Free face tracking - No lamps, reflexes or anything - that WORKS!

Hey all, I've long been a lurker on this forum and I finally got this working.

I had the "failed to register camera category: Unspecified error" issue going on and the Headtracker demo was giving me the friendlyname problem as well. I found a work around (not a solution) with the tip of possibly using a virtual webcam. (I've got a Philips SPC900nc.)

This DOES work, with an extra step.

1. Disconnect the webcam first.

2. Start face tracking and let the virtual webcam hook on.

3. Quit virtual webcam (don't stop the face tracking).

4. Connect webcam and restart virtual webcam. FacetracknoIR should put your ugly mug up now!

5. Allow some time for the tracking to catch on.

This thread is mighty long. Can anyone chime in quickly to let me know if this is smooth or is it really choppy? This solution surely looks like it can save me lots of money!

Works ok if you sit directly in front of it.

This thread is mighty long. Can anyone chime in quickly to let me know if this is smooth or is it really choppy? This solution surely looks like it can save me lots of money!

After ALOT of tweeking I have it running really nice and smooth, I'm using the PS Eye camera @ 50hz on a pretty grunty machine. Its very usable, however, I cant comment on how it compares to trackIR.

If your prepared to spend the time tweeking the setup it will save alot of $$

After ALOT of tweeking I have it running really nice and smooth, I'm using the PS Eye camera @ 50hz on a pretty grunty machine. Its very usable, however, I cant comment on how it compares to trackIR.

 

If your prepared to spend the time tweeking the setup it will save alot of $$

How did you tweak it? What's your settings?

How did you tweak it? What's your settings?

A combination of the curves in facetracker and the controller settings in the game. I also setup keyboard shortcuts to enable me to rezero and stop the tracker and freeze the camera, this is handy for startup eetc where your using the mouse alot.

Its easy to alt-tab while in-game to adjust settings then try them out of the fly.

I have switched to a PS3eye cam @ 50fps now as well, I can't say I have noticed much difference between this and my earlier experiences with an MS Kinect RGB cam @ 30fps.

The great thing about the PS3eye cam though is that you can grab a 2nd hand one off ebay at dirt cheap prices I think I paid £4.50 for mine incl. delivery!

I still seem to have issues with the keyboard shortcuts not working when DCS-A10C is fullscreen, but yes it is easy to alt+tab out to make changes on the fly.

Have you guys disabled or covered the LEDs on the PS3eye? I find them to be too bright and distracting for my tastes....

I have switched to a PS3eye cam @ 50fps now as well, I can't say I have noticed much difference between this and my earlier experiences with an MS Kinect RGB cam @ 30fps.

 

The great thing about the PS3eye cam though is that you can grab a 2nd hand one off ebay at dirt cheap prices I think I paid £4.50 for mine incl. delivery!

 

I still seem to have issues with the keyboard shortcuts not working when DCS-A10C is fullscreen, but yes it is easy to alt+tab out to make changes on the fly.

 

Have you guys disabled or covered the LEDs on the PS3eye? I find them to be too bright and distracting for my tastes....

Yeah I wonder if the CPU hit is worth the extra fps in the camera.

I also found the LED's blinding, a quick application of gaffer tape sorted it out :)

Which controller settings in game did you tweak (I must admit I hadn't thought about playing with those)?

The only problem I'm having is finding a good setting to keep my view steady. Even when looking straight ahead the view still moves slightly which makes it difficult for refueling. Could you post pics of your curves and sliders?

Even when looking straight ahead the view still moves slightly which makes it difficult for refueling. Could you post pics of your curves and sliders?

Yes its hard to get it totally still. I use a shortcut to freeze the view (alt+z) when working in one area. I'll attach my settings (FWIW) your milage may vary :)

Alot depends on your setup and how far you move your head while comfortably looking at the screen.

http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/manual/manual.htm

Thanks...gonna give those settings a try

Yes its hard to get it totally still. I use a shortcut to freeze the view (alt+z) when working in one area. I'll attach my settings (FWIW) your milage may vary :)

 

Alot depends on your setup and how far you move your head while comfortably looking at the screen.

 

http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/manual/manual.htm

Just tried those myself, work a treat for deadzones, may alter them a little though as I am having to move my head far more than I would like to look at the side panels. Great start though thanks!

Just tried those myself, work a treat for deadzones, may alter them a little though as I am having to move my head far more than I would like to look at the side panels. Great start though thanks!

Glad you found it usefull. I'm always tweeking the setup just cant get it perfect! Hopefully when they release 1.6 of the program it takes it to the next level!

It's much more steadier than some of the other setups I've used, but like Noisy Lightning, looking at side panels takes a lot of head movement. Would I have to adjust the curves for this?

Alright so after installing FaceTrackNOIR, I updated it to V150, and then downloaded the "EAGLE DYNAMICS API INTERFACE DLL (64-bit)" file.

Now the interface dll instructions tells me to extract the files to a folder called "headtracker" in C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS A-10C\bin. I noticed I did not have this "headtracker" folder so I made a new folder by the name of "headtracker" and then placed the files into there (DCS_A10C.ini and HeadTracker.dll). The instructions then tell me to start up FaceTrackNOIR, load the DCS_A10C.ini file, press start, and wait for the camera screen to pick up my face and wait for the outline to appear letting me know my camera is tracking my face.

I executed these instructions and all is well.

Now I go start up DCS A-10C.

I go to the OPTIONS menu and at the top where it shows me all my input devices all I can see are "Keyboard, Cyborg X Stick, Mouse". I don't see an area where I can start to bind the whole face tracking axis stuff.

Can anyone help?

It's much more steadier than some of the other setups I've used, but like Noisy Lightning, looking at side panels takes a lot of head movement. Would I have to adjust the curves for this?

YEs, just increase the output from curves.

I just installed 1.6 alpha and so far appears much better then 1.5.

cheers

ryyy, check for the file on your c drive. That in dicates the headtracker DLL is working.

Also, in the game select "axis commands" you should see trackir control there. You might need to scroll to the right to see them.

ryyy, check for the file on your c drive. That in dicates the headtracker DLL is working.

 

Also, in the game select "axis commands" you should see trackir control there. You might need to scroll to the right to see them.

Will try that right now.

Does it matter what the Game Protocol is set on? When I load the DCS_A10.ini it defaults to Freetrack. Should I change this to Fake TrackIR?

Edit: In my search I typed in, "HeadTracker.dll" and it said no results are found. But I physically see it in C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS A-10C\bin\headtracker

Edit x 2: Still no option for TrackIR controls, even in Axis Commands.

Update, I went to this thread:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=75917

And downloaded the HeadTrack Binaries and replaced the files in my bin\headtracker folder.

Still, no TrackIR option in my controls screen.

But now when I go into fly any mission, my view is like if I held numpad 6 to turn my head all the way around facing the rear of the 'pit at my seat. The view is locked and now I cannot get out of it.

It should be set on freetrack protocol.

I use the DLL from the facetrack website, check to see if you have the file on your c: drive as discussed in the readme.txt for the DLL.

Got it to work now! Thanks to Spikenet and Username455 for the help.

But man, playing with the curves is confusing me lol.

How is the Update 6 coming along?

Well, update 6 is still 'under construction'. Frankly, the summer is not such a good period for computing and I had some trouble getting my new development PC 'up and running'. But autumn is here now (in Holland) and I will get back to it. :joystick:

I have also sent an e-mail to CodeMasters (you know, from DIRT etc.) to persuade them to also implement an interface for 'alternative head-tracking'. Curious about their response... :music_whistling:

Is there anyway to debug FaceTrackNoIR?

I'm having troubles for a while now to get it running and tried everything except reinstalling A10. (http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=78747)

I would be helpful to have a debug mode that writes some messages into the log file located at C:\FTNoIR_ED_HeadTrackerLog.txt.