Tobii Eyetracker 5 - Micro stutters

[Jamie_G]

Hello all,

 

I've just bought myself a Tobii eyetracker 5 and have run through the setup process which is super simple, but have noticed that when i try it in sim i get really bad micro stutters. I wondered if it was something i had changed in the Nvidia control panel when dialling in settings for VR, but having restored them to default...no dice. I went back and retried my poor mans track ir just to see if i was going crazy, but that's smooth, so no issues on the graphics settings side. 

Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been googling but really haven't found much to help, the new version of Tobii Game Hub seems to have far fewer tweaking options than it used to based on screenshots online.

 

Any advice would be very welcome. Have a good one guys! O7

 

Jamie

[winghunter]

Maybe due to the bubble overlay causing some delays in the render pipeline.

[Jamie_G]

On 8/29/2023 at 3:44 PM, winghunter said:

Maybe due to the bubble overlay causing some delays in the render pipeline.

Hi Winghunter

 

Thanks for the reply, are you talking about the 'preview my gaze' option that shows a bubble on-screen indicating where you are looking? If so, i have that disabled.

If not, could you elaborate? 

 

Thanks again

 

Jamie

[winghunter]

Yes thats what i meant. If disabled it should not have an effect.

[Jamie_G]

So i've played around with it a little more, but am still to find a way of fixing this. I've turned off eyetracking completely as it just seems to conflict with head movements. I also need to dial in the sensitivity as it can be very hard to keep it still when zoomed in.

I'd lve to get this working well as the flexibility of not having to wear an IR device in a darkened room (my monitor faces a window) is great.

If anyone else has any ideas regarding these micro stutters i'm all ears.

 

Thanks all

[Jamie_G]

As a follow-up, i've tried the following to fix the problem with no improvement:

 

• Running the game with v-sync on and off in both MT and ST versions
• Uninstalled Opentrack and Facetracknoir
• Copied Headtracker.dll from the Tobii Game Hub folder to DCS bin and bin-mt
• Restored all program settings for DCS in Nvidia Control Panel

 

Not sure what else to try. I tested it in MSFS and its perfectly smooth, so the hardware appears to be fine. I'm at a bit of a loss and using it for any length of time leads to a pretty nasty headache.

 

If anyone with experience of the Tobii can suggest anything i'd be really grateful.

 

Cheers guys

[Picchio]

If it's working smoothly in MSFS I could only suggest to check DCS's performance. I would start by understanding if Tobii might present issues with unstable FPS, V-Sync or VRR. In my case I locked DCS's framerate to 60 (my framerate never goes below that) and tracking is smooth.

[Jamie_G]

17 hours ago, Picchio said:

If it's working smoothly in MSFS I could only suggest to check DCS's performance. I would start by understanding if Tobii might present issues with unstable FPS, V-Sync or VRR. In my case I locked DCS's framerate to 60 (my framerate never goes below that) and tracking is smooth.

I had read various threads about possible framerate issues, that's why i was experimenting with v-sync on and off. It does it still when sitting on the ground cold and dark with the framerate never budging from 144, so fluctuation doesn't seem to be affecting it. I'll lock the max frame rate to 60 in Nvidia control panel though and see if it makes a difference. 

 

Appreciate the reply Picchio

[Picchio]

1 minute ago, Jamie_G said:

I had read various threads about possible framerate issues, that's why i was experimenting with v-sync on and off. It does it still when sitting on the ground cold and dark with the framerate never budging from 144, so fluctuation doesn't seem to be affecting it. I'll lock the max frame rate to 60 in Nvidia control panel though and see if it makes a difference. 

 

Appreciate the reply Picchio

You're welcome! Let me know how it goes.

[Jamie_G]

Just gave it a try, no difference unfortunately. I've since recorded a video of it, hopefully comes out ok and can be viewed (never record / share so this is all new for me )

 

https://youtu.be/FZumgArhZTw

 

It doesn't look too bad in the playback, its just a slight judder when looking around, but noticeably not as smooth as TrackIR or using the Tobii in MSFS.

 

Thanks again

[Picchio]

19 hours ago, Jamie_G said:

Just gave it a try, no difference unfortunately. I've since recorded a video of it, hopefully comes out ok and can be viewed (never record / share so this is all new for me )

 

https://youtu.be/FZumgArhZTw

 

It doesn't look too bad in the playback, its just a slight judder when looking around, but noticeably not as smooth as TrackIR or using the Tobii in MSFS.

 

Thanks again

Which Game Hub version are you running? If you post your settings I'll try and see if I can reproduce the issue. Now that I've watched your video, it might be something that I'm also experiencing.

[Jamie_G]

I'm running version 3.1.1, as for the settings, i've exported and attached my profile here...hopefully that's ok?

Really appreciate you taking the time to have a look into this for me Picchio, legend!

 

Jamie

Default.ghubprofile

[RTS354]

I'm having the same issue. I'm tried using the official "DCS_6DOF.ghubprofile" profile file for DCS and I still get stuttering when moving my head. Note that I get extremely smooth tracking with track IR with the same DCS graphical settings.

DCS_6DOF.ghubprofile

[Jamie_G]

On 11/6/2023 at 3:58 AM, RTS354 said:

I'm having the same issue. I'm tried using the official "DCS_6DOF.ghubprofile" profile file for DCS and I still get stuttering when moving my head. Note that I get extremely smooth tracking with track IR with the same DCS graphical settings.

DCS_6DOF.ghubprofile 3.9 kB · 4 downloads

Hi,

I managed to improve things (thanks to the very helpful Picchio above!), but not fix them unfortunately. It does involve purchasing some extra software (which luckily i already had) but it did smooth things out for me a little. Obviously the choice is yours, but here are the instructions, any questions let me know:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make sure you follow the instructions closely, I'm pasting them here for ease of use. The recommended curves are linked as well.

For any DCS players frustrated with the lack of steadiness when using Tobii Eye Tracker 5 for head tracking, a $4 USD solution you can look into is FaceTrackNoIR + Tobii Plugin + Accela filter.

Steps to get this working are below:
```
1. Download FaceTrackNoIR by paying for it and getting a download link
2. Download Tobii5 headtracker plugin (on facetracknoir download page)
3. Download Plugin-Pack for FaceTrackNoIR (on facetracknoir download page)
4. Install #1 above, then #2 and #3
5. Ensure Tobii Eye Tracker is already on and working
6. Ensure Tobii Gamehub is NOT running
7. If it exists, delete "HeadTracker.dll" from the DCS World/bin
8. Run FaceTrackNoIR
9. Set "Tobii5 Tracker" as "Tracker Source (1st = Master)
10. Set "Accela Filter Mk2" as "Filter"
11. Set "Game protocol" as "FreeTrack 2.1"
12. Change other settings as preferred (ex. Invert, Curves, hotkeys, etc)
13. Click "Start" under "GO!"
14. Run DCS, get into a plane, and enjoy
15. Remember to re-center using a hotkey setup in facetracknoir
```
Recommended curves are below:
Rotations: https://imgur.com/ZJ0Icdg.png
Translations: https://imgur.com/4ZuF2Js.png

See the video below for a comparison of Gamehub's steadiness VS FaceTrackNoIR's Accela steadiness:
https://imgur.com/fykPEAf.mp4

[RTS354]

I had no issues fixing the up and down movement, but the side-to-side movement was so jerky, that I could not track aircraft when in a merge. I tried to make a video, but the jerkiness doesn't show up in the video, so, I believe it's a real-time lag issue with DCS.

How smooth is you side to side movement?

thanks for the reply.

Edited November 19, 2023 by RTS354

[RTS354]

I tried to setup the Tobii 5 with the FacetrackNoir, and it doesn't work. I uploaded a screen shot and you can see that there are no numbers in the RAW input section. You have any suggestions? I followed your instructions to the letter.

[RTS354]

I finally figured out the issue. Under the Tobbi 5 Tracker selection, I had to go into the settings and select the correct hardware ID of the Tobii 5 tracker that I had installed. Apparently, my computer had two different USB ID's for the same Tobii 5 tracker. I uploaded a screen shot of what I am talking about. I tried your settings, and they need some tuning on my computer. I'm still getting severe stuttering when I look in the cockpit, but the outside doesn't stutter as much as when using the Tobii game hub.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. 

[YSIAD_RIP]

Depending on how far down the "rabbit hole" and how much time one has to tinker there is also a GitHub tutorial using FacetackNoIR + (The Free)OpenTrack and its Hamilton Filter.

• I tried the FacetrackNoIR and OpenTrack combo earlier this but returned to GameHub after they added the new features called: [ Relative Head Positon and Head Position settings follow current camera orientation]. 

Have a read if you have some spare time: 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by YSIAD_RIP

[RTS354]

I tried the latest version of game hub and still get jerky and stuttering when moving my head. Like I stated in my OP, I get buttery smooth head tracking with Track IR 5, so I know it's not the graphics settings I use in DCS, it's having something to do with the difference in how Tobii and Track IR interface with DCS. Note that FaceTrackNoir is almost as good as track IR when using the Tobii 5 face tracking sensor, but it still has issues with jerkiness when compared to Track IR.  Thanks for the info. I'll look into your suggestions.

[RTS354]

After some investigation, it looks like it's the scanning rate of the IR device that is causing the stuttering with Tobii 5. I used an IR camera, and the Tobii 5 has a really slow scanning rate that cannot keep up the 120 FPS that I am getting with DCS, whereas Track IR has an extremely high scanning rate that is above my 120 FPS when playing DCS. I plan on passing this information on to the Tobii 5 developers.

[simo-dj]

Il 20/11/2023 at 03:46, RTS354 ha scritto:

After some investigation, it looks like it's the scanning rate of the IR device that is causing the stuttering with Tobii 5. I used an IR camera, and the Tobii 5 has a really slow scanning rate that cannot keep up the 120 FPS that I am getting with DCS, whereas Track IR has an extremely high scanning rate that is above my 120 FPS when playing DCS. I plan on passing this information on to the Tobii 5 developers.

Thanks for the info @RTS354. I bought in november 2023 tobii but i got a really heavy stuttering, heavier than that shown in the yt video posted above by @Jamie_G. Video freezes and it's keeping frozen for 10+ seconds.

Do you think that limiting FPS under 120 on dcs/nvidia settings (can't remeber where) will solve/improve situation?

Thanks a lot

[Platypus]

Try disabling Hot Plug in your control settings. My Eyetracker would freeze for about 10 seconds as it kept disconnecting/reconnecting. Fixed the problem immediately. It's worth a shot. 

[simo-dj]

@Platypus if it works it's really a life-saving hack!!!

Yesterday i tried to lower the max fps down to 60 (was 120). There were some micro-stutterings (1 sec or so) but the improvement was huge.

They are countless all the times i hit my head to the wall trying to fìgure out what was wrong!

I think this could be the solution.

Tomorrow i'll give a try and i'll keep you upedated.

Thanks!

 

[RTS354]

On 4/29/2024 at 7:00 AM, simo-dj said:

Thanks for the info @RTS354. I bought in november 2023 tobii but i got a really heavy stuttering, heavier than that shown in the yt video posted above by @Jamie_G. Video freezes and it's keeping frozen for 10+ seconds.

Do you think that limiting FPS under 120 on dcs/nvidia settings (can't remeber where) will solve/improve situation?

Thanks a lot

Sorry about taking so long to get back to you guys on this topic as I stopped playing DCS for several months. I no longer use the Tobii Eye tracker and since went back to using TrackIR. You can try limiting the DCS refresh rate to 60 FPS by using the NVIDIA Control panel if you have an NVIDIA card, or just change the Windows display refresh rate to 60 HZ. Note that 60 fps is still good for playing DCS. You can also download the newest version of the Tobii Game Hub which is TobiiGameHub.3.3.0-ci5-Setup.exe. I include an option to have Game Hub use an experimental mode for changing the scanning frame rate. This newest version still did not address the stuttering issue when playing DCS on my PC.