2009 / Sensors / Physical computing

Tracking motion with Wii controllers

A position-tracking prototype using three accelerometers to estimate rotation.

A working hardware prototype

My role: Personal project
When: 2009
Focus: Sensors / Physical computing

Three Wii controllers mounted together on a prototype base. — 01The 2009 prototype, built with Nintendo Wii controllers.

The experiment

I wanted to track position using accelerometers found in everyday electronics. I used Nintendo Wii controllers to build a physical prototype.

Working around the sensor

The accelerometers did not directly provide the rotation information I needed. I developed an algorithm to infer rotation angles from three sensors and used it in the tracking system.