Oculus Rift DK2 virtual reality headset and development kit started to ship in summer 2014. The DK2 is kind of VR headset that is connected to a more powerful computer via USB and HDMI, includes hardware for positional tracking, a 5″ display ,and two lenses for each eye.
Since then the company has been purchased by Facebook, and they’ve now decided to make the headset fully open source hardware.
The release includes schematics, board layout, mechanical CAD, artwork, and specifications under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license, as well as firmware under “BSD+PATENT” licenses which you’ll all find on Github.
The release is divided into four main folders:
- Documentation with high-level specifications for the DK2 headset, sensor, and firmware.
- Cable with schematics and high level specifications for the cables. Custom assembly that would be hard to recreate from source. Allegedly the most complex part of the design
- Sensor with electrical and mechanical CAD for the positional tracking sensor. Sadly the MCU firmware for this part has not been released, as it is not redistributable.
- Headset with mainboard firmware, electrical and mechanical CAD for the headset, as well as artwork for the packaging.
A Galaxy Note 3 AMOLED display was used for the headset, and an STMicro STM32 microcontroller handles inertial sensor data, and manages microsecond-precision timestamping for all part of the system.
Normally, such OSHW release would enable a willing individual to reproduce the kit him-/herself, but the company explains that some of the components of the kit are very hard to impossible to source today.
Via Twitter, and tip from Harley.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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We will see if any Chinese company will make cheap copies or not of this specific Oculus Rift DK2 headset.
Windows Mixed Reality Headsets by multiple manufacturers will force down the price for all VR headsets.
Still very cool that this is now open source hardware under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license
I would suggest you consider that mobile phones and tablet computers will kill this market as their specification increases ahead of purpose-built devices.