Leap Motion Controller

Leap Motion Controller
Basic Info
VR/AR	Hand Tracking
Type	Input device
Subtype	Hand Tracking Module, Gesture Control
Platform	Windows, macOS, Linux, VR/AR headsets
Creator	Leap Motion
Developer	Ultraleap (formerly Leap Motion)
Manufacturer	Ultraleap
Announcement Date	May 2012
Release Date	July 22, 2013 (Gen 1), 2023 (Gen 2)
Price	$89.99 (Gen 1), ~$140 (Gen 2)
Website	https://www.ultraleap.com/
Versions	Leap Motion Controller (Gen 1), Leap Motion Controller 2 (Gen 2, 2023), Stereo IR 170
Requires	USB 2.0+ port, Windows/macOS/Linux PC or compatible headset
Predecessor	None
Successor	Leap Motion Controller 2, Stereo IR 170
System
Operating System	Windows 7+, macOS 10.7+, Linux
Chipset	Custom ASIC
CPU	N/A (sensor module)
GPU	N/A
Storage
Storage	N/A
Memory	N/A
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	N/A (input device)
Subpixel Layout	N/A
Peak Brightness	N/A
Resolution	N/A
Pixel Density	N/A
Refresh Rate	N/A
Persistence	N/A
Image
Field of View	140° × 120° typical
Horizontal FoV	140°
Vertical FoV	120°
Average Pixel Density	N/A
Peak Pixel Density	N/A
Foveated Rendering	N/A
Optics
Optics	Infrared-transparent window
Ocularity	N/A
IPD Range	N/A
Adjustable Diopter	N/A
Passthrough	N/A
Tracking
Tracking	Optical hand tracking
Tracking Frequency	120Hz (up to 200Hz)
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	Yes (primary function)
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	N/A
Positional Tracking	N/A
Update Rate	120Hz typical, 200Hz capable
Tracking Volume	60-80cm depth
Play Space	Desktop or headset-mounted
Latency	<1/2000 second image capture
Audio
Audio	N/A
Microphone	No
3.5mm Audio Jack	No
Camera	Dual 640×240 near-infrared cameras
Connectivity
Connectivity	USB 2.0/3.0
Ports	USB 2.0/3.0 Type-A
Wired Video	N/A
Wireless Video	N/A
WiFi	No
Bluetooth	No
Power	USB powered
Battery Capacity	N/A (USB powered)
Battery Life	N/A (USB powered)
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	80mm × 30mm × 11mm (Gen 1)
Weight	~45g
Material	Aluminum and plastic
Headstrap	VR mount adapter available
Haptics	No
Color	Black/Silver
Sensors	Dual IR cameras, IR LEDs
Input	Hand tracking, finger tracking, gesture recognition
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The Leap Motion Controller is an optical hand tracking input device originally developed by Leap Motion (now Ultraleap after a 2019 acquisition), first released on July 22, 2013, at $79.99. The controller pioneered consumer-grade hand and finger tracking using a small USB peripheral with dual near-infrared cameras and infrared LEDs, enabling users to interact with computers and virtual environments using natural hand gestures without wearing gloves or touching surfaces. The device captures the movement of hands and fingers within a 3D interactive zone extending up to 60-80cm with a 140° × 120° field of view, operating at 120Hz (capable of 200Hz) with image capture speeds as fast as 1/2000th of a second. The sophisticated software discerns 27 distinct hand elements including bones and joints, tracking them even when partially obscured. Originally designed for desktop computing, the Leap Motion Controller found significant adoption in VR/AR applications when mounted to headsets, becoming a standard for hand tracking in applications like VRChat, medical visualization, and industrial training. The second-generation Leap Motion Controller 2 (2023) features Ultraleap's Hyperion tracking software with sub-millimeter precision, while the Stereo IR 170 (formerly Rigel) offers an even wider field of view and longer range for enterprise applications.

History and Development

Leap Motion Origins

Company founding:

Founded 2010
Co-founders David Holz, Michael Buckwald
Hand tracking vision
Consumer accessibility

May 2012 Announcement

Product reveal:

Technology demonstration
Pre-order campaign
Industry excitement
Consumer anticipation

July 2013 Release

Commercial launch:

$79.99 pricing
USB peripheral
Desktop computing
Gesture control

Ultraleap Acquisition

Company merger:

May 2019 acquisition
Ultrahaptics + Leap Motion
Combined as Ultraleap
Expanded capabilities

Product Evolution

Development progression:

Leap Motion Controller (2013)
Stereo IR 170 (wider FOV)
Leap Motion Controller 2 (2023)
Hyperion software

Design Philosophy

Natural Interaction

Gesture control:

No wearables required
Natural hand movements
Intuitive gestures
Direct manipulation

Small Form Factor

Compact design:

Desktop peripheral
Headset mountable
Portable
Unobtrusive

Precision Tracking

Accuracy priority:

Sub-millimeter capability (Gen 2)
27 hand elements tracked
Occluded finger handling
Reliable detection

Hardware Technology

Dual IR Cameras

Camera specifications:

Cameras: Dual 640×240-pixel
Spacing: 40mm apart
Type: Near-infrared
Spectrum: 850nm ±25

Infrared Illumination

Light source:

IR LEDs
Infrared light flood
Invisible to human eye
Reliable in varied lighting

Tracking Speed

Performance:

Typical: 120Hz
Maximum: 200Hz capable
Image Capture: 1/2000th second
Low latency

Tracking Specifications

Interactive Zone

Tracking volume:

Depth (Preferred): Up to 60cm (24")
Depth (Maximum): Up to 80cm (31")
Field of View: 140° × 120°
3D tracking space

Hand Elements

Tracked features:

Elements: 27 distinct per hand
Bones and joints
Fingertip positions
Palm orientation

Occlusion Handling

Software capability:

Tracks obscured elements
Finger overlap handling
Predictive tracking
Robust detection

Software

Ultraleap Tracking

Tracking software:

Hand structure modeling
Joint and bone inference
Hidden finger estimation
Real-time processing

Hyperion (Gen 2)

Advanced tracking:

Sub-millimeter precision
Subtle gesture detection
Improved algorithms
Enhanced reliability

SDK

Developer tools:

C/C++ API
Unity plugin
Unreal Engine plugin
Python bindings

Physical Design

Dimensions

Form factor:

Length: 80mm
Width: 30mm
Height: 11mm
Compact profile

Weight

Mass:

Weight: ~45g
Lightweight
Portable
Easy mounting

Construction

Materials:

Aluminum body
Plastic accents
Premium finish
Durable

Connectivity

USB Interface

Connection:

USB 2.0 compatible
USB 3.0 supported
USB-C adapter available (Gen 2)
Standard cables

Platform Support

Operating systems:

Windows 7+
macOS 10.7+
Linux
Wide compatibility

Use Cases

Desktop Computing

PC interaction:

Gesture navigation
Application control
Productivity
Accessibility

VR/AR Applications

Headset integration:

VR hand tracking
AR interaction
Social VR (VRChat)
Immersive input

Medical

Healthcare applications:

Surgical visualization
Anatomy training
Touchless interfaces
Sterile environments

Industrial

Enterprise use:

Training simulations
Design review
Touchless control
Manufacturing

VR Headset Compatibility

Supported Headsets

Compatible devices:

PICO NEO 3 Pro/Pro Eye
PICO G3/PICO 3
HTC Vive Focus 3
Meta Quest series
PC VR headsets

Mounting Options

Integration:

VR mount adapters
Face plate mounting
Developer kits
Custom solutions

Product Versions