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Up and Coming
July 29, 2014

Strapping a Leap Motion Controller onto the DK2

Would strapping a Leap Motion Controller onto the DK2 cause positional tracking to go haywire?

    18 replies

    Up and Coming
    July 29, 2014
    I think there are two issues with doing this:

    1) Covering up the IR LEDs on the DK2 itself

    and

    2) Causing IR interference.

    As for #2 I think that might not be a big problem because it uses active tracking, but it's hard to know without trying it, since the Leap would be spewing IR towards the camera.
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    InteriorDAuthor
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    "n00854180t" wrote:
    I think there are two issues with doing this:

    1) Covering up the IR LEDs on the DK2 itself

    and

    2) Causing IR interference.

    As for #2 I think that might not be a big problem because it uses active tracking, but it's hard to know without trying it, since the Leap would be spewing IR towards the camera.


    Setting aside point number 2 for now, I can't visually see any IR LEDs on the front of the DK2... Would you be kind enough to tell me where they are located so I can see if I can avoid it?
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    If you have a webcam or even a phone camera you may be able to see them that way.

    http://www.anandtech.com/show/7663/eyes-on-with-crystal-cove-the-latest-from-oculus- In the first image you can see the Crystal Cove prototype. I *think* the IR LEDs are in the same position.

    http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/8/88760/2611160-2032081189-assem.jpg

    This second picture is of the DK2 with the casing off and such, and seems to confirm they're in the same locations as the Crystal Cove prototype, which there are a lot of images of (and it doesn't have the IR-transparent covering like the DK2).
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    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    That's a stunning idea actually! I'm sure you could find some configuration that didn't occlude too many of the Rift's IR LEDs. Please do this and let us know if it works!

    You can use your iPhone (and maybe other smartphones, I'm not sure) to find where the LEDs are: just turn on the camera and point it at the front of your Rift while it's turned on.
    Melbourne-based creative technologist. I flit between experimental AR/VR experiences, audiovisual electronics and full-stack web development. http://www.lachansleight.io
    InteriorDAuthor
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    "mptp" wrote:
    That's a stunning idea actually! I'm sure you could find some configuration that didn't occlude too many of the Rift's IR LEDs. Please do this and let us know if it works!

    You can use your iPhone (and maybe other smartphones, I'm not sure) to find where the LEDs are: just turn on the camera and point it at the front of your Rift while it's turned on.


    It's not really my idea, someone else has created a DK1 demo using this placement (I can't remember who though). I turned on the DK2 demo and pointed my iPhone camera at it (default settings) and got nothing. What should I do?
    July 30, 2014
    "InteriorD" wrote:
    "mptp" wrote:
    That's a stunning idea actually! I'm sure you could find some configuration that didn't occlude too many of the Rift's IR LEDs. Please do this and let us know if it works!

    You can use your iPhone (and maybe other smartphones, I'm not sure) to find where the LEDs are: just turn on the camera and point it at the front of your Rift while it's turned on.


    It's not really my idea, someone else has created a DK1 demo using this placement (I can't remember who though). I turned on the DK2 demo and pointed my iPhone camera at it (default settings) and got nothing. What should I do?



    If you have an OVR demo running, pointing a camera the the headset will definitely show the LEDs, though if you're in bright light you'll need to get up pretty close to see them. Unless of course you have some kind of IR filter on your camera, in which case you won't see them.

    I've also been wondering about the best way to attach the Leap to DK2. There doesn't seem to be anywhere to place it without covering up LEDs..

    FYI, in the Leap v2 SDK, there's a "Top Down" mode which is optimised for HMDs. I plan to give this a go once I figure out a way of attaching it!
    InteriorDAuthor
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    "yezzer" wrote:


    If you have an OVR demo running, pointing a camera the the headset will definitely show the LEDs, though if you're in bright light you'll need to get up pretty close to see them. Unless of course you have some kind of IR filter on your camera, in which case you won't see them.

    I've also been wondering about the best way to attach the Leap to DK2. There doesn't seem to be anywhere to place it without covering up LEDs..

    FYI, in the Leap v2 SDK, there's a "Top Down" mode which is optimised for HMDs. I plan to give this a go once I figure out a way of attaching it!


    I'm beginning to think we either have the wrong information or I'm getting my leg pulled. I've tried over and over again to look at my DK2 with my iPhone camera, and it's clear that there's no infrared emitters on the HMD itself. The picture linked earlier should be that of a case-less Crystal Cove and not the DK2.
    July 30, 2014
    "InteriorD" wrote:

    I'm beginning to think we either have the wrong information or I'm getting my leg pulled. I've tried over and over again to look at my DK2 with my iPhone camera, and it's clear that there's no infrared emitters on the HMD itself. The picture linked earlier should be that of a case-less Crystal Cove and not the DK2.



    Here's a pic of the LEDs that I just took on my Nexus 5. They are there!

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/257507/dk2_leds.jpg
    InteriorDAuthor
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    "yezzer" wrote:
    "InteriorD" wrote:

    I'm beginning to think we either have the wrong information or I'm getting my leg pulled. I've tried over and over again to look at my DK2 with my iPhone camera, and it's clear that there's no infrared emitters on the HMD itself. The picture linked earlier should be that of a case-less Crystal Cove and not the DK2.



    Here's a pic of the LEDs that I just took on my Nexus 5. They are there!

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/257507/dk2_leds.jpg


    Oh wow, they're really subtle. Maybe that's why I missed them on my iPhone. Thanks a ton! Really appreciate it.
    Up and Coming
    July 30, 2014
    It highly depends on your phone's camera whether or not you'll be able to see them that way.

    That said, I posted links to images that show the placement, and if you search "Crystal Cove Prototype" you'll find plenty of images of that that have the IR LEDs exposed (and they are the same configuration, from what I can tell comparing that image of the DK2 without the case and the CC prototype images).
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