Alan Yates on the Impossible Task of Making Valve's VR Work

Explore the engineering challenges and innovative solutions behind Valve's virtual reality hardware in this 39-minute Hackaday conference talk by Alan Yates. Dive into the conceptual elegance and technical intricacies of the Lighthouse tracking system, from its basic principles to complex sensor fusion techniques. Discover how angle measurements are converted to time, the inner workings of base stations, and the critical resolution requirements. Uncover the "Skinny Triangle" problem and learn about the importance of parts per million precision. Examine rotor jitter, motor control, and the influence of gravity on system design. Investigate sensor sensitivity, electrical gain, and peak sync power needs. Gain insights into failed approaches and ongoing challenges in VR hardware development. Enhance your understanding of cutting-edge VR technology and the iterative engineering process behind groundbreaking innovations.

Intro
What the heck is Lighthouse?
Basic Lighthouse System
Sensor Fusion
Measuring Angle as Time
Base Station Light Emissions
Inside a Base Station
The Resolution Requirement
The "Skinny Triangle" Problem
Parts per million (ppm)
Time Resolution
Rotor Jitter
Motor Control
Why 60 Hz? Gravity!
Area To Illuminate
Sensor Sensitivity
Sensor Electrical Gain
Peak Sync Power Needed
Other Sensor Constraints
All The Stuff That Didn't Work
More Stuff That Doesn't Work
Open Problems