During CES 2019 Russian technology startup Antilatency showcased the latest version of its tracking solution for location-based entertainment (LBE), dubbed ALT. This week the product has gone on sale, aiming to offer a cost-effective solution to virtual reality (VR) tracking in a miniature package.
The entire system is based around the small ALT tracker which is powered by a USB cradle and the customisable IR floor mats. The tracking module is fitted with onboard image processing, IMU, and a 240-degree field of view inside a metal housing to track the IR layout; a set of reference bars which forms a specific pattern of active IR markers. The reference bars are connected to each other and fixed with foam floor mats.
Antilatency has designed its tracking solution to cover most VR arcades needs. The flooring system works out at $250 USD per 10 square meters while the ALT module with the USB cradle retails for $100. There are several other accessories to make ALT highly adaptable, with a range of cradles such as TAG for $35 which can be attached to a gun peripheral for example. TAG is wireless, with a built-in 300mAh and a USB-C socket. Also available is the Bracer, a wireless 6DoF hand module for $35 with built-in battery.
All customers need are the ALT modules which can then be hot-swapped between the various cradles depending on requirements.
“We are fans of VR and are sure that the only limit to the creation of new worlds should be the mind. Our team wants to constantly push the limits of what’s possible. And we’ve developed a positional tracking system with the minimum of tech restrictions,” said Roman Vdovchenko, Antilatency marketing chief in a statement. “Our system isn’t only able to track a high number of targets on a large scale. It’s an out of the box solution which provides stable tracking of anything, without any limits or additional requirements. Do you want to immerse 200 users into a VR environment at the same time, while they are running, having their whole body tracked, and allowing them to see each other? Why not? It can be a (virtual) reality!”
Interested VR companies can buy a DevKit for $350 to get started and then build from there as needed. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Antilatency, reporting back with the latest updates.