How to determine whether a SteamVR_TrackedObject is a Vive Controller or a Vive Tracker

Question

What is the best way to determine whether a SteamVR_TrackedObject is a Vive Controller and a Vive Tracker?

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When 0 Controllers and 1 Tacker is paired:

The Tracker is taken as Controller (right) of the CameraRig.

When 1 Controller and 1 Tacker is paired:

The Tracker is set to Device 2.

When 2 Controllers and 1 Tacker is paired:

Creating a third SteamVR_TrackedObject and placing it in the CameraRig's objects array. Also when a controller looses tracking so does the tracker.

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In each scenario the Tracker ends up being a different SteamVR_TrackedObject.index. What is the best way to check if a SteamVR_TrackedObject is a Tracker, or to find which index the Tracker is?

Needham

Have you considered using triggers? – Roldan

@Roldan Can you expand? I'm not sure what you mean? If you are meaning to check if the object has a trigger button, then it wouldn't work. As the tracker has pins (to connect something as a trigger) and uses the same protocols as the controller. – Needham

Omg, I'm sorry I meant to say tags – Roldan

As in tag certain gameObjects before starting? The issue is that each SteamVR_TrackedObject is dynamically set to a device, and I can't predict how it will be assigned. Looking for the best method for talking to the SteamVR and OpenVR APIs. – Needham

Yeah, you could assign different tags to different GameObjects, that's how you can differentiate them. At least from what I understand from your title. QUOTE: "is a Vive Controller or a Vive Tracker". – Roldan

Answer 1

The only method of checking a SteamVR_TrackedObject that I have found yet is to check the ETrackedDevicePoperty.Prop_RenderModelName_String:

uint index = 0;
var error = ETrackedPropertyError.TrackedProp_Success;
for (uint i = 0; i < 16; i++)
{
    var result = new System.Text.StringBuilder((int)64);
    OpenVR.System.GetStringTrackedDeviceProperty(i, ETrackedDeviceProperty.Prop_RenderModelName_String, result, 64, ref error);
    if (result.ToString().Contains("tracker"))
    {
        index = i;
        break;
    }
}

Then you can set SteamVR_TrackedObject.index to index:

GetComponent<SteamVR_TrackedObject>().index = (SteamVR_TrackedObject.EIndex)index;

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Finding any documentation on this has been pretty difficult so far but here's some sources:

• OpenVR wiki
• List of ETrackedDeviceProperty values

Needham

Love it. Also note the Oculus touch controller names will contain "controller_left" and "controller_right". – Brigade

Answer 2

Just stumbled upon this old question and I guess accepted answer was strictly correct when it was asked - there's a direct way to do it now, though: you can use GetTrackedDeviceClass.

It will return value of an enum ETrackedDeviceClass. Possible values are:

• Invalid - if there's no tracked device under this index,
• HMD - if the device is a headset,
• Controller - if the device is, well, controller - this is one of your cases,
• GenericTracker - this is another one of your cases
• TrackingReference - for base stations, supporting cameras etc,
• DisplayRedirect - by documentation - "Accessories that aren't necessarily tracked themselves, but may redirect video output from other tracked devices"
• Max - this one is undocumented and I haven't stumbled upon it yet

Asteroid