FreeTrack Forum

I've built a 3-pt clip model with 3x Radio Shack IR LEDs. I filed down the LEDs using a succession of finer files, super-fine sandpaper, and then finished with jeweler's rouge on a Dremel buffer wheel -- not sure if I have the capability to make the LED surfaces any better. I am using the correct resistors and wiring setup.

 After fiddling with it for an evening, it's tracking "alright" with my Macbook Pro laptop's built-in iSight camera. However, tracking is really noisy and even with the room lights off, there's still enough monitor glare to generate false positives at almost any threshold level/exposure setting where the IR LEDs are visible.

 My question: Am I going to get enough extra performance from a PS3 Eye to be worth the cost ($24 on Amazon today).  Or are my LEDs just not bright enough, and I should look at replacing them before I spend money on a camera? I've already spent about $10 on this project, and my goal is to stay south of $70 total (at that point, it's only twice the cost for a "real" TrackIR).

I have access to a Point Grey Research Dragonfly w/IR pass filter at work, and I'm going to try that in the morning (I can't take it home, obviously, but it should let me know if the issue is the camera or the LEDs). Any input would be welcome!

IR LED brightens.
To test this try to compare it with some remote controller you got at home.

PS3eye.
Definitely better choice especially if you planing to remove IR filter from cam.
Be aware on new models of PS3eye you can't remove IR filter. more about this you can find on this forum. Biggest advantage for PS3eye is FPS 60 or 120 depend on resolution.

Blocking the light with additional filter.
If you keep your IR filter on cam make some additional light blocking filter from old floppy disc or even better from exposed photo film. It is reducing light but passing true IR.

I decided to just go for it, and ordered a PS3 Eye and a Peau Productions M12 lens mount and a 4.7mm M12 lens. The stock PS3 Eye arrived on Monday, and I found that a floppy disk IR-pass filter worked acceptably with my active track-clip.

The M12 mount and lens arrived today (I already had an 850nm IR pass filter left over from another project, where I evaluated both IR and visible light, and ended up going the visible route). I spent tonight ripping open the PS3 Eye and replacing the factory lens train with the M12. Results: heavy vignetting around the edges, but it tracks my active LED track-clip just fine.

For grins, I tried setting up an IR spotlight next to the PS3 Eye, and tracking some retroreflective material I had on hand (I tinker with computer vision a lot for research -- yay grad student-dom!). Result:  the reflections from my glasses COMPLETELY overpower the reflection from the retroreflective dots, with the IR spot/camera on top of my monitor. No combination of exposure/threshold will make it right.  I like the idea of a passive track-clip, though, because the active track clip weighs enough to be annoying (mainly it's the batteries, I may end up modifying it to use USB, if I go that route).

Question: is there any compelling reason not to put the camera/spotlight pair far enough off-axis that I wouldn't be looking directly at it?  (IE, off to my left, if I've got the markers attached to the left earphone of my headset?)