VIRTALIS, one of the world’s leading Virtual Reality (VR) companies, announces the advent of three very different VR trackers.

Trackers are vital VR components, as they tell the computer where a head or a hand is in space, tracking movement and feeding that information into the visual display in real time.  Co-incidentally, three of Virtalis’s hardware suppliers have developed new trackers at the same time.  Each has different qualities, so they are suited to different types of job and different environments.

Virtalis sales director, David Clark, explained: “We are the only UK reseller for Ascension, Polhemus and InterSense trackers.  This is because our experience and expertise enables us to guide our customers through the product maze, so they have the right kit for what they want to do.  We are proud to be the only significant, truly independent VR company in the world.”

The latest offering from Polhemus is its entry-level Patriot tracker.  The Patriot gives six degrees of freedom and a 60hz per sensor update rate.  It is aimed at those wishing to explore the world of immersive VR where millimetre perfect accuracy is not required.  Depending on the number of sensors required and the size of area to be covered, a Patriot tracking system costs between £1,600 and £2,150.

The new Ascension microBIRD is another six degrees of freedom tracker, but this product has been especially designed for use in confined working envelopes where accuracy is paramount.  Although, like the Patriot, the microBIRD is a magnetic tracker, it is unaffected by surgical steel.  In fact, it is already being integrated into a laparoscopic training system for surgeons.  Its incredibly tiny sensors of 1.8mm diameter allow it to be embedded into real life instruments and tools and it connects directly onto a controller on a PCI card, further reducing bulk.  Again, price varies depending on the number of sensors required, but ranges from £3,000 to £3,800.

Unlike the other two, the IS-900 PC Tracker from InterSense draws on ultrasonic technology, so is ideal for use in an environment rich in metal.  It is aimed at those applications where part physical prototypes, haptic devices or metal structures are an integral part.  With a working envelope of 2mx2mx3m, it lends itself to virtual training applications.  Already, a virtual welding trainer has been developed.  The system’s hub supports two MiniTrax devices and three SoniStrips, with prices ranging from £6,000 to £7,650.