Tracking of real Objects in VR? Yes, precisely!

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the design and execution of various experiments utilizing VR tracking devices to assess their precision in measuring positional and rotational data. The HTC Vive Ultimate Tracker will serve as the primary device in these experiments and will act as a baseline for future studies involving alternative tracking technologies, such as RFID-based systems. Research was conducted on possible methods for measuring positional and rotational data. Based on these insights, several concepts for measurement-scenarios were created.

Initially, simple geometric objects will be used to establish a foundational understanding of the tracker’s performance. Subsequently, the methodology will be extended to more complex objects, such as a coffee mug. Afterwards, a third experiment will examine whether operating multiple tracking devices at the same time will interfere with each other and if there are possibilities to prevent such interferences.

In parallel with the experimental work, a detailed user manual for the developed application will be created. This documentation is intended to enable any user to replicate the presented experiments and to facilitate the addition of new experiments in the future.

The tracker was able to perform precisely within the millimeter scale but showed a jittering motion of a couple of millimeters. Deviations of a few centimeters could be perceived but were corrected once the tracker was being moved. Notably, the tracker exhibited highly stable tracking performance, with tracking losses occurring only under particularly adverse conditions. Furthermore, the tracker showed the ability to map its surroundings dynamically, successfully establishing its position even in previously unobserved environments.