I would like to share my recently finished DIY wireless infrared head tracker designed for OpenTrack. My previous version was USB-wired, but I decided to upgrade to a completely wireless, battery-powered setup.

Here are the technical and design choices behind the project:

Why Infrared instead of Neuralnet (Face Tracking)? I wear glasses, and the glare/reflections on the lenses frequently confused the software's face recognition. Passive tracking was unreliable, so a dedicated active IR LED array was necessary for 100% stability.

Why Cap-mounted instead of a Headset Clip? I prefer gaming without headphones and do not use them. Wearing a simple baseball cap is much more comfortable for long sessions, so the tracker is designed to clip onto the brim.

Enclosure and Ergonomics: While the LED frame geometry is a standard open-source design, I custom-designed the rechargeable power supply enclosure myself. It was printed using flexible TPU filament rather than rigid plastic to ensure a softer, comfortable fit against the head.

Hardware Specifications: The unit is powered by a lightweight 3.7V 500mAh LiPo battery. It integrates a USB-C charging board (TP4056), a power switch, and three independent 22 Ohm 1W metal film resistors to drive the IR LEDs at their optimal \~100mA current for maximum camera visibility. The case features a slotted, ventilated design to handle the thermal dissipation of the resistors during operation.

Primary Use Case: I built this primarily for Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2), which perfectly utilizes multi-axis head movement. Naturally, it is fully compatible with any other flight or driving simulation software that supports OpenTrack protocols.

The system is now fully tested, stable, and provides a highly responsive tracking experience without cluttering my desk or restricting movement with wires.

(Here are some pictures of the internal wiring, the TPU enclosure, and the finished assembly attached to the cap.)

DIY Wireless 3-Point Infrared Head Tracker with Custom TPU Battery Box for Euro Truck Simulator 2