Sixense STEM is a wireless 6DOF electromagnetic tracking controller from Sixense. It had a kickstarter.[1] The kickstarter was eventually cancelled and backers were refunded, due to manufacturing issues in Asia.
The system is based on electromagnetic tracking, which is the same technology that has been used in the Razer Hydra controller.
FeaturesEdit
Some of the main advantages of the STEM System over the Razer Hydra include its wireless operation, modularity, and superb tracking performance.
The dominant idea behind STEM is to offer users and developers a way to both accurately track motion in virtual reality applications, and easily customize the form factor of the controller. The STEM System is able to read data from up to five individual STEM tracking modules, which can be mounted on virtually any place on the body or fitted inside peripherals.
STEM tracking modules can be located anywhere within an 8-foot radius from the base unit, which itself can be approximately 3 feet away from the receiver. The AC electromagnetic field used for position and motion detection operates with less than 10ms latency. The technology originally did not use inertial sensors, which resulted in no drift caused by acceleration and deceleration.
SoftwareEdit
The second-generation Sixense SDK is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems, and it provides backward compatibility with existing products powered by Sixense motion tracking technology.
Those interested in what Sixense STEM System has to offer can try the Sixense Tuscany Demo. It demonstrates what the system is capable of and acts as a reference implementation for further development.
The project launched back in September of 2013 and greatly surpassed the original goal of $250,000 in October of the same year.