PointCTRL - Finger Mounted VR Controller

[mr_mojo97]

Why, what does it do?

[mariner3302]

When you reach to push a button on the FCU, it gives you a reference point so you aren't guessing which button you are pushing.

[farmertom]

Question to mariner3302,

How does PointCtrl work with the menus in DCS, like selecting missions,and changing DCS settings, working with Mission Planner? Thanks :)

[hansangb]

Question to mariner3302,

How does PointCtrl work with the menus in DCS, like selecting missions,and changing DCS settings, working with Mission Planner? Thanks :)

 

I would not recommend using VR for mission planner. Which means I also would not recommend PointCTRL. It's not that you can't do it, because you can, but the real strength of PointCTRL is interacting with the cockpit.

[mr_mojo97]

When you reach to push a button on the FCU, it gives you a reference point so you aren't guessing which button you are pushing.

 

Ah, ok. Yes very useful. Cheers

[Thudster]

Here...take my money.....!!!

:D

[MilesD]

Question to mariner3302,

How does PointCtrl work with the menus in DCS, like selecting missions,and changing DCS settings, working with Mission Planner? Thanks :)

 

I would not recommend using VR for mission planner. Which means I also would not recommend PointCTRL. It's not that you can't do it, because you can, but the real strength of PointCTRL is interacting with the cockpit.

 

Hansangb makes a good point. Additionally, moving exterior views with the mouse still has to be worked out, because they dont work very well now.

PointCTRL does work on the 2D menus to get into and out of missions as well as others menus, its just not optimal because when you move your head the cursor moves in the opposite direction. Basically you have to stop moving your head around when you want to select an item on the 2D menus.

As long as the FCUs are not visible to the HMS, control automatically reverts back to the standard mouse. If the FCUs are visible, and you want to use the mouse, you can toggle the HMS tracking on/off by pressing the left button on the HMS.

 

 

7 attempts to get the design right for the Rift S. When I try and design stuff, I often think of a movie I watched with the kids when they were young. Stuff was always going wrong for this guy in a bowler hat, and he would say to himself "Perhaps I haven't thought this through thoroughly"

 

Latest design lets you remove the cover and PCB to expose the upper camera for controllers in other games. This is the working solution pending real world testing with the S.

[A2597]

Still looking forward to this, what are the odds you'll have them ready by mid July?

(Birthday). I know, cant answer for sure, but barring any further unforeseen issues maybe...

[Fusedspine33]

Miles, you have put a lot of thought into the Rift S cover as you always have with this project. Would it really make a difference to just mount it on the face of the unit? I haven't held the HMS but it seems like it is no deeper than 1 1/4" in depth.

 

Hansangb makes a good point. Additionally, moving exterior views with the mouse still has to be worked out, because they dont work very well now.

PointCTRL does work on the 2D menus to get into and out of missions as well as others menus, its just not optimal because when you move your head the cursor moves in the opposite direction. Basically you have to stop moving your head around when you want to select an item on the 2D menus.

As long as the FCUs are not visible to the HMS, control automatically reverts back to the standard mouse. If the FCUs are visible, and you want to use the mouse, you can toggle the HMS tracking on/off by pressing the left button on the HMS.

 

 

7 attempts to get the design right for the Rift S. When I try and design stuff, I often think of a movie I watched with the kids when they were young. Stuff was always going wrong for this guy in a bowler hat, and he would say to himself "Perhaps I haven't thought this through thoroughly"

 

Latest design lets you remove the cover and PCB to expose the upper camera for controllers in other games. This is the working solution pending real world testing with the S.

[hansangb]

Miles, you have put a lot of thought into the Rift S cover as you always have with this project. Would it really make a difference to just mount it on the face of the unit? I haven't held the HMS but it seems like it is no deeper than 1 1/4" in depth.

 

 

1 1/2" (~3.8cm) with the housing. Not very thick, so it may need a braced cantilever if it's mounted in current form factor.

 

Cantilevers. Makes me think about my statics class in school. Probably one of my *all time* favorite class.

 

If I had a week to brush up on it, I could tell you what load would shear the lever :D:D

[Fusedspine33]

Statistics is the art of making any set of numbers tell the story you want them too, LOL.

 

It could still be a slight L shape with no deeper a projection than 3/8". I can see that the further the signal receiver is pushed forward the more the cone of reception is diminished to the left and right just not sure how much it would affect functionality.

[dwbarnett]

Big Thank Youto all.

 

Look forward to when you get to 184 miles.

One question: I use the TM Warthog HOTAS setup. With the FCU onleft dont see any possible

conflict using throttle. However, with the right FCU, seems like you could inadvertently activate buttons on the FCU while using the joystick?

Just curious howyou folks are setting the controlls up to prevent an inadvertent activation.

 

Thank You

 

Best,

David

 

PS How do you maintain paragraph formating. I have breaks, but when saving my

thread runs together.

[Los]

I am using FCUs with Warthog and have not run onto an issue between the fcus and the grip.

 

Los

[Harlikwin]

Miles,

 

Does a normal mouse still work in addition to point control? I.e. can I use both (say the normal mouse for external views or clicking on the map?)

[aaron886]

My opinion is that it is absolutely critical the Rift S mount not obscure the top camera, even if testing produces no problems in DCS. People are likely to use their headset for more than just DCS.

[MilesD]

Miles, you have put a lot of thought into the Rift S cover as you always have with this project. Would it really make a difference to just mount it on the face of the unit? I haven't held the HMS but it seems like it is no deeper than 1 1/4" in depth.

Yes I have, and its a good suggestion. I will be adding a front mount to the line up. I really wanted the camera as unobtrusive as possible. The original prototype was mounted on the front and I did not like it, however I have downsized it quite a bit.

I will update that model in a few days, it used a small mirror so the HMS could be mounted parallel to the face. I will be using this set-up for the Index to integrate into the front well.

If sales continue I will probably make a dedicated unit without the mirror.

 

All this stuff will available separately and compatible with each other.

 

 

Miles,

Does a normal mouse still work in addition to point control? I.e. can I use both (say the normal mouse for external views or clicking on the map?)

Yes, as long as the FCUs are not visible, you can also toggle off the HMS with the left button on the HMS.

 

My opinion is that it is absolutely critical the Rift S mount not obscure the top camera, even if testing produces no problems in DCS. People are likely to use their headset for more than just DCS.

There will definitely will be an option for those who will use the Rift controllers over their head, or don't want to obscure the camera. While I am not 100% sure yet, I think that is the only function of the top camera. I believe Fusedspine tested this, but will confirm with Oculus. For those who do not use the controllers, they will have the unobtrusive top mounted option.

 

While not optimal, the current option does allow you to snap off the cover and remove the PCB,

(takes 5 seconds), and the camera can then see thru the hole in the bottom of the mount. The FOV may be slightly obscured though.

 

 

Thanks for the questions, back to soldering, finishing a batch of 20 FCU's tonight.

 

Miles

Edited May 30, 2019 by MilesD

[hansangb]

I am using FCUs with Warthog and have not run onto an issue between the fcus and the grip.

 

Los

 

 

Yeah, me too. I've not had any issues with it.

[dwbarnett]

Thanks for the info guys. Good to know. Patiently awaiting my turn.

Best,

David

[mariner3302]

Sorry folks, I unexpectedly had to take apart the entire front end of my 2004 F-350 4x4 Dually to rebuild it. Putting it back together today if I can get the parts.. LOL Never a dull moment... So I was a tad, um, detained.

 

Thanks for taking the question for me, Miles! I love this group!! I also have had no problems with the Warthog HOTAS as a whole.Wearing FCU's takes a very little bit of getting used to. The FCU finger straps are elastic and should be fairly loose on your finger. At first you want to make them tight but you will realize after your finger turns blue and cold that loose is the way to go. The new FCU enclosure/housing has been beefed up in the strap attachment area.:music_whistling: Miles is leaving a little bit of slack in the elastic 'buckle' so you can easily adjust the elastic band. Again, it is NOT necessary to crank this elastic. The FCU should be light on your finger. The buttons are easy to push so just enough elastic tension to keep the FCU from rolling on your finger. I know I am stressing this point but it is something that I think deserves emphasis. Start loose and tighten slowly until just right for you. The name of the game is 'VR Immersion', everything else is secondary.

 

I really do love having the ability to reach up and adjust brightness knobs and switches in the Huey with my left hand just as I would in the real life bird!! Any manipulation is cool as hell, but that is my favorite! If I had known it was going to be this damn cool, I would have waited to build the Tomcat Cockpit.

[Fusedspine33]

Miles,

 

When I covered the camera I noticed no loss of head tracking and no loss of tracking with the controllers. The camera is there for a reason and I agree with others that I would prefer to not have it covered.

[MilesD]

Miles,

 

When I covered the camera I noticed no loss of head tracking and no loss of tracking with the controllers. The camera is there for a reason and I agree with others that I would prefer to not have it covered.

 

Roger that,

I will post a cantilevered mount latter that does not obstruct, and I am sourcing small first surface mirrors to do a face mount with the current PCB design. If there is interest I will do a PCB redesign for flat mounting to the face of the VR headset. The challenge is that the Sensor is designed to be mounted 90 degrees to the PCB.

 

Thanks and keep the input coming,

 

Miles

[MilesD]

Rift S Mount Update:

Here are both of the mounts, Obviously I am not diggin the non camera blocking one. Working on the face mounted version now.

 

@ Mariner, Great point about adjusting the FCU's to, just tight enough to prevent rotating.

 

Thanks,

Miles

Edited May 30, 2019 by MilesD

[Fusedspine33]

Well, I can see why you don't like the non-blocking. Sorry Rift dropped this now. Kind of worried about knocking it off when shutting down. amazed at how fast you got it rendered.

Edited May 30, 2019 by Fusedspine33

[MilesD]

Well, I can see why you don't like the non-blocking. Sorry Rift dropped this now. Kind of worried about knocking it off when shutting down. amazed at how fast you got it rendered.

Here is the current PCB with a first surface mirror. Just did a preliminary test, need to work the angles of incidence a bit. I think I will just go ahead and make the new face mount PCB.

 

Edit Fixed Scale

 

Miles

Edited May 30, 2019 by MilesD

[aaron886]

I’ve had a Leap Motion controller mounted in that configuration on my Rift, it’s a good setup.