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'''Project North Star''' is an [[open source]] [[augmented reality]] (AR) [[head-mounted display]] originally designed by [[Leap Motion]] (now [[Ultraleap]]) and first announced in April 2018<ref name="announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/leap-motion-reveals-project-north-star-an-open-source-wide-fov-ar-headset-dev-kit/|title=Leap Motion Reveals Project North Star, an Open-source Wide FOV AR Headset Dev Kit|author=Ben Lang|date=April 9, 2018|website=Road to VR|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. The project was open-sourced on June 6, 2018<ref name="opensource">{{cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/project-north-star-open-source-documents,37222.html|title=Leap Motion Open Sources The Project North Star AR Headset's Schematics|author=Kevin Carbotte|date=June 6, 2018|website=Tom's Hardware|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>, providing the community with hardware designs, software, and documentation to build their own AR headsets under an [[Apache License 2.0]]<ref name="apache">{{cite web|url=https://blog.leapmotion.com/north-star-open-source/|title=Project North Star is Now Open Source|website=Leap Motion Blog|date=June 6, 2018|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. The headset is notable for its wide [[field of view]], high [[resolution]], and integration with Leap Motion's [[hand tracking]] technology. | '''Project North Star''' is an [[open source]] [[augmented reality]] (AR) [[head-mounted display]] originally designed by [[Leap Motion]] (now [[Ultraleap]]) and first announced in April 2018<ref name="announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/leap-motion-reveals-project-north-star-an-open-source-wide-fov-ar-headset-dev-kit/|title=Leap Motion Reveals Project North Star, an Open-source Wide FOV AR Headset Dev Kit|author=Ben Lang|date=April 9, 2018|website=Road to VR|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. The project was open-sourced on June 6, 2018<ref name="opensource">{{cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/project-north-star-open-source-documents,37222.html|title=Leap Motion Open Sources The Project North Star AR Headset's Schematics|author=Kevin Carbotte|date=June 6, 2018|website=Tom's Hardware|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>, providing the community with hardware designs, software, and documentation to build their own AR headsets under an [[Apache License 2.0]]<ref name="apache">{{cite web|url=https://blog.leapmotion.com/north-star-open-source/|title=Project North Star is Now Open Source|website=Leap Motion Blog|date=June 6, 2018|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. The headset is notable for being one of the only open source AR headsets widely used, as well as its wide [[field of view]], high [[resolution]], and integration with Leap Motion's [[hand tracking]] technology. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Project North Star | Project North Star represented Leap Motion's vision for making high-quality AR experiences accessible to developers and researchers. The headset features dual 1600×1440 displays running at 120 [[frames per second]], providing a combined field of view exceeding 100 degrees<ref name="announcement"/>. This was significantly wider than contemporary AR headsets like [[Microsoft HoloLens]] (approximately 40° FOV) and [[Magic Leap One]] (approximately 55° FOV). | ||
The design philosophy emphasized openness and accessibility, with most components being either [[3D printable]] or available off-the-shelf. Leap Motion estimated that the headset could be produced for under $100 at scale<ref name="announcement"/>, though individual DIY builds typically cost between $350-600 due to smaller component quantities<ref name="buildcost">{{cite web|url=https://www.smart-prototyping.com/blog/Building-Project-North-Star|title=Building Project North Star|author=Noah Zerkin|website=Smart Prototyping|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. | The design philosophy emphasized openness and accessibility, with most components being either [[3D printable]] or available off-the-shelf. Leap Motion estimated that the headset could be produced for under $100 at scale<ref name="announcement"/>, though individual DIY builds typically cost between $350-600 due to smaller component quantities<ref name="buildcost">{{cite web|url=https://www.smart-prototyping.com/blog/Building-Project-North-Star|title=Building Project North Star|author=Noah Zerkin|website=Smart Prototyping|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref>. | ||
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* Active Discord server with over 6,000 members as of 2025<ref name="discord">{{cite web|url=https://discord.gg/northstar|title=Project North Star Discord|website=Discord|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref> | * Active Discord server with over 6,000 members as of 2025<ref name="discord">{{cite web|url=https://discord.gg/northstar|title=Project North Star Discord|website=Discord|accessdate=June 26, 2025}}</ref> | ||
* Community-built documentation at docs.projectnorthstar.org | * Community-built documentation at docs.projectnorthstar.org | ||
* Regular build workshops at hackspaces and events ( | * Regular build workshops at hackspaces and events (for example MIT Reality Hack) | ||
* Reddit community for sharing builds and modifications | * Reddit community for sharing builds and modifications | ||
| Line 312: | Line 312: | ||
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectNorthStar/ Project North Star Reddit Community] | * [https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectNorthStar/ Project North Star Reddit Community] | ||
[[Category:Devices]] | |||
[[Category:Augmented Reality Devices]] | |||
[[Category:Open Source Devices]] | |||
[[Category:Augmented reality]] | [[Category:Augmented reality]] | ||
[[Category:Head-mounted displays]] | [[Category:Head-mounted displays]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:17, 2 July 2025
| Project North Star | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | AR Glasses, PC-Powered AR |
| Platform | SteamVR, Unity, OpenXR |
| Creator | David Holz, Florian Maurer |
| Developer | Leap Motion, Ultraleap |
| Manufacturer | Open Source (Community Built), Combine Reality |
| Announcement Date | April 9, 2018 |
| Release Date | June 6, 2018 (Open Sourced) |
| Price | less than $100 (at scale), ~$350-600 (DIY) |
| Website | https://github.com/leapmotion/ProjectNorthStar |
| Versions | Release 1, Release 2 (2018), Release 3 (2019), Deck X, Northstar Next |
| Requires | PC, Leap Motion Controller |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows, Linux |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 3.5" LCD (BOE VS035ZSM-NW0-69P0) |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Resolution | 1600 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined) |
| Pixel Density | 615 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz (original), 85-90 Hz (Northstar Next) |
| Persistence | Low-persistence |
| Image | |
| Field of View | over 100° combined |
| Horizontal FoV | ~75° per eye (70° per eye alternate spec) |
| Vertical FoV | ~105° per eye (95° per eye alternate spec) |
| Binocular Overlap | 60-85% |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Ellipsoidal reflectors (bird bath style) |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Adjustable Diopter | No |
| Passthrough | Optional (with camera) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Leap Motion hand tracking |
| Tracking Frequency | 150 Hz |
| Base Stations | No |
| Eye Tracking | Optional (experimental) |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Optional (with IMU/T261/T265) |
| Positional Tracking | Optional (with T261/T265, SteamVR, or SLAM sensors) |
| Update Rate | 150 Hz (hand tracking) |
| Tracking Volume | 180° × 180° (hand tracking) |
| Play Space | Seated/Standing |
| Latency | less than 8 ms (LCD + driver) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Optional |
| Microphone | Optional |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Optional |
| Camera | Optional (T261/T265, stereo cameras) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, DisplayPort/Mini-DP |
| Ports | USB-C (Northstar Next) |
| Wired Video | DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort |
| Power | Via USB/External |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Variable (3D printed) |
| Weight | ~400-600g |
| Material | 3D printed plastic, aluminum |
| Headstrap | Various (Miller, 3M Speedglas) |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Variable |
| Sensors | Leap Motion Controller |
| Input | Hand tracking |
| Cable Length | Variable |
Project North Star is an open source augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display originally designed by Leap Motion (now Ultraleap) and first announced in April 2018[1]. The project was open-sourced on June 6, 2018[2], providing the community with hardware designs, software, and documentation to build their own AR headsets under an Apache License 2.0[3]. The headset is notable for being one of the only open source AR headsets widely used, as well as its wide field of view, high resolution, and integration with Leap Motion's hand tracking technology.
Overview
Project North Star represented Leap Motion's vision for making high-quality AR experiences accessible to developers and researchers. The headset features dual 1600×1440 displays running at 120 frames per second, providing a combined field of view exceeding 100 degrees[1]. This was significantly wider than contemporary AR headsets like Microsoft HoloLens (approximately 40° FOV) and Magic Leap One (approximately 55° FOV).
The design philosophy emphasized openness and accessibility, with most components being either 3D printable or available off-the-shelf. Leap Motion estimated that the headset could be produced for under $100 at scale[1], though individual DIY builds typically cost between $350-600 due to smaller component quantities[4].
History
Development
The Project North Star development began as an internal project at Leap Motion to explore the boundaries of AR interface design. The team, led by David Holz (CEO of Leap Motion) and Florian Maurer, initially created a prototype with even more ambitious specifications: a 105° × 105° combined field of view with 1440×2560 resolution per eye using 5.5" smartphone displays[5]. This early prototype was bulky but served as a baseline for what could be achieved.
The team then worked to balance performance with form factor, eventually settling on 3.5" fast-switching LCD displays from BOE Technology with custom display driver boards. The final design used ellipsoidal reflectors in a "bird bath" optical configuration, similar to the Meta 2 headset[1].
Release Timeline
| Version | Release Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Release 1 | April 2018 (Internal) | Proof-of-concept; >100° diagonal FOV, 3.5″ LCDs |
| Release 2 | June 6, 2018 | First public open-source release under Apache 2.0 license[2] |
| Mechanical Update 1 | June 28, 2018 | Added support for standard Leap Motion Controller and alternate headgear[6] |
| Release 3 | January 23, 2019 | Major mechanical redesign for improved comfort and adjustability[7] |
| Deck X | August 2020 | Integrated circuit board design by CombineReality to reduce cable count |
| Northstar Next | 2022-present | Single USB-C cable, modular design, OpenXR runtime support |
After Leap Motion's merger into Ultraleap, development moved to GitHub with later versions under a GPL-3.0 repository[8].
Technical Specifications
Display System
The headset uses two BOE VS035ZSM-NW0-69P0 3.5" LCD panels, each providing:
- Resolution: 1600 × 1440 pixels per eye
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz (90 Hz in some configurations, 85-90 Hz for Northstar Next)
- Combined resolution: 2880 × 1600 pixels
- Display technology: Fast-switching LCD with low-persistence backlighting
- Pixel density: 615 ppi
- Peak frame latency: <8 ms (LCD + driver)[9]
Optics
Project North Star employs ellipsoidal reflectors (also called combiners) in a bird bath optical design:
- Field of view: >100° combined (approximately 70-75° horizontal × 95-105° vertical per eye)
- Binocular overlap: 60-85%
- Focal distance options: 25cm (standard) or 75cm (arm's length)[7]
- Reflector coating: Half-silvered mirror with anti-reflective coating
- Transparency: ~95% light transmission
Tracking System
- Hand tracking: Leap Motion Controller
- Tracking frequency: 150 Hz
- Tracking volume: 180° × 180°
- Tracking range: Up to 60cm from controller
- Head tracking (optional):
- Intel RealSense T261/T265 for 6DOF tracking
- IMU-based 3DOF tracking
- External tracking systems (SteamVR, OptiTrack)
- SLAM sensors for inside-out tracking
Connectivity
- Video input: DisplayPort or Mini-DisplayPort (supporting 2880×1600@90Hz)
- USB: USB 3.0 for Leap Motion Controller and optional sensors
- Power: External power adapter for display driver board
- Driver board: Custom Analogix ANX7530 display-bridge board[10]
- Northstar Next variant: Single USB-C cable with DisplayPort Alt Mode
Hardware Components
Core Components
| Component | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Displays | 2× BOE 3.5" 1600×1440 LCD panels (VS035ZSM-NW0-69P0) | BOE Technology |
| Reflectors | Ellipsoidal combiners with AR coating | Custom manufactured |
| Display Driver | Custom board supporting dual MIPI displays (Analogix ANX7530) | Various manufacturers |
| Hand Tracking | Leap Motion Controller | UltraLeap |
| 6DOF Tracking | Intel RealSense T261/T265 (optional) | Intel |
| Mechanical Parts | 3D printed brackets and housings | User printed |
| Headgear | Miller Generation IV or 3M Speedglas welding headgear | Commercial |
3D Printed Parts
Most mechanical components can be 3D printed on consumer-grade printers:
- Minimum print volume: 130mm × 130mm × 130mm
- Recommended print volume: 220mm × 200mm × 120mm (for larger parts)
- Material: PLA, PETG, or eSun PLA Pro recommended
- Special technique: Some parts designed to be printed flat and bent while warm[7]
- Build plate requirement: ~250x200mm for optimal printing
Software
Unity Integration
Project North Star includes a Unity package containing:
- Pre-warping systems for optical distortion correction
- Leap Motion Unity Modules (Release 4.4.0+)
- Scene templates and example projects
- Calibration tools and utilities[11]
OpenXR Support
North Star's reference runtime now targets the Khronos OpenXR API, with community bindings for:
Project Esky
A community-developed Unity framework providing:
- Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK) integration
- 2D and 3D optical calibration support
- 6DOF head tracking with Intel RealSense
- Peer-to-peer networking for multi-user experiences[12]
Operating System Support
- Windows (primary support)
- Linux (community support)
- Drivers available on GitHub for displays and tracking sensors
Calibration
Due to variations in 3D printing and assembly, each headset requires calibration:
- 3D Calibration Method: Uses two stereo cameras to calculate display and reflector positions
- 2D Calibration Method: Uses a single stereo camera (can reuse Intel T265)
- Calibration data stored in JSON configuration files
- Per-user eye-to-Leap Motion alignment required[13]
Community and Variants
Notable Builders and Contributors
- Noah Zerkin: Founded CombineReality to manufacture components and kits[4]
- Graham Atlee: 19-year-old who built multiple headsets and created demos[14]
- Alex Chu: Co-founded CombineReality and developed the Deck X variant
Community Resources
- Active Discord server with over 6,000 members as of 2025[15]
- Community-built documentation at docs.projectnorthstar.org
- Regular build workshops at hackspaces and events (for example MIT Reality Hack)
- Reddit community for sharing builds and modifications
Major Variants
| Variant | Key Features | Release Date | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck X | Integrated USB hub, reduced cable count | 2019-2020 | CombineReality |
| Northstar Next | Single USB-C cable, modular design, cost-optimized | 2022-ongoing | CombineReality & Community |
| Various Community Builds | Custom modifications for specific use cases | Ongoing | Individual builders |
Commercial Ecosystem
While the design is free to download and self-fabricate, several vendors supply parts and kits:
- Combine Reality: Pre-machined optics brackets, driver boards, Deck X kits, and turnkey headsets[16]
- Smart-Prototyping: BOE LCDs, driver boards, matte overlays, and Project North Star Kit A[17]
Applications and Uses
Project North Star serves as a versatile platform for various applications:
- AR Application Prototyping: Rapid development of AR experiences with wide FOV
- Hand Tracking Research: Advanced studies using Leap Motion's skeletal tracking
- Optical and Display Experimentation: Testing different optics and display configurations
- Educational Purposes: Teaching AR hardware and software development in universities
- Artistic Projects: Creating immersive AR installations
- User Experience Design: Prototyping novel AR interfaces
- Academic Research: Adopted by labs for optical see-through research
Reception
Tech media and industry analysts praised North Star's specifications and open approach:
- The Verge described it as "a $100 AR headset with super-powerful hand tracking"[18]
- Road to VR called the design "impressively open-sourced" and "a glimpse of future consumer specs"[19]
- Jon Peddie (industry analyst) cited North Star as evidence that wide-FOV AR could be achieved "with fundamentally simple hardware"[20]
Impact and Legacy
Project North Star demonstrated that high-quality AR experiences could be achieved with relatively affordable components. The project inspired numerous developers and researchers to experiment with AR interface design and helped advance the adoption of hand tracking as a primary input method for AR.
The open-source nature of the project created a community of builders who continue to improve and modify the design. Commercial companies like CombineReality emerged to support the community with hard-to-manufacture components. Academic labs have adopted the headset for optical see-through research, citing its open CAD and modifiable optics as key advantages.
The project's influence extends beyond its direct implementations, inspiring other open-hardware AR projects and contributing to the broader democratization of AR technology development.
See Also
- Leap Motion
- Ultraleap
- Augmented Reality
- Hand tracking
- Open source hardware
- Meta 2
- Microsoft HoloLens
- Magic Leap
- OpenXR
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ben Lang (April 9, 2018). "Leap Motion Reveals Project North Star, an Open-source Wide FOV AR Headset Dev Kit". https://www.roadtovr.com/leap-motion-reveals-project-north-star-an-open-source-wide-fov-ar-headset-dev-kit/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kevin Carbotte (June 6, 2018). "Leap Motion Open Sources The Project North Star AR Headset's Schematics". https://www.tomshardware.com/news/project-north-star-open-source-documents,37222.html. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Project North Star is Now Open Source". June 6, 2018. https://blog.leapmotion.com/north-star-open-source/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Noah Zerkin. "Building Project North Star". https://www.smart-prototyping.com/blog/Building-Project-North-Star. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Our Journey to the North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/blogs/our-journey-to-the-north-star. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Florian Maurer (June 28, 2018). "Project North Star: Mechanical Update 1". https://blog.leapmotion.com/project-north-star-mechanical-update-1/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Florian Maurer (January 23, 2019). "Project North Star: Mechanical Update 3". https://blog.leapmotion.com/project-north-star-mechanical-update-3/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "ProjectNorthStar Repository". https://github.com/leapmotion/ProjectNorthStar. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "North Star Display (3.5 inch, 1440×1600 pixels, 120 fps)". https://www.smart-prototyping.com/North-Star-Display. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Leap Motion shows off low-cost Project North Star AR display". April 9, 2018. https://www.analogix.com/pr/leap-motion-shows-low-cost-project-north-star-ar-display. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "ProjectNorthStar Software". https://github.com/leapmotion/ProjectNorthStar/tree/master/Software. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Esky - Project North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/software/esky. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "FAQ - Project North Star". https://docs.projectnorthstar.org/getting-started/faq. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "How a Self-Taught Teen Built His Own North Star Headset". February 27, 2019. https://blog.leapmotion.com/how-a-self-taught-teen-built-his-own-north-star-headset/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Project North Star Discord". https://discord.gg/northstar. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Northstar Next". https://www.combinereality.com/northstar-next. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Project North Star Kit A". https://www.smart-prototyping.com/Project-North-Star-Kit. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Adi Robertson (April 9, 2018). "Leap Motion designed a $100 augmented reality headset with super-powerful hand tracking". https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/9/17216592/leap-motion-project-north-star-open-source-augmented-reality-headset. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Ben Lang (June 6, 2018). "Leap Motion Open-sources Project North Star, an AR Headset Prototype with Impressive Specs". https://www.roadtovr.com/leap-motion-open-sources-project-north-star-ar-headset-prototype-impressive-specs/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Jon Peddie (May 24, 2018). "AR HMD update". https://gfxspeak.com/2018/05/24/ar-hmd-update/. Retrieved June 26, 2025.