Pico Introduces Affordable Leg Tracking with New Motion Trackers
Pico has recently launched the Pico Motion Trackers. These are easy-to-use and affordable solutions for leg tracking on virtual reality headsets.
During a launch event in China, Pico unveiled the Pico Motion Tracker alongside the new Pico 4 Ultra headset. These trackers are compatible with the Pico Neo 3, Pico 4, and Pico 4 Ultra, and they provide a significant enhancement to immersive VR experiences. Although the official announcement primarily targets the Chinese market, Pico’s website provides detailed information in English. This indicates that an international release is imminent.
You strap the Pico Motion Trackers to your ankles. To start the calibration process, simply look at the trackers for five seconds. Up to three trackers, sold in pairs, can support each headset. Users seeking more comprehensive tracking can attach an additional sensor to their waist.
Rechargeable via a USB-C port, these lightweight trackers, weighing only 27 grammes (excluding the strap), offer an impressive battery life of 25 hours. Upon launch, over 20 standalone games from the Chinese Pico Store will be compatible with these trackers. There are also promises of future support for PC VR applications through Pico Connect.
The pricing for a pair of Pico Motion Trackers is set at ¥400, roughly $55, with the product set to hit the Chinese market alongside the Pico 4 Ultra on September 2, 2024.
For tracking capabilities, Pico combines data from an IMU sensor, which provides 3-DoF tracking. It also uses input from 12 infrared lights detected by the headset’s cameras, enabling optical 6-DoF tracking. This hybrid approach ensures accurate spatial tracking, particularly when the trackers remain within the headset’s camera view.
Pico’s new solution offers a balance between Sony’s cost-effective Mocopi trackers, which rely solely on IMUs. In contrast, HTC’s more expensive Vive Ultimate trackers feature built-in cameras for highly precise spatial tracking. Pico claims the trackers deliver a latency of just 20 milliseconds and boast a step-recognition accuracy of 98%.
