opentrack/opentrack
Opentrack
opentrack is head tracking software for simulators that measures a user's head orientation using cameras, sensors, or a smartphone's gyroscope and sends the data to flight simulators and games for immersive view control. It detects printed fiducial markers from a webcam feed to compute head rotation angles with sub‑degree accuracy, and it can also stream orientation data from a phone's IMU over a local network, replacing dedicated hardware. A plugin‑based pipeline architecture drives the tracking process through a configurable chain of input, filter, and output modules connected by a shared data interface, all coordinated by a real‑time lock‑free event loop that maintains low latency.
The software distinguishes itself by supporting multiple output protocols—including FreeTrack, TrackIR NPClient, and UDP—through a unified protocol abstraction layer, making it compatible with a wide range of simulation software. Before transmitting the head pose, opentrack applies customizable shaping, filtering, and acceleration curves to the raw movement data, allowing users to define spline‑based response curves, smoothing, and dead zones for a natural feel. Its modular architecture enables mixing camera‑based and gyroscope‑based input, and the network protocol abstraction encapsulates each communication method behind a common interface, simplifying integration with new and existing applications.
Features
- Head Orientation Sensors - Measures a user's head orientation using gyroscopes, accelerometers, and cameras to provide real-time control input for applications.
- Fiducial Marker Detection - Detects printed fiducial markers from a webcam feed to compute head rotation angles with sub-degree accuracy.
- Head-Tracked View Controllers - Uses head orientation sensors to control the view in flight simulators and racing games, replacing a mouse or joystick.
- Head Movement Filters - Applies custom smoothing, acceleration, and nonlinear response curves to head tracking data for natural feel.
- Head Movement Shapers - Applies customizable shaping, filtering, and curve adjustments to head tracking data before outputting to applications.
- Head Pose Transmitters - Sends captured head tracking data to applications, including flight simulators and video games, through multiple network protocols.
- Multi-Protocol Head Pose Outputs - Delivers head pose to games and applications through multiple protocols including FreeTrack and UDP.
- Simulator Head Trackers - Measures a user's head orientation using cameras, sensors, or smartphone gyroscopes and sends the data to flight simulators and games for immersive control.
- Protocol Abstraction Layers - Encapsulates FreeTrack, TrackIR NPClient, and UDP protocols behind a unified interface for head pose output.
- Pipeline Plugins - Processes head tracking data through a configurable chain of input, filter, and output pipeline plugins.
- Simulator Protocol Clients - Supports FreeTrack, TrackIR NPClient, UDP, and other protocols to interface with a wide range of simulation software.
- Camera Marker Trackers - Uses a webcam to detect printed markers and compute head rotation angles with sub-degree accuracy.
- Phone Gyroscope Game Controllers - Streams head orientation data from a phone's gyroscope over a local network for use as a game controller.
- Phone Gyroscope Trackers - Streams orientation data from a phone's gyroscope over Wi-Fi to replace dedicated hardware for simulation use.
- Printed Marker Trackers - Detects a printed marker from a camera feed and computes head rotation angles for simulation input.
- Smartphone Gyroscope Streamers - Streams head orientation data from a smartphone gyroscope over a local network for game and simulation head tracking.
- Network Gyroscope Streamers - Captures orientation data from a phone's IMU over a local network and integrates it into the tracking pipeline.
- Lock-Free - Drives the tracking pipeline with a high-frequency lock-free event loop to maintain low-latency updates.
- Spline-Based Signal Shapers - Applies user-defined spline curves to filter and remap raw head movement signals before output.
- Camera & Gimbals - Head-tracking software for controlling camera orientation via goggles.
