
4. The new setup allowed for playing Beat Saber, but faced challenges with tracking accuracy and drift due to using a single camera.
5. The project remains open-source, but required resources have not yet been uploaded to GitHub; updates can be found in the video description on YouTube.
Last month, we shared news about a basic VR headset created by DIY engineer Daniel McKenzie, who posted a video on his YouTube channel, CNCDan. The headset was functional, but it had a significant flaw — it only offered three degrees of freedom (3DoF). This means it could track movements like looking up and down, turning left and right, and tilting the head side to side.
Daniel’s Focus on Sim Racing
For Daniel, he felt that positional tracking (6DoF) wasn’t necessary, as his primary use case was sim racing, and he believed that 3DoF sufficed. Nonetheless, many critics argued that the absence of positional tracking was a major drawback, emphasizing its importance even in sim racing scenarios.
Upgraded Features and Tracking System
In light of the feedback, Daniel decided to enhance his system significantly. He added outside-in tracking and wireless controllers to the new version. Instead of starting from square one, he leveraged an open-source project known as HadesVR for the tracking system.
With this updated setup, he succeeded in playing Beat Saber, although it came with some challenges. The positional tracking for the controllers wasn’t flawless since he only used a single camera for tracking. Additionally, both the headset and controllers experienced drift over time because they depended on IMU units.
Open Source Commitment and Future Updates
The initial version of this project was open-source, and this new iteration will also follow suit. However, as of now, Daniel has not uploaded the required resources to the GitHub page, although he has promised to do so. If you are interested in this build, be sure to check the description of the video on YouTube for any updates.
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