HTC Announces 6DOF Controller Tracking Development Kit for Vive Focus

HTC announced today a follow-up module of the 6DOF controller for Vive Focus, which brings the 6DOF controller tracking to the device. The add-on, which includes a pair of controllers, is released as a development kit.

Vive Focus, HTC's standalone VR headset, was launched in China in early 2018 and was launched as a development kit in the West in May. One of the defining features of the headset was 6DOF head tracking, but the only controller provided with the headset provides only a basic 3DOF input.

Apparently, in response to both Oculus Quest and Mirage Solo's 6DOF experimental controller, HTC announced today that the Vive Focus would get its own 6DOF controller tracking add-in in the form of a kit. development, which fits the pair of new 6DOF controllers. Developers can submit their interest in receiving the Vive Focus 6DOF Controller Development Kit Add-On from today.

here is @AGraylin demonstration of the new 6DoF dual controller development kit for the HTC Vive Focus! More info here: https://t.co/pT4y1oqjSO #vr #vivefocus pic.twitter.com/QGx5J9PtrV

– Richard Lai (@richardlai) October 20, 2018

While Vive Focus was one of the first autonomous VR headsets to include tracking in the 6DOF sense, coupling with a 3DOF controller places it in a very delicate design space where developers need to design a system capable of following completely the user's head, but only partially follow the user's hand, ultimately limiting the type of games and experiences that can be created for the device. The addition of a good tracking of the 6DOF controller to the helmet increases the immersion and makes the content more appealing.

HTC had previously announced that the Vive Focus 3DOF controller would switch to 6DOF mode, but the controllers we see from the 6DOF controller's dev-kit are all different.

Few details have emerged on the operation of the tracking system, but HTC says the 6DOF Controller Development Kit for Vive Focus includes two new controllers and a "tracking attachment" for the headset itself. Other headsets such as Quest use built-in cameras to locate and track infrared LEDs on controllers. Vive Focus already includes embedded cameras to handle its own head movements, but the addition suggests that other technologies are used to track the new 6DOF controllers. From the images we have, the Vive Focus 6DOF controllers seem to have a looped top that probably contains hardware to support the tracking technology.

When asked what were HTC's plans to offer the 6DOF controller monitoring to consumers, the company said: RV Road plans to launch new headsets based on Vive Wave (HTC's mobile VR operating system that will also power other headsets other than HTC's), which will include 6DOF position tracking. The development kit, said HTC, will allow developers to create these future devices.