Hardware Podcasts

162: I Am a Boomerang Enthusiast

Embedded.fm · 26 Jul 2016 · 1h 21m

What this episode covers

Alan Yates, a hardware engineer at Valve responsible for the Vive tracking system, explains the Lighthouse optical tracking technology, which uses spinning mirrors and infrared lasers to achieve sub-millimeter precision. He details the engineering challenges of combining high-frequency IMU data with lower-frequency optical updates using Kalman filters, and discusses the decision to use ST and NXP Cortex-M0 microcontrollers for the 'Watchman' receivers. The conversation covers the transition from 3D-printed prototypes to mass-produced base stations, the importance of hackability, and the community's reverse engineering efforts.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Valve, iFixit
Products
HTC Vive, Lighthouse, Oculus Rift, Steam VR
Chips
ST Cortex-M0, NXP Cortex-M0
Tools
Kalman filter, Unity
Also
Doc OK, nairol, Trammell Hudson, SparkleTree, Make Magazine

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