With the release of devices like the Meta Quest 3, virtual reality (VR) headsets have never been more affordable and accessible. They are also rapidly improving in performance, now coming standard with ultra-high resolution displays, realistic audio, and hand and body tracking mechanisms, making for very immersive virtual experiences. So if you are interested in jumping into the world of VR today, the best way to do it is to simply buy a commercial headset off the shelf.
But for the hardware hacker, things are rarely ever that straightforward. YouTuber halie801, for instance, decided to build a custom VR headset. It may not be as good as existing commercial options, and the cost savings may not be that large (especially after factoring in the build time involved), but rolling your own solution is the perfect way to learn about a technology, and also customize it perfectly to suit your own tastes. So for these reasons, halie801 designed and constructed a custom headset called LainVR.
The system in operation (📷: halie801)
The LainVR headset is close in size to existing commercial devices like the Meta Quest 2, and the parts can be purchased for about $140. It is equipped with a high resolution display and forward-facing cameras for inside-out tracking. The system also has a pair of Wii remote-like handheld controllers that can be tracked in three-dimensional space by the headset. These are features similar to what one would find on a commercial headset, however, LainVR does require a backpack-worn laptop computer and a lot of wiring that would not be found with those devices.
To handle the inside-out tracking, the headset has a pair of PlayStation 3 Eye cameras to collect stereo data, and an inertial measurement unit to detect movement of the headset. Some modifications had to be made to the cameras to allow for precise control over when images were captured. An Arduino microcontroller captures data from these sensors, as well as some metadata, such as data timestamps, before forwarding it to the laptop for processing.
Looking ahead, halie801 is looking to make some upgrades. First and foremost, the laptop computer has got to go — for the most part, anyway. The plan is to power the device with a mini PC that can fit right inside the headset. With that in place, most processing can take place locally, however, the laptop will still run SteamVR — but it will be able to communicate with the headset wirelessly, getting rid of the bulk and the wires of the present build.
With these changes, halie801 is still going to try to keep the total cost under $300. That does not compare especially well with the prices of commercial devices, but if you are looking for a bargain, halie801 is also planning to create a sub-$100 version in the future. Be sure to stay tuned to see where this project goes!