Adjustments

Head tracking

With a TrackIR™ compatible head tracker your head orientation and head position can be captured and used to control viewing direction and observer position in REFLEX model flight simulation (6DOF tracking). Among others, this provides an improved spatial orientation, better overview and deeper immersion into the simulated model flight situation.

Before head tracking can be used in conjunction with REFLEX for the first time, the following steps need to be executed once:

  1. Install the head trackers hard and software as described by the manufacturer.
  2. Launch the TrackIR™ software application.
  3. Under Advanced Settings activate the tab Titles.
  4. Select REFLEX XTR in the list of supported titles and choose the profile One:One. (If REFLEX XTR is not included in the list, click on Game Updates and restart the TrackIR™ application afterwards.)

In order to initiate a REFLEX session with head tracking support, proceed as follows:

  1. Launch the TrackIR™ software application.
  2. With the aid of the Camera view of the TrackIR™ application make sure that tracking sensor and tracking target are properly adjusted. Consider the directions of the manufacturer.
  3. In the Basic Settings section set the Speed value to 1.
  4. Set Smooth to a value between 2 and 20. Larger values result in a more steady motion, but will also lead to a unpleasantly delayed response. Since the Smooth value can be modified at any time, even while running simulation, it will be easy to find an acceptable compromise.
  5. Start REFLEX and select Head tracking ... from the Simulation menu.
  6. In the Head tracking dialog select the desired tracking mode.
  7. In order to set the tracking neutral position, center yourself in front of the screen, direct your view to the middle of the screen and click the Recenter button. (This procedure can be applied anytime by pressing the <F12> key.)
  8. Click OK in order to apply the changes and close the Head tracking dialog.


In the Head tracking dialog the tracking modes for head orientation (Yaw, Pitch, Roll) and head position (X, Y, Z) can be adjusted independently of one another:



The following head orientation tracking adjustments are provided:

Automatic viewing direction to model without head tracking
This tracking mode ignores any changes of head orientation. The view is automatically directed towards the model.

Control of viewing direction by Yaw and Pitch head tracking
The viewing direction is controlled by left/right turning (Yaw) and raising/lowering of the head.

Control of viewing direction by Yaw, Pitch and Roll head tracking
Left/right tilting (Roll) of the head is adopted additionally to left/right turning and raising/lowering. This option is not highly recommended because the visual impression becomes unnecessarily confusing due to the additional rotation axis.

Head tracking relative to model directed viewing direction
If this option is not activated the head orientation has to be precisely controlled in order to keep the model in the field of view. This requires some practice initially, but subsequently ensures an optimal spatial orientation because the position of the model in space relates intuitively to the actual head orientation. With activated relative mode the model will automatically appear in the field of view as long as the head orientation is directed towards the center of the screen. Nevertheless, the view can be turned away from the model by rotating the head, for example in order to obtain a brief overview of the location of other models when participating in a flight convention. If the model is not visible in relative mode although the head orientation is directed towards the center of the screen, the tracking neutral position must be recentered by pressing the <F12> key.

Motion amplification Yaw/Pitch
The motion amplification allows to cover a wide angle of view in the virtual model flight scenery without loosing the sight to the screen in the real world. For example, assuming that with a head rotation of ±20° the screen can be kept in view comfortably, a motion amplification of 4 would lead to a coverable range of ±80° in the virtual scenery. In oder to remain a smooth visual impression the motion amplification should not be adjusted too large.

The following head position tracking adjustments are provided:

Fixed observer position without head tracking
This tracking mode ignores any changes of the head position. The observers position in the virtual scenery is fixed.

Control of observer position in scenery by X,Y,Z head tracking
The head movement shifts the observers position in the virtual scenery. The covered range of motion can be adjusted with the parameter Motion amplification X,Y,Z.

Control of observer position in front of "Magic Window" by X,Y,Z head tracking
This tracking mode creates the illusion as if the screen was a window with the actually existing model flight scenery behind. Just like in front of a real window the observer can perceive different views of the scenery by varying his position in front of the screen. For example, if the observer in front of the window moves to the left, his view of the scenery will be directed rather to the right. When moving closer to the window he will percieve a wider view of the scenery, when moving further away form the window, he will get a rather narrow view. Before opening any "Magic Window" a dialog will appear where the screen diagonal and the present screen distance have to be specified. For a realistic impression of the magic window it is important to measure the screen diagonal and screen distance as accurately as possible. With activated magic window the simulation parameter Camera aperture angle is without effect since the aperture angle results from the screen diagonal and the particular screen distance in this case.

Motion amplification X,Y,Z
With activated tracking mode Control of observer position in scenery by X,Y,Z head tracking this parameter can be used to adjust the range of motion in the the virtual scenery. When using the tracking mode Control of observer position in front of "Magic Window" by X,Y,Z head tracking the motion amplification must be fixed to 1 and cannot be modified.

You may find further information about the TrackIR™ head tracker at http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/.