05-05-2013 05:06 AM
05-05-2013 08:10 AM
05-05-2013 09:03 AM
05-05-2013 09:21 AM
05-05-2013 10:32 AM
"KuraIthys" wrote:
The hydra is a bit of a dissapointment to be honest.
Don't get me wrong, it works, and it works well. But when you read through the sixsense SDK you start to realise how many of the features they originally designed into the system were pulled.
05-05-2013 10:38 AM
"KuraIthys" wrote:
- Base stations with multiple frequencies - The drivers support up to 4 base stations, so long as they are on seperate frequencies so they don't interfere.
That means that if a design used all the features available in the SDK, you could track up to 16 wireless controllers within a 10 meter area. (And although the SDK assumes they all have buttons and analog sticks and the like, there's no reason why they couldn't be designed in different shapes and for different purposes.)
05-05-2013 12:06 PM
"dmr83457" wrote:"KuraIthys" wrote:
- Base stations with multiple frequencies - The drivers support up to 4 base stations, so long as they are on seperate frequencies so they don't interfere.
That means that if a design used all the features available in the SDK, you could track up to 16 wireless controllers within a 10 meter area. (And although the SDK assumes they all have buttons and analog sticks and the like, there's no reason why they couldn't be designed in different shapes and for different purposes.)
What is available in the current consumer version? Can multiple base stations be used at all currently without interfering? If so I'm really going to kick myself for not getting multiple when they were on sale. (edit: actually looks like sale good through end of May)
05-05-2013 01:38 PM
"dmr83457" wrote:"KuraIthys" wrote:
- Base stations with multiple frequencies - The drivers support up to 4 base stations, so long as they are on seperate frequencies so they don't interfere.
That means that if a design used all the features available in the SDK, you could track up to 16 wireless controllers within a 10 meter area. (And although the SDK assumes they all have buttons and analog sticks and the like, there's no reason why they couldn't be designed in different shapes and for different purposes.)
What is available in the current consumer version? Can multiple base stations be used at all currently without interfering? If so I'm really going to kick myself for not getting multiple when they were on sale. (edit: actually looks like sale good through end of May)
"Felix12g" wrote:
Just a note, I ordered one a week back and it looks like they're back ordered by a month right now.
But that's definitely interesting to know about the API, do you think its a hardware or firmware restriction preventing the 4 controllers per base station?
05-05-2013 01:51 PM
"KuraIthys" wrote:
The hydra is a bit of a dissapointment to be honest.
Don't get me wrong, it works, and it works well. But when you read through the sixsense SDK you start to realise how many of the features they originally designed into the system were pulled.
Things the hydra prototypes could do that the final design cannot:
(In no particular order)
- Base can light up in any RGB shade (Hydra is green only.)
- Wireless controllers
- Controller rumble.
- Up to 4 controllers per base station.
- Base stations with multiple frequencies - The drivers support up to 4 base stations, so long as they are on seperate frequencies so they don't interfere.
That means that if a design used all the features available in the SDK, you could track up to 16 wireless controllers within a 10 meter area. (And although the SDK assumes they all have buttons and analog sticks and the like, there's no reason why they couldn't be designed in different shapes and for different purposes.)
Also... Rumble. Which I miss quite badly after becoming used to how the wii uses it for haptic feedback sometimes.
Even with just a single base station, I can imagine designing a system based on the tech with 4 wireless controllers - 2 hand controllers, one for head tracking, and probably one on a waist strap for torso tracking.
- You could create gloves with the tech too if you wanted. Just mount the tracker onto the back of the hand, and replace the buttons with finger bend sensors and the like.
05-05-2013 02:35 PM
"KuraIthys" wrote:
As to the 4 controllers per base station, from reading through a bit more of the SDK, the base station has to 'activate' the controllers somehow. (For the wireless ones, given the possibility of multiple base stations in the area, it mentions this might need special handling because the controllers by default tend to connect to whatever base station they first encounter.)
Looking at the hydra design itself, using wired controllers, I'm not sure. - I doubt they would bother deliberately crippling the internal processors, but they may not have wired the extra connections.
If the wire carries an independent signal for each of the two controllers, then I suspect there is going to be a physical limit of two controllers due to lack of available wiring for more.
If the cable somehow combines the data for both controllers though, it's feasible that it may be possible to create a functional device with up to 4 wired controllers, and possibly even sell it as an independent upgrade.
The controllers are plugged in to a socket on the base station, so the controllers are replaceable independent of the base station, certainly. On top of that, both controllers share a single wire, along most of the length...
However, it's more likely the two controllers are wired independently to the plug. (I guess you could test this if you took a unit apart and did a continuity test on the wiring.)
If that's the case, then the physical connection for the extra two controllers simply doesn't exist. - And I assume wireless controllers are off the table for a similar reason.
It's a pity, but it seems like a hardware limitation.