While the closest most consumers have come to hand tracking in virtual reality (VR) is dabbling with Oculus Quest’s built-in system, enterprise and pros using PC VR headsets have had a much greater array of choice. Manus is one company specialising in this particular field, having released its Manus Prime II gloves in 2020. Today, the company has unveiled a new peripheral, its Manus Pro Trackers for SteamVR setups.
Manus’ gloves have an array of bend sensors and haptics depending on the model but they always rely on external solutions like the Vive Trackers for 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) positioning. With the new Manus Pro Trackers that’s no longer the case – where SteamVR is involved.
Manus’ own in-house design has improved the standard Vive Tracker, offering a smaller, lighter product, ideal for attaching to the back of your hand. Weighing in at 62 grams the company states: “The tracker is 44% lighter when compared to available alternatives.” The device also comes with an interchangeable battery providing 4.5 hours of use, then easily swapped over if customers have spares.
Other key features of the Manus Pro Tracker include more sensors than other SteamVR trackers on the market, one-hour charging via a USB-C cable and multiple mounting options. It can be attached to the Prime II gloves, onto any camera through its cold shoe, or onto props using the 1/4″ camera thread adapter and 3M adhesive tape adapter. Plus there’s an optional strap-set to attach the tracker to yourself for full-body tracking.
“After years of using SteamVR Tracking, we are excited to launch our own SteamVR enabled product. We have been amazed by the accuracy and ease-of-use of this tracking solution for a long time,” said Bart Loosman, Manus CEO in a statement. As one of the very first companies in the world to get access to the SteamVR technology, we hope to improve the workflow of creative professionals around the world with our very own professional tracker.”
Pre-orders for the Manus Pro Tracker begin today, retailing for €299 EUR. Towards the end of 2020, the company reduced the price of its Prime II range of gloves, so now they start from €1,499 or €2,499 for the haptic version.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of Manus, reporting back with its latest updates.