VicoVR Promises Full-Body Motion Tracking in Mobile VR Headsets
A lot of VR’s potential could be tapped in the mobile VR niche, but its hardware limitations are barring some of this potential to be realized. Motion tracking, for example, can only be found built into some of the high-end VR hardware, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. VicoVR is set to bridge this hardware gap by making a wireless body motion tracking device built specifically for mobile VR headsets.
The VicoVR sensor lets you wear a relatively inexpensive pair of mobile VR goggles, such as the Google Cardboard and the Samsung Gear VR, while tracking your body movements to control what you see in a virtual environment. The sensor scans whatever place you’re into – a room, for example – and maps your body movements using up to 19 different body joints. Not only the sensor works for a single user, it has support for two simultaneous users in the same VR environment. The sensor then processes your movements via a 3D vision processing unit (VPU) then sends the data to the device.
The sensor transmits all of your body movements wirelessly via Bluetooth, and is compatible with most iOS and Android devices, as long as your device can run VR.
VicoVR plans to sell its mobile VR motion tracker for around $270, with a discounted price of $200 for early backers on its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. There are also bundles which can be availed, which already comes with the sensor itself, a VicoVR pair of VR glasses, wireless controllers, and a power brick. These bundles will start at $219 via the Indiegogo campaign.
For those who want a “two-heads-are-better-than-one” experience, VicoVR offers a Buddy Pack, which includes two controllers and two VicoVR headsets. VicoVR is also offering the accessories as standalone products – the wireless controller can be bought for $35 and the proprietary VR headset for $30. The company is expecting $75,000 from its supporters in order to successfully launch the motion-tracking sensor.
The company is expected to ship all hardware products by November this year, as long as the funding proves successful. They will also include 10 games with the hardware, which will let the user to explore the motion-tracking abilities of VicoVR.
For more information on VicoVR, please visit the following websites:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vicovr-full-body-mobile-vr-gaming-system–2#/
https://www.facebook.com/GoVicoVR/
https://vicovr.com
