Introduction of Full Body Tracking VR Cost
Full body tracking can take virtual reality immersion to the next level by letting you use your whole body to control your avatar. However, solutions like HTC Vive trackers can cost over $1000 for a basic setup. Thankfully, more affordable options have emerged allowing anyone to try full body VR on a budget.
This guide will overview the costs, pros and cons, and best cheap alternatives for full body tracking in 2024. We’ll cover everything you need to know to get an immersive full body VR experience without breaking the bank.
Key Takeaways:
- Full body tracking can cost under $200 with DIY webcam and software solutions.
- Open source hardware like SlimeVR and HaritoraX offer wireless tracking for around $300.
- The Oculus Quest 2 can support full body tracking with a PC and cable/wireless connection.
- Driver4VR software works with DIY and third party trackers for only $18.
- Upfront cost is cheaper but convenience and accuracy is lower than Vive trackers.
What is Full Body Tracking and Why Would You Want It?
Full body tracking refers to technology that can track the motions of your entire body as input to control a virtual avatar. This goes beyond just head and hand tracking that all major VR headsets offer today.
With additional trackers positioned around your body, full body tracking allows natural movements like leaning, kicking, dancing, and crouching to translate directly into VR. This massively enhances immersion in social VR spaces, games, and other active experiences.
Key Benefits of Full Body VR Tracking
- More natural motion and control over your virtual avatar.
- Ability to use your whole body for interactions and gameplay.
- Enhanced realism, immersion and presence in VR.
- Social experiences like VRChat are more expressive with tracked movement.
- Allows motion capture style recording.
Full body tracking takes virtual reality a leap closer to feeling like you’re inside another world interacting seamlessly. Experiences where you can see and use your full body feel much more visceral than just floating hands.
Complete Full Body Tracking Packages
Entry-level full body rigs start around $900, consisting of:
- VR headset – $300 to $500
- Tracking accessories bundle – $500+
- Compatible gaming PC – at least $800+
Popular all-in-one packages are:
- Vive Trackers (3 pack + Tracker Dongles + Straps) – $500
- Tundra Trackers (3 Trackers + Dongles + Face Tracker) – $550
- HaritoraX Suit & Trackers – $899+
With the headset on top, expect an $1300+ entry investment. Options like the Vive Pro 2 or Index raise costs to the $2000+ range .
Breaking Down the Main Components
If you already own some of the components like a VR headset and PC, costs lower considerably. Here’s a breakdown:
- VR Headset – $300 to $1500+
- Tracking Sensors – $200+ per tracker
- Tracking Dongles – $50+ each
- Gaming PC (Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti/AMD RX 6700 XT minimum) – $800+
With careful component selection, $1000 can achieve simple full body using waist/feet/hand trackers. High-end gear still spans well over $2000+ though.
What You Get for the Money
Paying for full body tracking grants:
- Natural walking, dancing movements detecting steps
- Leaning and torso directional detection
- Lifelike arm motions and detailed hand/finger tracking
- Facial expressions transferring via camera and algorithms
Performance depends on the quality of the trackers and computing systems converting gait into avatars. But even entry-level setups beat basic headsets with controllers.
HTC Vive Trackers: The Gold Standard for Full Body VR
The most robust and precise full body tracking solution today uses HTC Vive’s proprietary SteamVR tracking system. This uses external base station sensors to precisely track the 3D position of wireless Vive Trackers attached to your body.
How HTC Vive Trackers Work
Vive Trackers use Valve’s SteamVR tracking technology, also known as Lighthouse. This uses infrared lasers in base station sensors mounted in your playspace. The Vive Trackers have sensors that detect these laser sweeps and communicate their position back to your PC via radio signal.
This allows 6 degrees of freedom tracking with sub-millimeter precision and sub-20ms latency. The external base stations provide a full 360 degree tracking volume. Occlusion is also minimal since the base stations see the trackers from multiple angles.
Vive Tracker Setup Cost
To use HTC Vive Trackers for full body VR, you need:
- 2 SteamVR Base Stations 2.0 – $134 each = $268
- 3 Vive Trackers 3.0 – $99 each = $297
- Tracker mounts or straps – ~$20-$30 each = $60-$90
This puts the total cost between $625 – $655 for a basic 3 tracker full body setup using Vive equipment. You can use 1.0 base stations to save some cost, but 2.0 stations provide better room scale tracking.
The benefit is that Vive Trackers offer the most accurate and responsive full body tracking available today. There’s a reason they are the standard for high end VR installations.
Downsides of Vive Trackers
The main downside with HTC Vive Trackers is clearly the high cost. The trackers themselves are proprietary and locked to SteamVR tracking.
They also require mounting on your body with straps or accessories. Occlusion can still be an issue if you turn away from the base stations too.
For most consumers, Vive Trackers are simply too expensive especially considering the limited software support. This has spurred innovation in more affordable full body tracking methods.
Full Body VR Tracking on a Budget
Thankfully, where HTC Vive Trackers fall short in affordability, new budget-friendly solutions have emerged. These range from DIY webcam rigs costing less than $20, to proprietary hardware kits starting around $160.
While cheaper systems trade off some accuracy and tracking volume compared to Vive, they make full body VR accessible to anyone. Cost savings of $500 or more outweigh the disadvantages for casual use.
Let’s explore some of the best cheap full body tracking options available today.
DIY Webcam Tracking
One extremely cheap method for full body tracking relies solely on using an existing webcam. By placing printed fiducial markers on key parts of your body, special software can track their 2D movement on webcam video.
AprilTags
AprilTags utilizes QR code style markers that are detected after calibrating the webcam position. It’s capable of tracking hips, feet, elbows, knees and more depending on marker placement. AprilTags is free software created by a VR enthusiast.
MediaPipe
MediaPipe takes a similar approach to AprilTags by using a webcam for markerless body tracking based on machine learning. This eliminates the need to print and attach tags. MediaPipe is very new but shows potential once refined.
Webcam Tracking Pros
- Extremely cheap – only need a webcam and printed markers.
- Simple setup.
Webcam Tracking Cons
- Limited tracking volume and occlusion issues.
- Only 2D tracking, lacks depth perception.
- Higher latency.
- Can lose tracking if markers are obscured.
Still, for under $20 spent on a webcam, DIY webcam tracking enables passable full body VR on a tight budget.
Kinect Tracking
Microsoft’s old Kinect camera for Xbox can also be repurposed for full body tracking using software like Kinect2VR.
The Kinect contains depth sensors along with its camera, providing better 3D spatial tracking than a normal webcam. Kinect2VR translates Kinect input into virtual trackers in SteamVR.
You can find used Xbox Kinects for around $30-60 on eBay. Along with free Kinect2VR software, this provides low cost full body tracking with some caveats.
Kinect Tracking Pros
- Full software and hardware solution under $100.
- Built-in depth sensing and body tracking.
Kinect Tracking Cons
- Old Kinect hardware limits tracking quality.
- Limited tracking angle, occlusion issues.
- Noticeable latency.
Still, with some tweaking Kinect hardware can offer decent full body VR on a budget.
SlimeVR
SlimeVR is an in-development open source wireless full body tracking system. It uses nine-axis inertial motion sensors (IMUs) attached to different body parts instead of external cameras.
SlimeVR trackers then transmit their motion data to software than combines this to model your full body movement. This provides good tracking without lighthouses or cameras.
A basic SlimeVR setup with 5 trackers for hips and feet costs $195. Additional trackers can be added for elbow, knee and foot tracking up to 11 points. SlimeVR works with VRChat, NeosVR and other platforms.
SlimeVR Pros
- Affordable compared to Vive trackers.
- Open source system.
- Wireless and versatile without lighthouses.
SlimeVR Cons
- Still in development, not full consumer launch yet.
- Limited supply and third party production.
- Prone to sensor drift over time.
SlimeVR aims to bring wireless full body tracking to the masses. It shows enormous potential for budget VR users when availability improves.
HaritoraX
The HaritoraX by Shiftall is another IMU-based wireless full body tracker similar to SlimeVR. It uses five trackers connected via wires for hip and feet tracking.
HaritoraX has been released in some regions for around $300. Additional optional trackers also provide elbow and knee tracking. Reported battery life is up to 10 hours.
HaritoraX Pros
- Affordable compared to Vive.
- Available now unlike SlimeVR.
HaritoraX Cons
- Still relatively limited supply.
- Maximum of 5 trackers, fewer points than SlimeVR.
- Wire
HaritoraX provides an affordable IMU-based tracking option that is commercially available today. As supply improves, it has potential to bring full body VR to the mainstream.
Tundra Trackers
Tundra Trackers are another SteamVR tracking based solution made by Tundra Labs. Similarly to SlimeVR and HaritoraX, these aim to provide an affordable alternative to Vive Trackers for full body VR.
Tundra Trackers use the same underlying technology as Vive Trackers but in a cheaper package. This means they still require SteamVR base stations for tracking. A set of three Tundra Trackers retail for $349, saving around $100 compared to HTC Vive Trackers.
Tundra Trackers Pros
- More affordable than Vive Trackers.
- Provide accurate SteamVR tracking without DIY.
Tundra Trackers Cons
- Still require lighthouses, raising total cost.
- Not as big of savings compared to DIY solutions.
Tundra Trackers sit in an awkward middle ground between high end enterprise trackers and budget DIY tracking. They provide a nice middle option for access to SteamVR tracking without HTC pricing.
Driver4VR
Driver4VR is a versatile piece of software that enables many budget tracking options to work together. It supports DIY solutions like webcam tracking as well as third party trackers.
Driver4VR essentially provides the glue between unsupported devices and SteamVR. This means you can mix and match various affordable trackers to achieve a full body tracking setup.
For only $18, Driver4VR is a no brainer for anyone wanting to experiment with budget full body VR. It provides a common interface to leverage all sorts of cheap tracking hardware.
Driver4VR Pros
- Extremely affordable software to combine tracking devices.
- Enables mixing different tracker types.
Driver4VR Cons
- Requires DIY setup and tweaking for best results.
- Tracking quality varies based on hardware used.
Driver4VR delivers value by supporting and combining various affordable tracking gadgets. It’s a handy tool for VR tinkerers on a budget.
Can Oculus Quest 2 Do Full Body Tracking?
A common question is whether full body tracking works with the popular stand-alone Oculus Quest 2 headset. The Quest 2 does not support full body tracking out of the box as a standalone device.
However, by connecting your Quest 2 to a gaming PC with Oculus Link or Air Link, full body tracking becomes possible. This uses the PC’s resources to process the additional tracking data.
Any of the budget tracking solutions mentioned above will work with Quest 2 as long as you have a capable gaming PC. Vive Trackers also work with Quest 2 plus SteamVR base stations.
Stand-alone inside-out tracking on the Quest 2 is not yet advanced enough to enable full external body tracking. But a PC and wired/wireless connection unlocks various affordable tracking options.
Full Body Tracking for VR on a Budget: Bottom Line
While HTC Vive Trackers offer the most robust and precise full body VR experience, more affordable options exist for casual users. Solutions like DIY webcam tracking, SlimeVR, HaritoraX, and Driver4VR now make entry level full body VR achievable for under $300.
Novice users should start with DIY webcam or Kinect tracking to sample full body VR for cheap. Serious hobbyists may want to invest $200-400 in solutions like SlimeVR or HaritoraX for better wireless tracking. Completists can still go high end with Vive Trackers when cost isn’t as big of a concern.
Full body tracking capability is also unlockable for around $300-600 in total for Oculus Quest 2 owners with a VR ready PC. Overall there are now plenty of budget options to enjoy immersive social VR, gameplay, and virtual worlds using your entire body on a spectrum of budgets.
The technology is still evolving rapidly, so expect even more affordable advanced tracking possibilities in the coming years. But today even casual users can get started with full body tracking for $200 or less to enhance VR immersion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Full Body Tracking
How much does basic full body tracking cost?
Basic full body tracking for just hips and feet can cost as little as $20-30 using DIY webcam tracking solutions. Purpose built options with better tracking like SlimeVR or HaritoraX start around $200. High end Vive Trackers cost over $600 for a basic 3 tracker setup.
What is needed for full body tracking on Quest 2?
To use full body tracking with Oculus Quest 2, you need three things – the Quest 2 headset, a VR ready gaming PC, and a tracking solution like Vive Trackers or a webcam setup. The Quest 2 works with many options when connected to a PC via Oculus Link or Air Link.
Is full body tracking worth it?
Full body tracking significantly enhances immersion and embodiment in VR, especially social apps like VRChat. It makes motion feel much more natural. If you are on a tight budget, start with a DIY webcam solution. For better quality, wireless trackers in the $300 range provide a good middle ground.
Can I mix and match different trackers?
Yes, software like Driver4VR enables combining different brands and types of trackers to achieve full body tracking. You could use Kinect for your torso then optically tracked feet, for example. Mixing solutions can help further reduce costs.
How complicated is setup and calibration?
Setup and calibration complexity varies greatly by solution. Vive Trackers are the most seamless to use. DIY webcam tracking requires manual marker placement and tweaking. Inertial sensor setups like SlimeVR involve an initial calibration process. Overall most options only require moderate technical comfort to set up.
How good is the tracking accuracy?
Tracking accuracy ranges widely depending on solution – Vive Trackers offer professional-grade sub-millimeter precision. Inertial sensors drift over time so need occasional recalibration. Webcams offer poor depth tracking. For casual use, cheaper trackers provide “good enough” tracking for enhanced immersion.
Conclusion
Full body tracking in VR is now within reach of mainstream users thanks to the emergence of budget-friendly solutions. While Vive Trackers remain the gold standard, consumers can get started with basic tracking for their Oculus Quest 2 or other headsets for only $20-30 using their existing webcam.
Purpose-built options from SlimeVR, HaritoraX, Tundra and others now make quality untethered tracking attainable for around $300. Driver4VR enables creatively mixing and matching these various hardware pieces.
The technology still has room for refinement as more competitors enter the space. But even today, novice VR users can enjoy the immersion and embodiment benefits of full body tracking on a reasonable budget.
If you have any other questions about affordability or how to get set up with budget full body VR tracking, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m here to provide any other details you need on the path to immersive VR on a budget.