Vive Tracker
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| Vive Tracker | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual reality |
| Type | Accessory |
| Subtype | Motion Tracker |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Developer | HTC |
| Manufacturer | HTC |
| Announcement Date | 4 January 2017 (CES 2017) |
| Release Date | 27 March 2017 (developer sales); 16 November 2017 (consumer availability) |
| Price | US$99.99 (launch price, United States) |
| Website | https://www.vive.com/us/support/wireless-tracker/ |
| Versions | Vive Tracker (2017); VIVE Tracker (2018) |
| Requires | SteamVR base stations and a PC running SteamVR |
| Successor | HTC Vive Tracker 3.0 |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | SteamVR Tracking (Lighthouse), 270 degree field of view |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle; micro-USB (USB 2.0 full speed) |
| Ports | Micro-USB; six-pin pogo pin connector; 1/4-inch camera mount |
| Power | Micro-USB, 5 V; up to 1.5 hours to charge from a wall adapter, up to 3 hours from a PC port |
| Battery Life | About 4.5 hours per charge (HTC specification) |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 99.65 mm (diameter) x 42.27 mm (height) |
| Weight | 85 g (2017 model); 89 g (VIVE Tracker (2018)) |
| Input | Power button; controller-button emulation through pogo pins |
The Vive Tracker is a wireless, puck-shaped motion tracker made by HTC that lets a real object or a part of the user's body be tracked in virtual reality by the SteamVR Tracking ("Lighthouse") system used by the HTC Vive. HTC unveiled it at CES 2017 on 4 January 2017, describing it as the foundation of an accessory ecosystem for the Vive.[1] The tracker screws onto accessories such as toy guns, bats and gloves through a standard 1/4-inch camera mount, and can pass button presses from an accessory to the PC through its pogo pin or USB connections.[2]
HTC gave up to 1,000 trackers to developers before sales began, then sold the tracker to developers from 27 March 2017 for US$99.99 and to consumers from November 2017.[3][4] A revised model, the VIVE Tracker (2018), added SteamVR Tracking 2.0 sensors; HTC lists it as compatible with both SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0 base stations.[5][6] HTC later replaced the line with the smaller HTC Vive Tracker 3.0 in 2021 and added the camera-based HTC Vive Ultimate Tracker in 2023.[7][8]
This article covers the original Vive Tracker of 2017 and its 2018 revision, with a short overview of the later generations, which have their own articles.
Background
The Vive Tracker was created with the intention to allow VR developers to track real-world objects easily using the Vive's "lighthouse" tracking system.[9] Road to VR reported that talk of a standalone "puck" tracker using the same technology dated back at least to the reveal of the HTC Vive headset in 2015.[10]
The tracker uses the same SteamVR Tracking technology as the Vive headset and controllers, and Road to VR noted at the reveal that its micro-USB port lets accessory makers send button clicks and trigger pulls to the host computer without a separate connection.[10]
Announcement and release
HTC announced the Vive Tracker and the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap in Las Vegas on 4 January 2017. The press release gave the tracker's weight as just under three ounces (85 g) and its size as 99.65 mm in diameter by 42.27 mm high, with availability planned for the second quarter of 2017 and pricing to follow.[1] At the CES event HTC showed the tracker on third-party accessories including rifles for VR shooters, haptic gloves, a baseball training application and a firefighting simulator.[1][10] The release quoted Dr James Mullins of Deakin University, Australia, described as the creator of the FLAIM trainer: "We were able to integrate the Vive Tracker into our fire fighting simulator within four hours."[1] Wareable reported that Noitom demonstrated a pair of gloves using one tracker each, and that TrinityVR showed a baseball simulator used with a real bat.[11]
HTC distributed 1,000 Vive Trackers to selected developers who applied for free units before sales began.[12] Applications opened in late January 2017 and closed on 7 February; applicants described their company and project, and HTC reserved the right to recall the units.[13] At Mobile World Congress on 27 February 2017, HTC said it had received more than 2,300 applications for the first 1,000 trackers, and that nearly 60 percent of them were for non-gaming uses such as education, enterprise, training and wellness.[3]
In the same announcement HTC set the price at US$99.99 (€119.99, £99.99, ¥799.00). Developers could buy the tracker through Vive.com from 27 March 2017, with consumer availability planned for later in the year.[3] Sales opened on 27 March through a "for developers" section of HTC's regional sites; Road to VR noted that HTC's Chinese accessory store listed it without that restriction.[12]
On 16 November 2017 HTC announced consumer availability of the tracker at US$99.99, together with three accessory bundles:[4]
| Bundle | Maker | Contents | Price (US) | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyper Blaster | Hyperkin | Hyper Blaster, one Vive Tracker, a copy of Duck Season | US$149.99 | Amazon exclusive; pre-orders from 16 November 2017, arriving mid-December |
| Racket Sports Set | HTC Vive | Ping pong and tennis handles, one Vive Tracker, a code for Virtual Sports | US$149.99 | Amazon, Abt Electronics, B&H Photo, Fry's, GameStop, Micro Center, Newegg |
| TrackStrap | Rebuff Reality | A pair of TrackStraps and a code for Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing (tracker not included[14]) | US$24.99 | rebuffreality.com, available immediately |
HTC's product page at the end of 2017 also offered a Racket Sports Set without a tracker for US$79.99 and a bundle of the set, a Vive system and a tracker for US$748.99.[14]
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 January 2017 | Vive Tracker revealed at CES 2017[1] |
| Late January to 7 February 2017 | Applications open for up to 1,000 free developer units[13] |
| 27 February 2017 | Price of US$99.99 and developer release date announced at Mobile World Congress[3] |
| 27 March 2017 | Vive Tracker released for developers[12] |
| 16 November 2017 | Consumer availability and first accessory bundles announced[4] |
| 26 February 2018 | Updated tracker with SteamVR Tracking 2.0 sensors shown at Mobile World Congress 2018[6] |
| 14 March 2018 | HTC publishes developer guidelines for the VIVE Tracker (2018)[15] |
| 10 March 2021 | HTC Vive Tracker 3.0 announced[7] |
| 28 November 2023 | HTC Vive Ultimate Tracker announced[8] |
Features
An extension to the HTC Vive platform, the Vive Tracker enables full-body tracking when trackers are attached to the user's body, for example to shoes or a belt, and can also be attached to any object or accessory the user wants to bring into VR.[16][2] HTC's developer guidelines list five use cases, from tracking a passive object over a USB cable to tracking a moving object wirelessly while an attached accessory sends its own data to the PC.[2]
Each Vive Tracker converts the infrared signals emitted by the Vive's Lighthouse base stations into a position and relays it to the PC, either through its USB interface or through a paired wireless dongle.[2] HTC's specification gives about 4.5 hours of use per charge; UploadVR had reported six hours of constant use at the CES reveal.[14][9] The tracker turns itself off when the battery runs out, when pairing times out after 30 seconds, or after five minutes without movement.[17]
HTC's developer FAQ states that multiple trackers can be used but that limitations apply, with a maximum of 11 Vive Trackers plus two Vive controllers.[17]
Hardware
The Vive Tracker is a disc about 10 cm wide.[9] HTC gives its overall size as 99.65 mm in diameter by 42.27 mm high.[2] An LED indicator shows the device's status: green in normal mode, blinking red when the battery is low, blinking blue while pairing, blue while connecting and orange while charging.[17] The power button, hidden within the Vive logo, doubles as a power and BLE pairing switch.[2]
The Vive Tracker has multiple sensors that pick up the base stations' infrared signals, which the system uses to compute the tracker's position.[2] Road to VR counted more than 20 tracking points on the device at its reveal.[10] HTC advises accessory makers to avoid reflective or white surfaces near the sensors because reflections can cause faulty signals.[2] A micro USB port is available for charging and for data connections to an accessory.[2]
It connects to external accessories with the aid of:[2]
- Camera mount with 1/4" screw nut
- Stabilizing pin to prevent the accessories from loosening
- Pogo pin port (six pins) for transfer of data
- Friction pad for firm contact between the accessories and the Vive tracker
The docking design follows ISO 1222:2010, the photographic tripod-mount standard, and uses a 1/4-inch screw with a 1.27 mm thread pitch. The screw nut has a constraining feature so that a screw that is too long cannot be fastened all the way in.[2]
Technical specifications
Values below are taken from HTC's developer guidelines and product page for the 2017 model unless stated otherwise.
Interface
1. Micro USB (USB 2.0 full speed, client)[2] 2. Pogo Pin
Radio frequency (RF)
The over-the-air performance of the tracker may not degrade by more than 3 dB when an accessory is attached. Apart from essential parts such as the 1/4-inch screw and the pogo pin contact pad, metal parts of the accessory should be kept at least 30 mm away from the antenna feed point.[2]
Power
| Connector | Source | Voltage requirement | Max charging current | Max charging time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro USB | AC adapter | 5V (+/- 5%) | 1000 mA | 1.5 hrs |
| Micro USB | PC | 5V (+/- 5%) | 500 mA | 3 hrs |
| Pogo pin 3 | PC | 5V (+/- 5%) | 500 mA | 3 hrs |
Source: HTC developer guidelines, version 1.3.[2] The VIVE Tracker (2018) guidelines list a maximum charging time of 2 hours from an AC adapter.[15]
Optics
Field Of View (FOV): 270 degrees. HTC advises that no part of an accessory should sit inside this viewing cone, since it would block the sensors.[2]
Docking
Adheres to ISO standard ISO 1222:2010.[2]
Other specifications
| Specification | Vive Tracker (2017) |
|---|---|
| Sensors | SteamVR Tracking[14] |
| Field of view | 270 degrees[14] |
| Status indicator | LED[14] |
| Input | Power button, micro-USB, pogo pin[14] |
| Attachment | 1/4-inch UNC threaded mount (standard tripod mount)[14] |
| Use per charge | About 4.5 hours[14] |
| Weight | 85 g[1] |
| Dimensions | 99.65 mm (diameter) x 42.27 mm (height)[1] |
| In the box | Vive Tracker, micro-USB cable, power adapter, 2.4 GHz USB dongle, dongle cradle[14] |
Software
As the Vive Tracker is an extension of the Vive system, it uses the Vive setup software and SteamVR, available from HTC's Vive setup page. HTC's guidelines require a PC running SteamVR with a free USB 2.0 port for the dongle.[2] Trackers are paired from the SteamVR app under Devices, Pair Controller, and firmware updates are installed over the USB cable while SteamVR is running.[15]
An accessory talks to the tracker as a USB HID host. It can report the equivalent of Vive controller inputs, either by simulating buttons through the pogo pins or by sending USB HID feature reports at intervals longer than 10 ms. The report format covers the trigger, bumper, menu and Steam buttons, trackpad presses, touches and X/Y position, and an analog trigger value.[2][17] Version 1.5 of the guidelines, dated 17 July 2017, added a configurable low pass filter (184 Hz by default, with 5, 10 and 20 Hz settings) to keep tracking stable when an attached accessory vibrates; it requires tracker firmware v.20 or later.[17]
The guidelines include integration steps for Unity, and version 1.4 (8 May 2017) added notes on using the tracker in Unity or Unreal Engine.[17] In SteamVR, the tracker's hardware button maps to the controller's System button.[15]
Developer
HTC published developer guidelines for accessory makers and content developers, covering use cases, mechanical and electrical requirements, the pogo pin pad design, data formats and engine integration.[2] The first version is dated 26 September 2016, and version 1.5 was released on 17 July 2017.[17]
- Vive Tracker for developers (HTC page; now redirects to the VIVE Developer site)
- HTC Vive Tracker Developer Guidelines v1.3 (PDF)
- HTC Vive Tracker Developer Guidelines v1.5 (PDF)
- HTC VIVE Tracker (2018) Developer Guidelines v1.0 (PDF)
Apps
- Island 359 (Steam store page): CloudGate Studio used several trackers to give players full-body control, so they could see themselves crouch, kick and lie prone.[3] Road to VR reported that CloudGate was one of the indie studios that received several of the free developer units.[12]
- Duck Season: bundled with Hyperkin's Hyper Blaster tracker accessory.[4]
- Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing: bundled with Rebuff Reality's TrackStrap.[4]
Later generations
At Mobile World Congress 2018 HTC showed an updated tracker with SteamVR Tracking 2.0 sensors, the same generation used in the HTC Vive Pro. The first-generation tracker had SteamVR Tracking 1.0 sensors, the same as the original HTC Vive, and Road to VR reported that neither the original HTC Vive nor the first-generation trackers work with the newer SteamVR Tracking 2.0 base stations. The demonstration used four trackers on a player's legs and feet in a soccer training program by Mi Hiepa Sports.[6] HTC's guidelines for the VIVE Tracker (2018) keep the same 99.65 x 42.27 mm size and 270 degree field of view and give its weight as 89 g.[15] HTC's support site lists the VIVE Tracker (2018) as compatible with both 1.0 and 2.0 base stations; the original Vive Tracker is not listed.[5]
| Model | Announced | Tracking | Weight | Battery life | Launch price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vive Tracker (2017) | 4 January 2017[1] | SteamVR Tracking 1.0 sensors; not compatible with 2.0 base stations[6] | 85 g[1] | About 4.5 hours[14] | US$99.99[3] |
| VIVE Tracker (2018) | 26 February 2018 (shown at MWC)[6] | SteamVR Tracking 2.0 sensors[6]; works with 1.0 and 2.0 base stations[5] | 89 g[15] | Not announced at reveal[6] | |
| HTC Vive Tracker 3.0 | 10 March 2021[7] | SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0[7] | 75 g[18] | 7.5 hours (product page); up to 7 hours (2021 announcement)[18][7] | US$129.99[7] |
| HTC Vive Ultimate Tracker | 28 November 2023[8] | Inside-out, two onboard cameras, no base stations[8] | 94 g[19] | Up to 7 hours[19] | US$199[8] |
HTC announced the VIVE Tracker (3.0) on 10 March 2021 and put it on sale in the United States on 24 March 2021 for US$129.99. HTC states that it is 33 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than earlier generations, with up to 75 percent more battery life and a 240 degree field of view, and that it keeps the same pogo pin and mounting layout, so existing accessories remain compatible.[7] The HTC Vive Ultimate Tracker, announced on 28 November 2023, uses inside-out tracking with two wide field of view cameras instead of base stations; at launch it worked with the VIVE XR Elite and VIVE Focus 3 headsets.[8] As of September 2026, the trackers listed in the VIVE Tracking section of HTC's United States website are the VIVE Ultimate Tracker, the VIVE Tracker (3.0) and the Facial Tracker for the VIVE Focus Series, while its support section still hosts help pages for the VIVE Tracker (2018).[18][20]
Research use
Researchers have tested Vive Trackers as an affordable alternative to laboratory motion capture systems.[21] In a paper published in the journal Virtual Reality in 2019, Polona Caserman and colleagues at Technische Universität Darmstadt strapped trackers to users' hands and feet, drove an avatar's skeleton with an inverse kinematics solver, and measured an end-to-end latency of 6.71 +/- 0.80 ms for their system.[22]
A 2019 study in Sensors by Susanne van der Veen and colleagues compared two Vive trackers, mounted on a robot arm and on the thorax and sacrum of participants playing VR games, with a Vicon optical motion capture system. It found the tracker measurements accurate to within 0.68 +/- 0.32 cm in translation and 1.64 +/- 0.18 degrees in rotation.[21]
Reception
Hugh Langley of Wareable tried several tracker demos at CES 2017 and called the tracker a more interesting addition to the Vive ecosystem than the TPCast wireless adapter announced at the same event.[11] James Temperton of Wired UK tried Island 359 with a tracker on each foot and one around the waist. He found the setup unwieldy and said calibration went wrong in his demo, giving his avatar deformed arms and bent ankles, though he enjoyed kicking dinosaurs. He concluded that the tracker "feels very early-stage".[16]
Valve's Joe Ludwig was quoted in HTC's pricing announcement as saying that "The Vive tracker makes tracking objects in VR so simple that anyone can do it."[3] When it introduced the third generation in 2021, HTC said the tracker line had been used in medical simulation, film production, first responder training and elite sports training.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "HTC VIVE Debuts New Hardware Products to Grow Virtual Reality Ecosystem". VIVE Newsroom. HTC. 2017-01-04. https://www.vive.com/us/newsroom/2017-01-04/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 "HTC Vive Tracker Developer Guidelines, Ver. 1.3". HTC Developer Resources. HTC Corporation. 2017-01-19. https://dl.vive.com/Tracker/Guideline/HTC_Vive_Tracker_Developer_Guidelines_v1.3.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "HTC VIVE, The Leading Virtual Reality Product, Announces Pricing And Availability Of Vive Tracker And Vive Deluxe Audio Strap". PR Newswire. HTC. 2017-02-27. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/htc-vive-the-leading-virtual-reality-product-announces-pricing-and-availability-of-vive-tracker-and-vive-deluxe-audio-strap-300413734.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "HTC VIVE Announces New Vive Tracker Bundles And Consumer Availability". PR Newswire. HTC. 2017-11-16. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/htc-vive-announces-new-vive-tracker-bundles-and-consumer-availability-300557502.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Which VIVE hardware is compatible with my base stations?". VIVE Support. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/support/vive-pro-hmd/category_howto/which-vive-hardware-are-compatible-with-base-stations.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Scott Hayden (2018-02-26). "Updated Vive Tracker With SteamVR 2.0 Tracking Shown at MWC 2018". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/mwc-2018-htc-vive-tracker-with-steamvr-tracking-2-0/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 "HTC VIVE Upgrades VR Ecosystem With Next-Gen VIVE Tracker And New VIVE Facial Tracker". PR Newswire. HTC. 2021-03-10. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/htc-vive-upgrades-vr-ecosystem-with-next-gen-vive-tracker-and-new-vive-facial-tracker-301244616.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 VIVE Team (2023-11-28). "HTC VIVE Announces VIVE Ultimate Tracker for All-in-One XR Headsets and PC VR Streaming". VIVE Blog. HTC. https://blog.vive.com/us/htc-vive-announces-vive-ultimate-tracker-for-all-in-one-xr-headsets-and-pc-vr-streaming/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Joe Durbin (2017-01-04). "HTC Announces Vive Tracker to Power Next Generation VR Accessories". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vive-tracker-reveal-ces-2017/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Ben Lang (2017-01-05). "Vive Tracker Enables a Bevy of Bats, Guns, Gloves, and Other Tracked Accessories". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/htc-vive-tracker-enables-a-bevy-of-bats-guns-gloves-and-other-tracked-accessories/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hugh Langley (2017-01-05). "Going wireless is great, but the HTC Vive's new Tracker is the real game changer". Wareable. https://www.wareable.com/vr/htc-vive-wireless-tracker-3730. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Scott Hayden (2017-03-27). "HTC Vive Tracker is Now on Sale to General Public for $99". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/htc-vive-tracker-now-available-general-purchase/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jamie Feltham (2017-01-29). "HTC will give 1,000 Vive Trackers to VR developers, applications close February 7". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2017/01/29/htc-will-give-1000-vive-trackers-to-vr-developers-applications-close-february-7/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 "Vive Tracker". VIVE. HTC. 2017-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230044212/https://www.vive.com/us/vive-tracker/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 "HTC VIVE Tracker (2018) Developer Guidelines, Ver. 1.0". HTC Developer Resources. HTC Corporation. 2018-03-14. https://dl.vive.com/Tracker/Guideline/HTC_Vive_Tracker(2018)_Developer+Guidelines_v1.0.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 James Temperton (2017-02-27). "HTC Vive Tracker hands on review: kicking dinosaurs in the face is fun but expensive". Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/htc-vive-tracker-island-359-demo-hands-on/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 "HTC Vive Tracker Developer Guidelines, Ver. 1.5". HTC Developer Resources. HTC Corporation. 2017-07-17. https://dl.vive.com/Tracker/Guideline/HTC_Vive_Tracker_Developer_Guidelines_v1.5.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "VIVE Tracker (3.0)". VIVE. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/accessory/tracker3/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "VIVE Ultimate Tracker". VIVE. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/accessory/vive-ultimate-tracker/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "About VIVE Tracker (2018)". VIVE Support. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/support/wireless-tracker/category_howto/about-vive-tracker.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Susanne van der Veen, Martine Bordeleau, Peter Pidcoe, Christopher France, James Thomas (2019). "Agreement Analysis between Vive and Vicon Systems to Monitor Lumbar Postural Changes". Sensors, vol. 19, no. 17, article 3632. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19173632. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Polona Caserman, Augusto Garcia-Agundez, Robert Konrad, Stefan Göbel, Ralf Steinmetz (2019-06). "Real-time body tracking in virtual reality using a Vive tracker". Virtual Reality, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 155-168. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-018-0374-z. Retrieved 2026-09-29.