View source for Outside-in tracking

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{{see also|Markerless outside-in tracking|Positional tracking}}
==Introduction==
[[File:Outside in tracking.png|thumb|Figure 1. Outside-in tracking (Image: www.wareable.com)]]
[[File:Inside out vs. outside in tracking.png|thumb|Figure 2. Inside-out vs. outside-in tracking (Image: Ishii, 2010)]]

Outside-in tracking is a form of [[positional tracking]] and, generally, it is a method of optical tracking. When referring to [[virtual reality]] (VR), tracking is the process of tracing the scene coordinates of moving objects in real-time, such as [[head-mounted display|head-mounted displays]] (HMDs) or motion controller peripherals. <ref name=”1”> Ribo, M., Pinz, A. and Fuhrmann, A.L. (2001). A new optical tracking system for virtual and augmented reality applications. Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference Proceedings</ref>

Outside-in VR tracking uses cameras or other sensors placed in a stationary location and oriented towards the tracked object (e.g. a headset) that moves freely around a designated area defined by the intersecting visual ranges of the cameras (Figure 1). The object is therefore observed from outside by the fixed tracking device. Usually, the tracked object has a known set of markers that are essential for the calculation of its position relative to the sensors. Also, while this type of positional tracking can be achieved using the visible light spectrum, it is common to use infra-red (IR) markers and cameras that can detect that type of light. <ref name=”1”></ref> <ref name=”2”> Mehling, M. (2006). Implementation of a Low Cost Marker Based Infrared Optical Tracking System. PhD thesis, Fachhochschule Stuttgart</ref> <ref name=”3”> Boger, Y. (2014). Positional tracking: "Outside-in" vs. "Inside-out.” Retrieved from http://vrguy.blogspot.pt/2014/08/positional-tracking-outside-in-vs.html</ref>

Outside-in VR tracking's accuracy and performance are dependent on various factors like the quality of the optical sensors, tracking markers and targets, processing power, and tracking algorithms, all of which can vary greatly. <ref name=”2”></ref> <ref name=”4”> Wang, J.F., Azuma, R., Bishop, G., Chi, V., Eyles, J. and Fuchs, H. (1990). Tracking a head-mounted display in a room-sized environment with head-mounted cameras. Proceedings of SPIE 1990 Technical Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, Orlando, Florida</ref>

Outside-in tracking using markers is a well-developed and researched technology. Indeed, a group of researchers (Pustka et al., 2012) built a positional tracking system of this kind using only unmodified off-the-shelf mobile phones. Also, an early two-camera tracking system was described by Madritsch and Gervautz in 1996, and a system that used synchronized IR cameras, able to distinguish 6D targets, was described by Dorfmüller in 1999. <ref name=”5”> Pustka, D., Hülb, J.P., Willneff, J., Pankratz, F., Huber, M. and Klinker, G. (2012). Optical Outside-In Tracking using Unmodified Mobile Phones. IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality</ref>

The outside-in tracking system needs room calibration after the cameras or sensors are placed, and the data acquired by the system is processed on a computer. <ref name=”3”></ref> <ref name=”5”></ref> Besides its application in VR, this type of tracking is used in motion capturing, as in the case of the film industry. <ref name=”2”></ref>

Outside-in tracking functions as the inverse of [[inside-out tracking]] (Figure 2). While the former places the sensors in a stationary location to track the VR goggle, in the latter the sensors are placed on the goggles and the markers in stationary locations. <ref name=”3”></ref> <ref name=”7”> Ishii, K. (2010). Augmented Reality: Fundamentals and nuclear related applications. Nuclear Safety and Simulation, 1(1)</ref>

==Devices using outside-in tracking==

'''[[Oculus Rift|Rift]]''' (including [[Oculus Rift DK2|Rift development kit]])

'''[[PlayStation VR]]'''

==Tracking systems using outside-in tracking==

'''[[Constellation]]'''

'''[[PlayStation Camera]]'''

'''[[Neon Tracking System]]''' (used by [[HTC Link]]<ref>[http://www.roadtovr.com/htc-link-headset-ximmerse-neon-tracking-details/]]</ref>)

[[Category:Terms]] [[Category:Technical Terms]]

==References==