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Creating motion-sensitive headset (Read 243 times)

Feb 17^th, 2008 at 6:33am

machineman9 Offline
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On youtube there are videos for how to turn Wiimotes (with the help of an old mouse and USB cables) into a working mouse for the computer.

Anyway, I am thinking about trying to do something similar to what TrackIR offers using this technique.

I am thinking of mounting a Wiimote (as I have one) ontop of my monitor and linking it to a spare mouse.... Then I would fasten 2 or so LEDs to a pair of spare sunglasses and wire these to USB so that they are powered.

The reason why I think this would work is in the Wiimote mouse videos there is often lit candles or something which the mote uses for reference points, and using LEDs would still create IR with which the mote could use to reference off. The only difference is that instead of the mote moving, the IR references are moving... which should be just the same as if the mote had moved. Change a few settings in the game and you have the mouse (Wiimote) as the camera control..

What do you think of this? Do you reckon it is a feasable project? I have all the required items, but from the looks of it, only X and Y would be affected... no Z or rotation movement.

Cheers

« Last Edit: Mar 1^st, 2008 at 5:46pm by machineman9 »

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Reply #1 - Feb 17^th, 2008 at 12:49pm

machineman9 Offline
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The use of the mote failed... but a second thought has come in

Using the same headset mock up I think I can achieve something like in the video here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

Basically using a webcam (with a program called Free Track) and a headset like in that video... the same result is achieved for a very small price.

NICE!

Shall try to buy some IR LEDs later this week... and I will need a decent webcam.

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Reply #2 - Feb 17^th, 2008 at 2:40pm

Wii Offline
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That is awesome! I want one...

Can you say "next gen gaming"?

&&http://352photography.webs.com/

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Reply #3 - Feb 17^th, 2008 at 3:34pm

machineman9 Offline
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I would say so...

It is just a really neat thing to have.

In my first test I blew up an IR LED (which was centimetres from my eye) in a matter of seconds.

I guess I should do more reading and less experimenting... I havent been more scared in years. It glowed orange and then a puff of smoke as it burn out. Removed the USB connection just in time- I could have faced a short soon after.

Perhaps I will buy the TrackIR headset, but use a webcam and FreeTrack to save money... I really dont like the idea of electronics going like this so close my face...

What sort of a resistor would be required to lower the voltage from 5V down to 4.5V so that it can be shared in series to 3 LEDs? Im not really sure when it comes to resistors what I need... edit: a 5.1Ohms is enough, apparently. 5V going through 3 LEDs, each at 1.5V and each with 100mA

THESE

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Reply #4 - Feb 23^rd, 2008 at 12:20pm

newberiffic Offline
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Wii wrote on Feb 17^th, 2008 at 2:40pm:

That is awesome! I want one...

Can you say "next gen gaming"?

Hell ya, that is badass!!!

P4 duo 3.4, 4 gb ram dual geforce 5200's running a projector, 3 monitors, a simpit with Ch Throttle Quad, pedals, yoke, a hacked up and extended force feedback, a real Garmin 396 using gpsout, freetrack head tracking, a F-16 seat, and yes the seat cushion can be used as a floatation device......really!&&&&

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Reply #5 - Feb 23^rd, 2008 at 12:49pm

machineman9 Offline
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And anyway...

I am about to order my webcam to make this FreeTrack project work.

Might have results soon, just need the LEDs, resistor and webcam...

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Reply #6 - Feb 26^th, 2008 at 5:45pm

machineman9 Offline
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Well I have ordered the webcam, should be arriving late this week or early on the next.

At the weekend I will go componant-shopping.

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Reply #7 - Mar 1^st, 2008 at 5:47pm

machineman9 Offline
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Well I have the webcam required, and it has mucked up the webcam image with the IR filter removed (bah, I'm hardly photogenic anyway)

Anywho, where can I buy IR LEDs? Maplin has a very limited range, and I dont know where else I can get them...

Anyone have UK sites? Cheers

Well, maplin does have a 3mm one... but would this be alright do you think? £1.19 SFH487-3 GaAs IR LED

« Last Edit: Mar 1^st, 2008 at 6:49pm by machineman9 »

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Reply #8 - Mar 1^st, 2008 at 6:38pm

BuggsK100RS Offline
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Might sound daft but could you not get hold of some old TV remote and scavenge the IR LED's???

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Reply #9 - Mar 1^st, 2008 at 6:50pm

machineman9 Offline
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BuggsK100RS wrote on Mar 1^st, 2008 at 6:38pm:

Might sound daft but could you not get hold of some old TV remote and scavenge the IR LED's???

All the ones I have are in use, and I wouldnt be able to tell if they all have the same requirements, thus some might get damaged from the power put through them.

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Reply #10 - Mar 2^nd, 2008 at 4:23pm

J. Offline
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wow awesome, watched the youtube vid and its pretty awesome!

im interested now about creating my own Head Tracking. could you please link me to the site where you are learning all this

cheers

J

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Reply #11 - Mar 2^nd, 2008 at 4:36pm

machineman9 Offline
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*links given*

To anyone else interested,

www.free-track.net
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MNstobEAado
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2269&criteria=infrared%20LED&doy=2m...

official site for software/other guides
guide i am following
place for LEDs, links respectively.

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Reply #12 - Mar 3^rd, 2008 at 11:40am

J. Offline
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found a better place for the LED's actually have the recomended one

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp;jsessionid=B13Z1WHABX2JPQFIAFAZKBQ?N...

also, got my web cam modified, and working, i did a short test in FS9 earlier using a TV remote as the emitter and it worked

cant wait to finish building the headset

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Reply #13 - Mar 4^th, 2008 at 11:20am

machineman9 Offline
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Well I have the 3 LEDs that I ordered (3mm ones, but I guess they should be okay)

Just need a resistor- I asked my tech teacher today and she forwarded me over to another teacher who mainly does A level stuff (we dont really use 11Ohm resistors) but I will have to wait until tomorow to see if I can get one.

What other shops might have one? I have a B&Q nearby but im not sure if they will be likely to have one. Any thoughts?

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Reply #14 - Mar 5^th, 2008 at 4:28pm

machineman9 Offline
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Okay. I have a few assurances from my teacher that she will find me a suitable resistor for my project.

If this doesnt turn out to be the case, could I strap another LED (a regular red one) into the circuit so that it does not need to be resisted?

3x1.5V LEDs+
1x.15 or so V LED

Would this keep me out of danger of over powering it?

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Reply #15 - Mar 6^th, 2008 at 2:33pm

machineman9 Offline
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Okay, It is all wired correctly and the circuit is working too... my problem is that the LEDs are lighting and are not showing on FreeTrack nor on digital cameras which are seeing other IR signals.

Any suggestions? The circuit should be fine...

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Reply #16 - Mar 6^th, 2008 at 4:02pm

JSpahn Offline
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Maybe you should try focusing the beam from the led by making a cone around it. Just a thought, honestly I wouldn't know unless I tried this Huh

Huh

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Reply #17 - Mar 6^th, 2008 at 4:04pm

machineman9 Offline
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JSpahn wrote on Mar 6^th, 2008 at 4:02pm:

Maybe you should try focusing the beam from the led by making a cone around it. Just a thought, honestly I wouldn't know unless I tried this Huh

Huh

Strap black rubbery tape around it? Can try...

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Reply #18 - Mar 8^th, 2008 at 10:09am

BuggsK100RS Offline
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You would be better using some aluminium tape as its fully reflective on both sides. I sued it on a lighting kit on my RC stock are and it made a HUGE difference to the amount of light being reflected out the holes in the body shell

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Reply #19 - Mar 10^th, 2008 at 3:38pm

machineman9 Offline
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Hmm, well my father and I are having doubts in the LEDs themselves...

Arent IR LEDs usually clear? These are purple (UV ones or something maybe?) despite saying on the list that they are IR...

No IR whatsoever is coming out from them- so have I been ripped off?

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Reply #20 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 5:34am

J. Offline
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the IR LED's i looked at where either blue, purple or clear plastic casings, i dont think it makes that much differance really mate on the casing color.

I completed the temporary construction of my Free-Track headset yesterday

all up and working

and all held together with Black electrical tape Grin

Grin

Grin

didnt want to start soldering until i new it would work

J

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Reply #21 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 7:20am

BuggsK100RS Offline
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If you going to sit and use that thing just make sure that nobody can see you as i think that thay would worry that you where trying to turn your self in to a Borg from Start trek Grin

Grin

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Reply #22 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 8:14am

machineman9 Offline
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Well J... you have pretty much the same heaphones as me, and the exact same layout. Looks good.

Buggs... Well they are arent that noticeable, and i celotaped the wires down so it doesnt look as wierd. My parents know about my scheme and as of all the wierd things ive done before, they just accept it Grin

Grin

Time to try and check what the problem is.

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Reply #23 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 5:03pm

machineman9 Offline
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Okay. So for some reason using a 9V battery on one of the LEDs makes it light up. It turns out the wiring wasnt quite right, but still, it doesnt light up.

Any thoughts? That test is running a 9V battery directly through one of the LEDs legs.

I am really rather confused. All the wiring should be fine. The resistor is between the + USB wire and the + side of the circuit. All the - legs of the LEDs are on the other side. I cant seem to find a circuit tester anywhere so I am stuck on where the problem lies.

okay, seems fixed.

When I am about 20cm from the webcam, the LEDs show up, but any further they arent really visible. Also, what are good camera settings for the set up so that only the LEDs show up?

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Reply #24 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 7:38pm

J. Offline
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weird problem that. you hav'nt accidentaly got a resistor that is way to big have you???

get a multi meter and test the circuit one made to check for faults.

My LED's are not very bright Sad

Sad

so i either need a smaller resitor, bigger LED's or both. i mite try running it without a resistor, see what happens. if they blow its only £2.50 to get a new set of LED's

and i have a Maplin store local so its not to bad Tongue

Tongue

EDIT: im considering knicking a straw or two from work tomorrow and putting the LEDS in them so that they are all going in the same direction, just trying to standardise it a bit more

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Reply #25 - Mar 22^nd, 2008 at 9:01pm

machineman9 Offline
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Well, do remember that if you put too much through, then it could damage your computer aswell.

The LEDS arent lighting atall now. Bloody things.

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Reply #26 - Mar 24^th, 2008 at 8:25am

J. Offline
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best aircraft to use with free track has got to be the FSX:Acceleration F18 just awesome!!!!!!

low and slow still wins generally though

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Reply #27 - Apr 15^th, 2008 at 1:25pm

newberiffic Offline
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I did a little experimenting last weekend with freetrack and a night vision security cam I had laying around (the el cheapo kind) very low resolution. well I found that you don't need to mess with a filter or solderind led's or anything, just turn the brightness and contrast all the way down on the settings and make the tracker hat clip ( exactly like the track ir one's ) using some plastic and reflector security tape from menards or lowes for 3 bucks. and OMG you dont need led's or batteries. it seems to only see the tape !!

( I have to add that I was using in a pretty dark room )

beats spending the coin on a track ir for sure! Now if only I can get my projecor set up tonight... I may not get any sleep.

P4 duo 3.4, 4 gb ram dual geforce 5200's running a projector, 3 monitors, a simpit with Ch Throttle Quad, pedals, yoke, a hacked up and extended force feedback, a real Garmin 396 using gpsout, freetrack head tracking, a F-16 seat, and yes the seat cushion can be used as a floatation device......really!&&&&

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Reply #28 - Apr 15^th, 2008 at 3:50pm

machineman9 Offline
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Thanks for the tip.

In product design tech my friend is making one which is going to be much like a pair of glasses with the LEDs attached. I am going to ask if he will make me one for keeps...

My one is completely messed up and I could do with getting larger LEDs and fixing whatever went wrong.

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Reply #29 - Apr 16^th, 2008 at 5:33pm

HarvesteR Offline
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i've had a go with freetrack here, and i can say it works very well...

i didn't use IR leds or anything fancy... since it is webcam based tracking, it'll track pretty much any luminous spot you attach to your head

so i got hold of a little LED nightlight and stuck it between my head and my headset, with a paperclip to hold the button so it would stay on... then i turned on freetrack and there it was

well, it was a simple one-point tracking setup, which doesn't give you much movement freedom (only X an Y rotation actually), but it did work ok

it just demonstrated that you can have pretty much any kind of LED hooked up and the camera will pick it up

i also tried shining a remote control if front of the camera and it did pick up the light point

my camera is a MS LifeCam VX1000 and it worked ok tracking at 24FPS...

Cheers

HarvesteR

Cheesy

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