Step 23: Setup Your Spatial Map

Introduction

Creating a spatial map is an essential part of the setup of the Zero Latency VR system. The map that is created is loaded onto all Wearable sets and the system tracks player movement throughout the Game Space.

Once you begin the scan, you will be required to walk around the game space for 30+ minutes. It is important that the Game Space is free of any objects that would not normally be in there and that no one will enter the space for the duration of the scan.

Key reminders for a successful scan:

• Follow the full instructions carefully
• Clean all headset camera lenses before scanning - dirty lenses will distort the scan
• Walk slowly and spend at least 30 minutes scanning the entire game space
• Avoid sunlight - scan in the afternoon or evening with stable, controlled lighting
• Look side to side, up and down, and do a full 360° turn in each 5m grid block, per scanning instructions
• After your initial scan is complete, you can update problem areas of the map later if needed (if on Firmware version 6.xxx or above)

Time Required

1 hour

Tools & Equipment Required

• HTC VIVE Focus HMD
• HTC VIVE Focus Tracker

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On this page:

  Prepare the Equipment & Environment

  Create a Clean Spatial Map

  Completing Spatial Map Scan

  Game Space Calibration

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Prepare the Equipment & Environment 

• Clear the space of any obstructions before starting the scan.
• If required, mark the centre of the Gamespace as this will be the centre point for the Tracking. The players will line up in this position once ready to play. 
• Ensure there is no sunlight peering into the gamespace, and that the indoor lighting is not overpowering. If you have windows, it is important to perform a scan during dusk.

WARNING: CLEAN ALL CAMERA LENSES OF THE HEADSET BEFORE SCANNING

If the camera lenses on the headset are dirty, the image that the camera sees is very distorted and will lead to a bad map scan. Ensure you clean all camera lenses on the headset (those on the corners, and at the front of the headset).

Distortion due to dirty camera lenses

Clear view due to clean camera lenses

Info

The centre point will be the best area in the space to gain initial tracking.

 

Equipment

• Select any assembled HTC Headset and have this ready to be turned on.

Warning

Make sure no other headsets are powered on.

Note

If you are re-doing a map scan for floor height issues, please load Outbreak and place your head on the ground to see the variance of your head to the game floor. If this is not perfectly aligned then you will need to adjust your floor height and perform a fresh game space calibration.

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Create a Clean Spatial Map

• Power on the HTC Headset.
• Wait for the headset to load into the Launcher.
• Stand in the game space at the point where you have established the center point will be.
• On the game master Launcher, hover over settings and select Hardware.
• On the headset you are completing the spatial map with, click Details.
• Click on Manage Headset Map.

• Click on Create New Map.

• The status changes to Scanning and the headset will reboot.

• While the headset is rebooting, move to the Centre point in the game space. Once on the Centre point, put the headset on.
• The headset will change to pass-through mode once it's loaded back in.

Create a Clean Spatial Map

Video guide (recommended)

Written Instructions

• The Focus 3/Vision should now be in passthrough mode, ready to start walking around the game space to compete a spatial map scan
• While standing on the centre point, rotate clockwise or anti clockwise 360° one revolution to scan the play area.

Info

It is suggested to take around 5 seconds to finish the rotation.

• When completing a new spatial map scan It is important to cover the entire game space. A recommended method to achieve this is to walk around the game space in 5m blocks as shown in the image below. 

• First, walk along the boundary of the closest 5m block at a steady walking pace, looking side to side at the environment as you do so.  
  
  

• Next move back to the center of the block and turn your head up, down, and turn around (360°) again. The movement is suggested to be finished around 8 to 10 seconds.
  

• Once you finish scanning a block, move to the next one and repeat these steps until all blocks in the play area are scanned. While moving, we encourage you to look around on the way to the center of the next block.
  
  
• A full game space scan is expected to take 30-40 minutes for good coverage. 

• When the game space has been scanned, tap the power button on the back of the headset. 
• On the Launcher, select Export map to all headsets.

• Once uploaded, Restart the Content Server.

• Once the map export is completed, the Map size will be visible in the UI, a recommended map size between 150MB and 200MB (for small scale area the map size should be over 100MB) is recommended for best tracking accuracy. 

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Game Space Calibration

Please follow the "How do I complete a Gamespace Calibration? (Hand Tracker)" to calibrate the Gamespace if you have the Controller with the Hand Tracker. Or "How do I complete a Gamespace Calibration? (Wrist Tracker)" if you have the Controller with the Wrist Tracker.

• The corner stickers will need to be placed prior to completing the calibration.

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Article Keywords/Phrases: 
How do I create a game space map?
Game space spatial map