A smaller and cheaper alternative to the HTC Vive Tracker?
Tundra Labs, a company that manufactures chips and other SteamVR-development kits, is currently developing a smaller and more affordable version of the well-known HTC Vive tracker. A Kickstart-campagne to finance the project and gather feedback has been launched as of January 2021. Information about the development of this product is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
What do we know about the Tundra Tracker?
The Tundra Tracker is set to compete directly with the Vive-tracker. These trackers are additional sensors that can be attached to real-world objects, such as your arms, legs, and feet - but also to items like a tennis racket or a VR gun. The trackers connect via a direct link to HTC Vive base stations.
Luka Beno, founder of Tundra Labs, states that the Tundra Tracker is approximately 60% smaller, consumes 50% less power, weighs 50% less, and has twice the battery life - compared to the current HTC Vive Tracker 2.0. Tundra also indicates that the Tundra Tracker can be offered at a lower price than the Vive-tracker.
Easy to attach
The Tundra Tracker can also be combined with current HTC Vive-accessoires, such as the HTC Trackers and controllers. Additionally, the Valve Index can be paired with the Tundra Tracker-dongle without any issues. In fact, all accessories that work in combination with SteamVR can be used with this technology.
The tracker is designed to be much easier to attach to various surfaces, such as shoes and around the wrists. Due to its smaller size and slanted sides, the Tundra Tracker wears almost like a wristwatch on the arms.
Tundra Tracker Kickstarter campaign
The Tundra Tracker is still in the development phase. Early enthusiasts can financially support the project via Kickstarter. Tundra also calls on potential users to share any feedback they have about the product - to help create a product that the VR-community fully supports.
Development Edition
In addition to the consumer version of the Tundra Tracker and the multi-port dongle, Luka Beno mentions that the Kickstarter will also offer a 'Development Edition'-tracker that includes a uitbreiding-connector. This development-kit can be used by companies involved in product development, such as haptic guns and gloves.
When will the Tundra Tracker be available?
The final release date of the Tundra Tracker is currently unknown. However, it is known that the product is in the development phase - and it appears that the Tundra Tracker is set to become a serious player in the field of VR-tracking.
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